How do you deal with a crazy, heavily-armed bully? Give him a hug!

Barry Rubin, of the Global Research in International Affairs Center (GLORIA) posted an interesting article online earlier this month. His belief as to the nuclear aspirations of Iran is straightforward:


"The simplest and cheapest--therefore very popular--idea is to talk Iran out of making nuclear weapons. This is silly. The regime wants them, laughs at Western threats not backed by strength, and awaits the next American president (no prizes for guessing who it prefers) hoping he'll follow a surrender strategy.

Iran won't be bought off, it merely seeks to buy time."


And his mention of the undermining of diplomatic pressure and sanctions by ever-extensive trade with various members of the EU, which is unashamedly Iran's largest trading partner, reminds us of the fact that the states of Europe can't even devote themselves to their own positions, let alone the fostering of stability abroad.

But most interesting is his assertion that Obama's current policy on Iran would be disastrous for everyone who cringes at the thought of missiles at Iranian command - meaning everyone except for the winners who happen to rule the Islamic Republic. He writes, quite simply, that Obama would, by holding unconditional talks with Ahmadinejad, validate the Iranian president's shrewd policy of "scream psychotically enough from your prison cell and they'll move you to posh quarters in the nuthouse." A friendly dialogue with Iran would give the impression that the United States has been wrong in its position against Iran's nuclear program, eroding American status abroad and, frighteningly, making diplomatic pressure against the radical policies of the Iranian government even less effective. To hold the sort of talks Obama proposes is to automatically put the US on the defensive with regard to its foreign policy,which is exactly the sort of provocation a volatile and aggressive state like Iran needs to carry out its agenda.