April 18, 2006
Iranian Calculations
Further driving home this point about Iran's nuclear plans, Matthew Yglesias makes a very cogent point about their national interest calculus:
That observation could lead in various directions, but it's worth recalling that this is all taking place at a time when many prominent people are asking us to take seriously the notion that the Iranian government would court the total destruction of Iran and the death of its entire population in order to strike at Israel. But when the Palestinian Authority gets taken over by radicals and needs to make up a billion dollar shortfall in funds, Teheran comes up with . . . fifty million bucks. Think about that for a little while. National suicide is not on the agenda. As Michael Levi points out, Iran has perfectly non-crazy grounds for its nuclear aspirations.
The Michael Levi post he mentions is also worth checking out.
Posted by ben at April 18, 2006 10:14 AM
Comments
Retired generals calling for the resignation of the Secretary of Defense miss the target in directing their intellectual volleys. Focusing on resignation-talk diverts attention from the larger more important questions of strategic and political goals in Iraq and in the broader war on terror. How should the US draw down its presence in Iraq? What will be the measures or milestones that will signal it is time to reduce by one brigade? By two, etc? What does the long-term presence of the US look like in Iraq? Will the “steady state” be five brigades in Iraq and Kuwait? Will the draw down be complete with forces available to send back in from “over the horizon” if necessary? And, what does the experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere tell us about the nature of the conflict we will continue to be involved in? Is the military structured correctly to fight in those conflicts? Is the broader government (State, Homeland, FBI, CIA, etc) properly structured to participate in the conflict(s)? These are the type issues that one might hope retired generals could offer insights and ideas to. Kevin Ryan (retired general)
Posted by: Kevin Ryan at May 23, 2006 11:37 AM