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With Its Superior Airpower, America Can Contain Iran and Its Proxies
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) James F. Jeffrey and Dennis Ross - If Iran is the main threat facing the U.S. in the Middle East, the administration cannot subordinate its strategy toward the Iranians to the fight against IS. Iran is a state that poses a far larger danger, especially given its successful use of Shia militias. Unless the U.S. is willing to raise the price to the Russians, they will continue to treat the Iranians and the Shia militias in Syria as their foot soldiers. Making clear that America will use its far superior airpower to prevent the Iranians and their proxies in Syria from expanding further is the only policy that would force Putin to try to constrain Iranian moves. The last thing he wants is an international perception that U.S. power is determining the outcome in Syria. James F. Jeffrey served as U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Iraq. Dennis Ross served in five presidential administrations.