Ease Back on Iran

The history of heavy handed confrontation with the aspiration of regime change, or at least a revision of political behaviors, is one of almost complete failure. At best some sort of stand off becomes the norm and at worst a pointless war begins which goes on and on and achieves little. So it is impossible to see what on earth the Trump administration expect to achieve by their current programme of isolation, sanctions and military posturing against Iran. Among the many doubters appears to be Trump himself. Having surrounded himself with Alt Right hawks he seems to be uncertain about the direction of their policies. Failure in Venezuela has not helped. Neither has the stall in progress with North Korea.

So this blog advocates a very much more enlightened policy towards one of the world’s oldest civilisations, which if more engaged constructively, could do much to ease the chaotic tensions of the Middle East. In particular the ending of the war in Yemen is a priority. This is not to say Iran is blameless, or does not make mischief to further its ends. But we allow Saudi Arabia unlimited slack in almost every direction no matter what it does. Some of that slack would work well with Iran. Try it.