Thank you for your comment.

And if Jessica Simpson stops dating Tony Romo she might start dating me. While this does not violate the laws of physics, it seems just as unlikely as the leadership of Iran ending their 29 year war against the United States or leaving their current positions of power any time soon.

One does not follow from the other.

We began constructive engagement with China under Mao Zedong, who was far scarier than the Ayatollahs — during the Cultural Revolution, which was far scarier than life in the Islamic Republic.

Many of the historical reasons for harassing Iran no longer hold.

Russia’s resumption of interstate war as a tool of diplomacy is one bigger threat, among many.

And if Jessica Simpson stops dating Tony Romo she might start dating me. While this does not violate the laws of physics, it seems just as unlikely as the leadership of Iran ending their 29 year war against the United States or leaving their current positions of power any time soon.

Well said.

Russia’s position is incoherent — they defend their recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by saying there cannot be one rule for Serbia and another for Georgia — but all the while deny that Kosovo is an independent countries [1]. (Simultaneously alienating both Kosovo and Serbia takes talent, but Putin managed it! [2])

Supporting Islamists against Russia is the equivalent of supporting the People’s Mujahideen against Iran [3] — recognizing that bad things happen in the Gap anyway, the point is to keep the Gap busy in itself so as to minimize the violence it can export to the Core.

That said, if we have peace with Iran [4], I think Iran may join the Core faster than Russia could.

[1] http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12009678
[2] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/08/27/mapping-the-core.html
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Mujahedin_of_Iran
[4] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/08/15/peace-with-iran.html

“MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin’s decision to recognize the independence of two breakaway regions of neighboring Georgia has prompted some people inside Russia’s own borders to ask: why can we not have independence too?

The recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia risks starting a “domino effect,” re-awakening separatist sentiments in Chechnya and other parts of the turbulent North Caucasus where Russia has been fighting to contain rebellions.”

While I don’t think the U.S. should rush to partner with Islamists (speaking of bell you can’t un-ring), it would be preferable to a more overt military confrontation and the option should be quietly explored and viewed as the strategic equivalent of a switchblade in our back pocket.

[1]http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSLR49820920080827

Regarding RAWilliams, whether our Islamist allies support the C.E. or some other constellation of break-away regions is a technical detail. The purpose is to increase the heat on Russia to engaging in aggressive war and trying to dismember other states.

I have no idea what Charlie is talking about. I only didn’t delete his comment because he’s typical of a lot of the emotionality I see on this issue.

The Caucasian Emirate sounds nice in theory, but is completely impractical and impossible.

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