[Jerusalem Post] Amir Taheri - The U.S. and Europe offered Iran massive economic, scientific, and technological aid, not to mention international acceptability. So why did Ahmadinejad, no doubt with the consent of "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenei, choose to reject the package and vindicate the "regime change" faction in Washington? First, Ahmadinejad believes the Bush administration will not be in a position to turn the heat on Iran at least until the November mid-term elections in the U.S. If Democrats win control of one or both chambers of Congress, Bush would face a political elite and public hostile to any new confrontation in the Middle East. The failure of Americans to develop bipartisan positions on issues of vital national interest plays into the hands of adventurers like Ahmadinejad.
2006-09-08 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive