BOOK REVIEW - Decoding Obama's Iran policy
A Single Roll of the Dice: Obama's Diplomacy with Iran by Trita Parsi
Reviewed by Brian M Downing
Trita Parsi's first book, Treacherous Alliance (2008), displayed a masterful understanding of the open and hidden dealings between Iran, the United States and Israel over the past 35 years. This impressive follow-up, a study of events since President Barack Obama came to office in 2009, is welcome and exceptionally well-timed.
The new administration began with hopes of reaching out to Iran, but despite a promising beginning, no diplomatic breakthrough came. Parsi attributes this to inflexibility in Tehran, Washington, Jerusalem and Riyadh. Politicians and bureau consistently misinterpret signals from the other side, are loathe to show flexibility for fear of appearing weak, and ignore earnest efforts by intermediary countries. The conflict has become embedded in the thinking and institutions of all concerned countries.
Tehran was skeptical from the start of the Obama administration. Iran had helped the US to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan in 2001 and set up a new government the following year, but the George W Bush administration remained hostile. Following the US defeat in Iraq of Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iran made a bold overture to open a wide-ranging dialogue with the US. But it was rejected; the US did not speak to evil.
Iran, then, saw little likelihood that Obama would be able to break free of political restraints. His selection of Dennis Ross and Rahm Emanuel as key advisers did nothing to shake Tehran from its skepticism, as Tehran deemed them both pro-Israel partisans.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/NB11Ak01.html
