(Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Lt.-Col. (ret.) Michael Segall - Amid the intensifying conflict with the West, Iran is maintaining a policy of projecting force in the Gulf and surrounding areas, building new military bases along the Gulf's shores, performing naval maneuvers, and practicing ship takeovers and special-forces activities. With these moves Iran is trying to signal that it is prepared for a conflict with the U.S. in the naval domain, seeking to convey both to the U.S. and its Gulf neighbors that it is the ascendant power in the region, and that the region's security is in its hands and not those of external powers. Yet this activity has had a unifying effect on the GCC member states which fear Iran's lengthening shadow. Given the Arabs' weakness and lack of a charismatic figure who could lead a Sunni Arab response to the mounting Iranian challenge, the need for American power in the region - to create the necessary balance against Iran and protect energy sources - has only grown. The writer is a senior analyst at the Jerusalem Center.
2012-05-25 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive