In today’s “On the Square” article, Iran’s Nuclear Weapon Capability, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for combating weapons of mass destruction and negotiations policy Jack David writes of the dangers facing the world and the hard decisions Iran’s nuclear capabilities require. His report offers readers a good test case for a reflection and debate on the proper uses of power and military force.
Meanwhile, discussion of David B. Hart’s The Perniciously Persistent Myths of Hypatia and the Great Library continues. If you haven’t looked at the comments, many of them provide a good quick education in the history Dr. Hart has written on, and in the ways different people read history.
June 9th, 2010 | 12:31 am
In tracing the origins of the present anti-Persian enthusiasm, we might take a look at the power of Saudi oil money. Saudi Arabia – home to the 18th century Wahhabi cult (itself a cousin-in-law to al-Qaeda and the Taliban) – sees Iran as a regional rival and, owing to the success of the 9/11 attacks, has the upper hand with Washington (i.e., “do our bidding, or we shall strike again!”). John Bolton, Bill Kristol, and the rest of the “Jumping for JINSA” crowd are but red herrings. Israel’s immediate concern is *water*, not Iran (dreams of an Israeli “security zone” extending to the Litani would require Hezbollah, but a weaker Hezbollah, one that could be overcome ..).