American Power in the Middle East.

• Author: Jones, David T.

American Power in the Middle East

By Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.)

Text: www.cfr.org/publication/23056/sen_lieberman_addresses_us_power_in_middle_east.html

Reviewed by David T. Jones

Senator Joe Lieberman is definitely his own man, but his presentation to the Council on Foreign Relations may not be entirely his speech. Not that Lieberman is anybody's surrogate; however, tough words from an "independent" senator with no direct Administration connections have useful deniability--for both Washington and Tel Aviv.

Lieberman is blunt. Middle East allies are concerned over U.S. "staying power" in the region. They're unsure whether the United States has the will to stop Iran's push for nuclear capability. Lieberman makes an obligatory bow to "dual track" efforts of "engagement and pressure" to push sanctions (combined with the intimation of military action) to persuade Tehran to end its nuclear weapons program. And he notes that various sanctions may be prompting Tehran to resume negotiations; however, talk is cheap--and may be irrelevant. "The harsh fact is Iran's nuclear efforts are continuing forward. ... Iran's centrifuges keep spinning, and its...