When the devil dislikes the stink of brimstone

Asia-Times Online ^ | Spengler

[ksen]

It's a bit like the devil disliking the stench of sulfur, but Iran's leaders now complain that the United States has thrown the Middle East into chaos in order to reshape the region. That is a man-bites-camel story. With the exception of the late Yasser Arafat, no one has wielded the weapon of instability with greater skill than Iran. Israel's disproportionate response to the July 12 Hezbollah provocation changed the rules of the game in the region. Whether the players have the presence of mind to exploit the new rules remains an open question.

[ksen]

I've started reading Spengler in the last few weeks and I think most of his comments are on the money.

[humint]

What cards does Tehran have left to play? It can:

1. further destabilize Iraq
2. deploy terrorists against Israeli and US targets outside the theater
3. make good on its threat to wield the "oil weapon"

Spengler left out the cards Iran continues to play…

1. remain the word’s most active state sponsor of terror without consequence
2. move forward with its nuclear weapons program without consequence
3. continue abusing the human rites of its citizens without consequence