The Iranian military is what secures the regime's control over the Persian people. Anti-regime groups cannot communicate or mobilize without getting ground into kebab. Three carrier groups and a few airborne units could, over time, dramatically diminish Iran's offensive capabilities. Strategically important regions would soon be out of reach and the anti-regime elements would flourish like a desert after a rain.

What an incisive piece! Years ago the handful of western scholars of Iran who had gotten over their astonishment at Iranian culture's gift of flattery recognized and wrote about built in duplicity of the culture. This duplicity is now married to the logical conclusion that Iran is immune from any threats - either because it is protected by the Islamic interpretation of God or because it is too clever for the rest of the world. Over the past decade the Islamic regime has used money and flattery, as well as threats, to silence that part of the Iranian diaspora that might have provided perspective and intelligence. The regime has picked up the theme of the great Iranian culture, and is now using this theme to discourage any meaningful punitive action for the flagrant political actions from nuclear arms, missiles and continuous violation of human rights. Dealing with Iran is like accepting the gift of a poisoned rose.