tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post5798668750845108919..comments2023-11-03T09:36:22.100-04:00Comments on In From the Cold: The Cost-Benfit Analysis of Hitting IranGeorge Smileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07049707648660651119noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-59842827183318617302010-07-20T16:11:14.954-04:002010-07-20T16:11:14.954-04:00I am always bothered by the willingness of the Ara...I am always bothered by the willingness of the Arab states to press the US to the front of any conflict, while they remain quietly in the background - reaping the benefits while risking little. Certainly Iran should be dealt with; certainly eliminating Iranian nuclear capabilities is in the US interest; also as certainly however, is the fact that it is in the Arab states best interest to deal with Iran. Let them demonstrate the courage of their convictions and lead from the front for once. Form an Arab state coalition, seek US backing and support for action, and then go deal with the problem!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12756997315652733901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-38625913026840641402010-07-12T07:37:22.794-04:002010-07-12T07:37:22.794-04:00No coincidence that Brazil and Turkey have already...No coincidence that Brazil and Turkey have already placed one foot in the Iranian camp. The question is whether the Obama Administration even sees that such a "containment" strategy would represent the long-term disaster for the "moderate" Arab states as Yousef al-Otaiba describes - leaving them with little choice but accommodation. He was actually telling Obama that the prospect of relying on a US defensive umbrella just wouldn't cut it. <br />That said, Netanyahu did not exactly appear disappointed after his WH meeting late last week. Perhaps Gates was not just doing the bluffing on behalf of his boss two weeks ago when he said that all options are still on the table. Maybe they are.Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15390468013273738737noreply@blogger.com