[Middle East Strategy at Harvard] Michael Young - There has been much talk of "engaging" Iran of late in Washington. The real question, however, is how does the U.S. engage Iran successfully? What can the U.S. do against an Iran that is building a nuclear weapon in order to become a regional hegemon? An Iran that is able to appeal to Shiites in Arab societies, perhaps most importantly in Lebanon? That can play on Arab sympathy for the Palestinians, while also influencing its allies in Iraq? And that can on occasion raise the domestic heat on American friends such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan? Amid all the talk of...well, talking to Iran, the Obama administration has yet to formulate a new and comprehensive policy toward the Islamic Republic. To talk is not a strategy. The writer is opinion page editor of the Beirut Daily Star.
2009-02-13 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive