So Iran Caved on the Bomb. What Now?

Nuclear talks in Vienna appear to have put a hold on Tehran's enrichment program, but don't expect any pulled punches in the Middle East. A preview of what's at stake for the U.S., Iran, and the elephant in the negotiating room during the year of living not-as-dangerously.

Continue reading this week's World War Room column at Esquire.com.

Comments

[David Sutton]

This is welcome news Tom. One of the things i have been convinced of over the past years of readership was that you had the measure of Iran and its nuclear program as well as a handle on the issues is the broader sense.

That we have talk is good, that we have this year for things to coalesce is better.

That the Iranians can make it to a table and act like responsible world citizens should put a few holes in the 'they're mad and we cannot ever trust them and their god" school of thought.

[Brad Barbaza]

This played out great with North Korea too. Pressure builds against your program, make a fake gesture to buy yourself some time for further development, create a false crisis as an excuse to start the whole process. I can't wait for the rounds of 'inspections' that will be agreed to, delayed, resumed, cancelled, etc. Then, one day, tell the world you have a bomb and suddenly they are powerless against you...

I've been told for years how rational it is for Iran to desire nuclear weapons. Now, I'm being given proof of how rational they are by their openness to cancel their rational program.

[Brad Barbaza]

As a post note to my previous Comment, I just wanted to clarify that I was directing it not at Barnett's Esquire article (which had some great insight I had not been exposed to before) but at how some commentators and media have viewed it..

One of Barnett's greatest strengths, in my opinion. Is that he always looks at a situation realistically and asks 'What now?' Too often, people get hung up on things not going their way and either whine about it or get unrealistic dreams about changing it. The leaders who first realize that Iran is going to get the bomb and start to plan for it, are the ones who will, obviously, be best positioned to come out with a win.