I'd wager that this is, at best, attempting to hit an inside straight. It might, in desperate times, be worth trying but it's not a bet that's likely to pay off. But let's suppose we make that bet. And lose. What then? Our chip count is smaller still and we're left with only one more card to play: military action.
Alex, I think you're just starting to get it. Yes, precisely -- the NeoCons don't care if the sanctions themselves are effective or not. To them, sanctions are just an increment to their real goal: a US military confrontation with Iran. Step by step, they're eliminating peaceful ways out of the standoff, deterring any sort of US-Iran engagement which is anathema to Israel, and building up to war. THAT is why Kagan and this buddies support sanctions. Like I said before, everytime you see the word "sanctions" you should read "war" because that's where it is going to lead.
No truer words have been spoken. This is what I've been trying to tell people from the start.
Posted by: Anthony | October 30, 2009 at 08:48 PM
What you say makes perfect sense, Cyrus.
Posted by: Pirouz | October 30, 2009 at 02:38 PM