Two reflections on Iran

France's Sarkozy Raises Prospect of Iran Airstrikes -Francois Murphy

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Monday a diplomatic push by the world's powers to rein in Tehran's nuclear program was the only alternative to "an Iranian bomb or the bombing of Iran."

Sarkozy said a nuclear-armed Iran would be unacceptable and that major powers should continue their policy of incrementally increasing sanctions against Tehran while being open to talks if Iran suspended nuclear activities.

"This initiative is the only one that can enable us to escape an alternative that I say is catastrophic: the Iranian bomb or the bombing of Iran," he said, adding that it was the worst crisis currently facing the world.
(Reuters)


Deadly Persian Provocations -Reuel Marc Gerecht

Iran represents a much greater threat than Europe typically recognizes. It is not a status quo state that favors stability, as most pundits and governments portray it.

Iran is, instead, a radical revolutionary force determined to sow chaos beyond its borders. The mullahs don't want peace in Iraq-just the opposite. The widespread belief (shared by the Iraq Study Group) that Iran wants stability in Iraq is wrong.

[T]he Islamic Republic [is] unlikely to be overwhelmed by moderate tactics. Instead, they seem set to continue killing Americans in Iraq, waiting to see if and when the United States gives up and run for the exits.

The writer, a former Middle East specialist at the CIA, is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
(Newsweek)