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To Calm Israel, U.S. Offers Ways to Restrain Iran
(New York Times) David E. Sanger and Eric Schmitt - The Obama administration is moving ahead with a range of steps short of war that it hopes will forestall an Israeli attack, while forcing the Iranians to take negotiations more seriously. Already planned are naval exercises and new anti-missile systems in the Persian Gulf, and a more forceful clamping down on Iranian oil revenue. The administration is also considering new declarations by President Obama about what might bring about American military action, as well as covert activities that have been previously considered and rejected. Inside the White House, there has been debate about whether Mr. Obama needs to reshape his negotiating strategy around clear "red lines" for Iran - steps beyond which the U.S. would not allow the country to go. Yet according to Graham Allison, a Harvard expert on nuclear conflict, the U.S. has allowed Iran to cross seven previous "red lines" over 18 years with few consequences.