J.E. Dyer highlighted Iran’s new boldness all across the Middle East — and if I may weigh in, the Yemen situation looks like classic Iran: play the arsonist, then volunteer to be the fireman — for a small reward, naturally!
The spookiest bit of this latest twist of affairs is Washington’s response, as Jennifer notes. And when an official statement reads like this: “It’s our view that there can be no long-term military solution to the conflict between the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels,” it almost looks like it came out of the EU. Never shall there be a military solution to a conflict! A bit like saying, “There shall be no medical solution to a disease” — let the microbes and the antibodies negotiate their way to a compromise through the good offices of the United Nations. Let them receive an envoy from the EU! But no conflict. Nope.
I can picture the fear running through the spines of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as they hear Washington’s tone quickly aligning itself with the discourse of those pugnacious Eurocrats.
While Mr. Chang makes an interesting point, his closing sentences belie wishy-washing thinking. To wit:
“Either we are involved in an existential struggle or we are not. President Bush should let us know, and act accordingly.”
While Mr. Bush must protect the nation, we, as citizens, have a job of telling him what we want and expect from our government. We should remind our President and elected officials of how we view this struggle and demand that they act accordingly. I don’t see how an intelligent, thinking person can simply say “I’ll wait to be told what kind of war we have.”
Those who believe in the goals and struggle should speak up. It’s clear that the anti-war side has no qualms telling leaders what to do. Those of us (like myself) who see the war as an existential battle should do so as well.
Let’s not wait to be led, let’s lead.