A lot of energy is spent trying to figure out how and when we can withdraw Iraq without leaving behind a bigger mess than when we started. I say that not only is
that battle lost, but we've got an even bigger problem on our hands now. The real cost of the War in Iraq is the radicalization of Iran.
People like to forget, but there was a short period right before the War in Iraq when Iran was actually coming around.
Now look at what we've got there...
Prior to the War in Iraq, Iran had twice elected a reform-minded President who had the support of liberal students and activists within the country. That the Supreme Council in Iran even allowed the guy to RUN, much less accept that he won the election TWICE, was nothing short of a miracle given that they had kicked us out and held 400 prisoners at our embassy in Tehran only 20 years earlier.
The War in Iraq has strengthened the appeal of the hardliners in Iran and caused the country to adopt a radically different attitude in recent years. A nation that was once willing to accept reform is now solidly in the clutches of hardline Islamofascist militants.
The electorate in that country this time chose to elect a hardliner rather than the reformer who was still allowed to run on the ticket. Ahmadinejad won a very close race, but make no mistake that the only reason he had even that much support is because a militant brand of Islam has become more popular in Iran since the US went to war with Iraq.
Even after the War in Afghanistan this brand of Islam was not so pervasive. But now, after the debacle in Iraq, it has gripped the nation of Iran as its people have come more radicalized and militant in opposition to the United States. This is now a dominant way of thinking in the Middle East - so much so that Iran's President is willing to risk war with the West with his latest actions. And the Iranian people are embracing this!
This is now the second time he has rattled the sabre against the West in a major public appearance - and this time he was much more bold and confident. Clearly he has the support of a large enough segment of Iran to say these things and put their country in this position. We must take him seriously - his people certainly do.
This change in Iran is the true legacy of the War In Iraq. And it is a dangerous legacy to have left. Even Al Qaeda doesn't pose the same threat as an aggressive, militant Iran in an already hostile region of the world.
What we're seeing from Iran recently is just the beginning of a whole new scenario of conflict in the Middle East.
