Clinton does share much of the burden, but the item you list as (c), American occupation of countries to the left and right of Iran, can't be overstated. As necessary as it may be, it surely is a significant factor in Iranian opinion and policy. Iran has much more reason to be nervous than it did in 2000, or even late 2001. And hence, nuke-hungry.

Of course, the US would be crazy to invade Iran, but the Iranians don't want to take the chance of trusting in reason.

The George I Administration "worked like dogs" to establish,

1. Aggression and conquest across national borders would be rolled back by the world community.

um, except in the Balkans where they rolled over like a dog.

Regarding Iran and the Bomb: I think the occupation of Iraq has changed Iran for the worse. Before, it was a sort of religious oligarchy with the mullahs having the last word but with a restive population who were much less anti-western and anti-American. I question how much popular support there was for the bomb program compared to other social demands. Now, as far as I can tell from reading about Iran, the population is more in line with the Mullahs on security issues and support for the nuclear program is substantial. It's true that our policy has not created the desire for nuclear weapons, but it seems to have galvanized the population behind getting them. Just as here at home, the sense of danger encourages people to set aside other priorities for security.

If the threat of nuclear destruction played a significant role in keeping the US and USSR from going to war why doesn't the same principle apply to India and Pakistan?

So isn't your point that India and Pakistan are worse off because they acquired nuclear weapons
open to debate?

spencer - I think that's Brad's point, not Dan's.

There is more to it than just US troops in the surrounding countries. Iran is losing sympathetic countries, if not allies. Jordan, Libya, Morrocco, and Egypt have all been whistling a different tune lately...to varying degrees. The Euros are starting to soften if not shift towards US policy. Disturbances in other areas seem to be on the wane or are at least ineffectual. North Korea is being effectively dealt with. Outside of Iraq things seem to be going in the US's direction. And with several elections now under their belt things improving there as well. That has to have the Iranians nervous.

Nukes are the only tool that can get them global attention. What else are they to do if they don't want to appear as if they, too, are falling by the wayside?

Speaking to Point 2, why should any administration follow a principle or doctrine if it is a bad one? Point 2 is definitely that and should be ignored if ever any heed was seriously paid to it.

In the cases where it has been followed there have been quite the list of disasters, most of these in Africa: Rwanda, Sudan, Congo to name a few. Correct me if I am wrong, but didn’t the US issue its own directives and demands before acting in Liberia? The British and French do the same in West Africa. Australia didn’t wait for the UN in East Timor.

So does where is the benefit to people on the ground for adhering to this invented principle?

The oft repeated line that "Libya rolled ONLY after the invasion of Iraq" is a great Heritage foundation talking point, but it was well in the works before the invasion. The Libyan strong man and his family were keen to integrate into the broader world even before 911.

Mr Drezner, you raise interesting questions which suggest Mr. De Long's analysis is not perfect. But on balance I think his emphasis is correct. Clinton's use of US Military force in KOSOVO, in concert with NATO was more a "police action" than a war . Zero US Military deaths in combat... less than three months duration. The objective was to halt genocide ( I despise the term "ethnic cleansing") This policy had broad European support. Clearly the security council was not going to vote unanimously to take action as the Russians were entangled in Chechnya. More importantly, I feel nothing but revulsion towards Saddam and his kind but 50 years of intermittently bad behavior on our part in Iraq and Iran including the overthrow of a democratically elected government certainly would propel those two nations and others to accelerate the development of weaponry that might cause a world power to think twice about another invasion. I pray we can bring peace to the Middle East. I believe we are more likely to reap what we sow.

an addendum to my comment above if I may...the democratically elected government to which I referred, was NOT Iraq's...but rather the overthrow of the Iranian government by our CIA in the early '50s. And of course, years later, Saddam was our surrogate if not our friend as we helped him kill hundreds of thousands of Iranians during nearly a decade of the Iran Iraq war. Now the very way this current war has been prosecuted ,makes it more difficult to get enemies to reconcile and stay away from WMD.

"But this allows other states to act in a similar manner!--ed. Yes, but since no other country has the logistical infrastructure to take military action against a country 3,000 miles away, that's a tradeoff most presidents can live with)."

Congratulations. You've just given the best justification for terroristic attacks in the US. Countries or people that don't have standard logistical infrastructure will resort to unconventional means to strike 3000 miles away.

Michael Savoca I am pretty sure that we are still in Kosovo, so that 3 month part is a little off. Yes, it was not a "war" but just an air, land and sea effeort.

BCN

"North Korea is being effectively dealt with."

Phocian, that's great news! Ah, what are we doing to effectively deal with north korea?

I'm glad we're finally persuading them to give up their nuclear program. That thing had a lot of people worried.

Democrats are (almost) always good for the US economy... but for some reasons are always responsible for America's bad foreign policy towards Iran! ... Kennedy verses Mosadegh, Carter verses Pahlavi... Clinton verses Khatami!

"but for some reasons are always responsible for America's bad foreign policy towards Iran! ... Kennedy verses Mosadegh, Carter verses Pahlavi... Clinton verses Khatami!"

What exactly was Carter's bad policy towards the Shah ?

This catfight would be more interesting with oil, mud, and your wives involved instead of you two.

I'm going back to FARK.

No disprect meant to Mrs Drezner or Long, but I would rather have Salma Hayek vs. a DeLong Nominee.

Touche...

Dan Drezner -- I fear this intervention is turning into a quagmire for Professor DeLong

Yes, that is an understandment.

I have subsequently awarded Brad DeLong the first Deborah Howell Award for Journalism Inaccuracy. :-)

Deborah Howell, of course, is the Washington Post reporter with whom he is battling over inaccurate news reports regarding the Abramoff stories. Brad has resumed his ongoing campaign, elevating the issue to Jim Brady.

Regarding Brad's new award - Clarification and Award Ceremony:

Clown Show Cage Match: Brad DeLong and Daniel Drezner (Yet Another Why Oh Why Can't We Have Better Blog Posts? Brad DeLong Edition)
http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2006/01/daniel_drezner_.html#comment-13296973

WRT:

January 24, 2006
Daniel Drezner Intervenes Intellectually Outside His Home Area of Expertise
http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2006/01/daniel_drezner_.html

Appreciate your fine assistance in making this award possible.

Best Regards,

Movie Guy
Chairman
Deborah Howell Award for Journalism Inaccuracy Committee
- In recognition of Washington Post level of reporting inaccurcies
and blogging journalism errors in judgment

First Award Recipient:
Dr. Brad DeLong