"Realpolitik For Iran"; By Roger Cohen; A21
To read Roger Cohen is to enter an alternate reality. Similar to science fiction, the narrative that Cohen constructs is tied closely enough to our world to keep our attention. The deviations are fantastical, attractive because of their very unlikelihood and improbability.
An op-ed about the Bush administration's policy toward Iran concludes with demands upon Israel. Talk about chutzpah.
"The deal" Roger Cohen fantasizes about "can be derailed any time by an attack from Israel." In Cohen's worldview, Israel is the party-pooper. The solution, he argues, is for Obama "to get tougher with Israel than any U.S. president in recent years." Aaron David Miller's call for "tough love" has made the rounds, and Cohen, too, is a subscriber.
Posts
Cohen engages in disturbing wishful thinking when he characterizes Iran as a pragmatic regime that simply wants to be accorded respect and security. In this article, one would have no idea that perhaps Iran was interested in acquiring a nuclear weapon.
ReplyDeleteThrough Cohen's reading of history, Iran did EVERYTHING it could to reach a peace with the US, but the US ignored their desperate entreaties. That simply does not accord with reality, only the reality which Cohen wishes to construct.
In the end, Israel-obsessed Cohen can't help take a swipe at the Jewish State, demanding Obama get "tough" on Israel. I suppose Iran's calls for Israel's destruction or disappearance should have calmed Israel's nerves. Does Cohen believe that Iran's incitement to genocide has any place in civilized discourse?
It's also amusing that a self-proclaimed liberal like Cohen also know claims loyalty to realist policies. So much for ideals...