In the last two years we have changed our strategy in the middle east Dramatically. Al-Qaida is not the enemy anymore, Iraq has seen a reduction in violence. Iran is the enemy. The Sunni regimes have been reaffirmed as steady allies. Nuclear tinkering in Iran is now far more important than state security in nuclear-armed Pakistan. Welcome to 1988.

The ambivalence about Iraq that Kaplan describes is very real. It is also completely irrational, given that there are a plethora of options available for moving forward. The irrationality of refusing to do what is in your own long-term interest for the sake of short-term face saving measures has undermined what should be obvious to all.

First, the potential solutions.

1. Shift the focus back to Israel-Palestine (for real). Everyone knows Annapolis was a photo op. If anything, it was a chance to reaffirm alliances against Iran, and try to pry Syria (a surprisingly dutiful attendant) away from Amedinijhad. Too little, too late. Had Bush been firmer in calling for final-status talks, had he pressured Israel more, had he not ignored Hamas for a year, had he pushed for a more public and global event, then maybe this event would have had the effect that it was purported to - to get the peace process moving again on the issue that is at the core of almost every anti-American sentiment in the middle east today.

2. Engage Iran. You've heard it before... it doesn't mean its not the right thing to do. After Egypt, Iran is arguably the most democratic nation in the middle east. They are also a potential threat. This is a recipe for engagement - not isolation. They are not and will never be the North Korea of the middle east. They have a ton of control over what has happened in Iran (in fact, I should point out, there has been a bit of negotiation between our embassadors which has reduced the amount of Shia Militia violence - could we Please pay attention to this?) Their nuclear program is a huge problem, but they have attempted to seek a detente with us since 2002. I think this opportunity still exists, if we are willing to ensure regime security. If we don't start treating them like a sovereign nation, then you can be sure that they will wholeheartedly pursue their nuke program in the years ahead.

3. Call the UN. 9-11 was the global pearl harbor necessary to motivate the moribund UN into an active role in the middle east. This opportunity was actively spurned. We need to make ammends. Ban Ki Moon is a surprisingly dynamic figure - certainly less controversial than Kofi Annan. The US needs to claim a leadership role at the UN - there should be blue helmets on all of Iraq's borders, especially Saudi Arabia's keeping out foreign fighters. There should be a reinvigorated UN economic plan for Iraq. There should be a UN negotiated settlement in Lebanon. Most importantly, we should be preparing to transfer security in Iraq (over the course of, say, 2 years) to the most robust peacekeeping force ever assembled, along with US advisors and an Iraqi security force. That is, unless you want to be in Iraq in christmas, 2017.

4. Draft a treaty for making the middle east a WMD-free zone, with a regional assembly to deal with outbreaks of violence. A treaty of all Arab nations + Iran should be negotiated that ensures a balance of power, security of oil resources, and a conflict-resolution diplomatic mechanism. This could easily tie in with and support No. 1 2 and 3.

The US can be a great leader in the middle east. But somebody needs to read us the definition of leadership: commanding the respect and cooperation of others. We can't just flail about hoping that people listen to us or else we might drop some ordnance. We need results, and there are a myriad of ways in which to go about it, if we could swallow our pride and realize that peace and leadership are far more important than political legacies in the middle east.

The only candidate talking about this is Joe Biden...we hardly knew ye. Maybe Hillary or Obama have an inkling of this possibility. Dare I say Romney? Perhaps congress should stop trying to grow a pair of balls and start growing a brain.

Excellent post, full of common sense.

I'm surprised that no one so far has taken you to task for that. ;-)

and yet, the media has to concentrate on Obama v Hillary and whose doing a better job of attacking each other.

Everyone seems to agree with Biden at the debates, and I believe him and Richardson are the only ones who have negotiated in the middle-east before. You would think that would matter.

God, fuck the media

What a great post!! Bravo.