Taking on Iran

This book addresses the threat posed by Iran's potential acquisition of nuclear weapons. The current strategy of using economic sanctions and formal, public diplomacy to convince Iran not to comply with its nuclear obligations may not work. In that event, US policy seems restricted to a choice between two options: attacking Iran's nuclear facilities or attempting to contain a nuclear armed Iran. Both options present grave risks. An alternative exists based on reversing the 30 years...
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This book addresses the threat posed by Iran's potential acquisition of nuclear weapons. The current strategy of using economic sanctions and formal, public diplomacy to convince Iran not to comply with its nuclear obligations may not work. In that event, US policy seems restricted to a choice between two options: attacking Iran's nuclear facilities or attempting to contain a nuclear armed Iran. Both options present grave risks. An alternative exists based on reversing the 30 years of weakness by the US in response to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ illegal conduct. By responding with strength to the IRGC's surrogate and direct attacks on the US, the opportunity for effective negotiations with Iran will arise, based on the practices that led to successful negotiations with the Soviet Union. Those practices, and the reasons they are needed, are described in some detail and constitute a new, diplomatic agenda for dealing with Iran that complements the measures proposed for demonstrating strength in the face of Iranian aggression.