No president -- no matter how reformist or conservative in orientation -- will be able to force through significant changes in Iranian foreign policy without the acquiescence of other power centers, most notably the supreme leader. Full Story »
Posted by Derek Hawkins
Perhaps too lenient at some points, this is an overall compelling case for rejecting the previous administration's "conventional wisdom" about relations with Iran. In a few places it seems like we're expected to take the author's word for it, so to speak, based on her experience in diplomacy, but for the most part she offers sound reasoning and shows a nuanced understanding of the issue.
