(New York Times) Michael Doran - The Israeli attack on an Iranian base in the Syrian desert is striking not just for the military and intelligence capabilities it demonstrated, but also for the defiance of Mr. Putin. Boldness and ability of this magnitude in an ally is a four-star asset that Mr. Trump's Mideast policy has so far failed to exploit. Imagine if Washington and Jerusalem were to develop a joint military plan designed to contain and degrade Iranian forces in Syria. Even a limited American military commitment to a coordinated U.S.-Israeli strategy would immediately change the balance of power on the ground. It would most likely engender more diplomatic cooperation from Mr. Putin while sending a powerful message to Tehran about the necessity of respecting American demands regarding its nuclear program. The writer, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, was a senior director at the National Security Council in the George W. Bush administration.
2018-04-18 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive