‘Leading From Behind’ on Iran is Making War More Likely

Since the election, President Obama has again embarked on the Washington establishment’s version of diplomatic coercion on Iran. It’s sometimes referred to as “dual-track.” Negotiations and a supposed grand bargain are in the works, but the administration continues to impose harsh economic sanctions and continues to issue well-publicized threats of the military option. You know, just in case Iran thinks we’re foolin’.

But the Obama approach to Iran has also been characterized by a change in policy towards the overall Persian Gulf. Obama’s ‘leading from behind’ strategy has essentially come to mean that Washington presses its allies to do more of it’s fighting. And that’s what Obama intends: with unprecedented amounts of weapons technology flowing to the Middle East, Washington is arming Arab dictators in the Persian Gulf with assurances that they will take part in any potential war against Iran.

The Washington Times:

Noting U.S. sales of air defense-penetrating F-16s and F-15s, satellite-guided bombs and a pending order for ordnance that can burrow deep and then explode, analysts say Gulf nations could participate in a U.S. air campaign to strike Iran’s nuclear sites.

These American-armed nations could either be part of an overall war plan or be forced to enter the battle once Iran counterattacks, as expected, with missile launches.

“It’s perfectly possible the UAE could be asked to try to bomb aircraft shelters, hardened aircraft hangars’ stockpiles, coastal missile sites that are hardened,” Mr. [Kenneth] Katzman [a Middle East analyst at the Congressional Research Service] said. “There are a range of targets that coalition partners like UAE could be asked to take out as part of strike package, if it comes to that.”

Embedded in the “dual-track” approach is the recognition that credible threats of military attack will force Iran to submission when presented with face-saving diplomatic alternatives. If you ask an Obama official, I’m sure they’d tell you that arming Arab autocrats to the teeth is meant only to demonstrate “credibility.”

“Our presence in Kuwait and throughout the Gulf helps advance the capabilities of partnering nations, deters aggression and helps ensure we’re better able to respond to crisis in the region,” Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta told reporters when visiting Kuwait last week.

And seriously, how could this go wrong?

The Arab monarchies have deep-seated hatred for Iran, for both religious and geo-political reasons. Arming them to a degree unequaled in any previous time, with the explicit purpose of challenging Iran militarily provides what Washington likes to call “stability.” Yes, that’s what they call it when the state employs the military industrial complex to weaponize ruthless Arab dictators, making Iran more guarded and conflict more likely. Stability.

10 thoughts on “‘Leading From Behind’ on Iran is Making War More Likely”

    1. It could go seriously wrong. The Middle East is made up of a patch work of political and religious alliances and within all of these countries there are intermingled Sunni or Shiite populations.

      The Americans could be opening up a door into hell as centuries of pent up hatreds could be released. The nuclear issue is really a side show as the real issue is the US desire to firstly, protect the hegemony of the Dollar and control Iran's hydrocarbons. To maintain their empire the Americans don't really care how many non Americans die.

      1. They could care less how many Americans die.You actually think the Zionist Neocons care about the average American LOL.How do you think is in control of America?It's not anyone that cares about humain life even other Americans,and thats a fact.

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  2. asddivert law enforcement resources from violent crimes to illegal drug offenses, the risk of punishment for engaging i

  3. most important job is taking your call when you get drunk in Riyadh. You don't get a great job at an influence mill with that on your résumé. You do if Ambassador to Saudi Arabia means what doing the "important work" needed under current policies.

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  5. your résumé. You do if Ambassador to Saudi Arabia means what doing the "important work" needed under current policies

  6. Pollard's crime was to provide Israel with satellite photos of Arab countries, possibly the Soviet Union. Back in the 1980s this was a big deal, and Israel had no way of getting these. Nowadays every Tom Dick and Harry can get satellite photos of every corner of the Earth with better quality than what Pollard provided. It's espionage that's been rendered obsolete with advancing technology, and Pollard is still doing time for it.

  7. Few Americans realize that Israel has a history of violating its' agreements with the Pentagon. They sold the American Patriot Missile Defense technology – a gift to Israel from American tax-payers – to Communist China for one billion dollars.

  8. Through their American agent, former CEO of Loral Corp. China acquired the Loral Missile Guidance System for one billion dollars. Loral's CEO paid a one hundred million dollar fine after his conviction for this illegal transaction. He left the courtroom a free man, after pocketing nine-hundred million dollars.

  9. From Pollard's massive treasure-trove of Pentagon military secrets, Israel sold to Communist USSR all of America's tactics and strategies in a projected military confrontation during the Cold War. The reported price: another one billion. The response from the alleged perpetrators: silence.

  10. He was the spy of a foreign power. He spied on this country, handing over secrets that compromised our nations security while acting as the spy of a foreign power. Unfortunately, this man will be pardoned and set free because this country is, and will continue to be, the compliant, spineless puppet of the foreign power that used Mr. Pollard to spy on us.

  11. Israel is still the parasite wasp that will eventually kill its host.

    When will we wake up, and reveal the blackmail that keeps our country on a downhill spiral.

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