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May 19, 2008

Turkish Ambassador to U.S. Calls Iran "a threat to Turkey as well as to the U.S." (Updated)

Topics: Iran

Andrew Cochran points out at Counterterrorism blog that anyone wondering whether the threat posed by Iran is "tiny" or substantial (is B. Hussein Obama listening?) should ponder what the Ambassador from Turkey to the U.S. said today at the panel on the Turkey-U.S. relationship.

Ambassador Nahi Sensoy said that Iran has run "clandestine (nuclear) programs for more than two decades," and those programs are "a threat to Turkey as well as to the U.S." Granted, Turkey's method of dealing with that threat includes diplomatic engagement with Iran - the two have not been at war with each other since 1639 - but the Turkish government clearly recognizes that the size of Iran's military is not of critical importance in the age of asymmetric warfare.

The first necessity in designing a national security policy is have a clear-eyed view of the threats and opportunities, the allies and potential foes. To brush away Iran's potential for deploying nuclear technology, either on its own or through its terrorist proxies, is to ignore the strategic goals clearly expressed by Iranian leaders: the destruction of the State of Israel and the strategic defeat of the U.S.

Related - Jennifer Rubin: Which Is It?:

Now Barack Obama says "Iran is a grave threat." Several points are in order. Rule one (after "Don't announce a withdrawal date to the enemy while at war") of national security policy: be consistent. In the course of twenty-four hours, Obama went from "tiny" to "grave" in his Iran threat assessment. His supporters swear he has gone from unconditional, presidential talks with rogue state leaders to something else. (His supporters may wish it were so, but there is little evidence from the candidate himself of this transformation. If there has been, Hillary Clinton gets a big "I told you so.")

Also relate: John at Powerline - Obama Gets A Whiplash: "Can someone explain why it is, exactly, that Barack Obama is not a laughingstock?"

Posted by Abdul at May 19, 2008 6:21 PM

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