February 2012
9 posts
Iran's parliamentary elections next week →
The indispensable Tehran Bureau has a critical summary of the runup to the Iranian Majles (parliament) elections next Friday. Correspondent Muhammad Salimi casts it as a battle between two conservative factions, with the rest of the country just looking on. If you’re interested in the details, here is a score sheet.
Iran: Plus ca change. . . . →
washingtonpost.com
In WikiLeaks cache, echo of warnings on Iran
READ LATERby GREG MILLER • FEB. 24, 2012
A classified cable sent by America’s top diplomat in Tel Aviv warns that Israeli officials believe Iran’s uranium enrichment efforts are nearing the “point of no return” on the country’s alleged path toward a nuclear weapon.
The latest indication that Israeli air strikes are imminent?...
Iran: the view from 2007 →
An interviewer has posted a lengthy discussion we had four years ago in connection with a documentary. Actually, it’s surprising how little has changed since that time.
The Iran Containment Fallacy →
Colin Kahl, a former Assistant Secretary of Defense, brings a grown up view to the “bomb Iran” debate. He points out that a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities would achieve exactly the opposite of what the war hawks imagine. Iran would take the decision to go for a bomb, kick out the IAEA inspectors, move all their facilities to covert underground sites, and rally the...
Israel's False Choice →
Fareed Zakaria reminds us that war hysteria leads to very bad decisions. We should not be mesmerized by the latest Israeli warning about a looming zone of immunity that is emerging in Iran. Those who have been able in the past to resist the call to act out of blind panic have been rewarded not only by peace, but often much more.
NBC news: Israel uses an Iranian terrorist group... →
The report at the link is one of the most substantial I have seen on the current role of the Mojahedin-e Khalkh (MeK) in the Iran confrontation. NBC says it has confirmed that this group, which is on the U.S. terrorist list, has acted on Israel’s behalf in carrying out assassinations in Tehran. The entire piece is full of facts and deserves to be read.
Limbert: We Need to Talk to Iran, But How? →
John Limbert was one of the American hostages held by Iran for 444 days. He speaks elegant Persian and probably knows more about Iran than any living American diplomat. In this short piece, he offers some distilled wisdom that is worlds removed from the foolishness being spewed on all sides.
Here are a couple of excerpts:
It was easy enough to miss amid all the chest-thumping, threats, and talk...
The Iran debate →
Here is an excellent short survey of the debate over war with Iran. Posted by Blake Hounshell.
Putting the negotiating option on the table →
Here is a calm and well-considered proposal from two seasoned professionals who actually know what they are talking about. There is an alternative to war. It is called intelligent negotiation. It is the one option, regrettably, that is almost never on the table.