tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34135100.post1640206880964947181..comments2024-01-21T02:42:13.447-05:00Comments on Middle East Reality: Iran and lessons from Iraq in 2002Arnold Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11445744338502151561noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34135100.post-88978540161855125172010-05-26T19:15:16.431-04:002010-05-26T19:15:16.431-04:00That's very well put, Arnold and not many peop...That's very well put, Arnold and not many people write that as straight to the point as you.<br /><br />In defense of those who play along with the pretext, though, there may be a reason for Iran to be conciliatory. It attracts neutrals to her side. Brazil and Turkey are a case in point.<br /><br />Iran knew as well as we do that the whole nuclear issue is a US pretext. The whole point in compromise is to complicate the US diplomatic approach, and certainly not to appease it.<br /><br />Of course, this approach has to be combined with a credible deterrent. Iran definitely has that, while Iraq, unfortunately, did not.Lysandernoreply@blogger.com