| Lakshmi`s confidence that the Syrian-Iranian relationship is indivisible is misplaced. As usual, Lakshmi inserts lots of wishful thinking in place of sound reasoning. To wit, carrots and sticks have always worked in the middle east. Remember how Egypt and the Soviets formed an enduring alliance? Only to watch the US wean the Egyptians away! And do we remember the United Arab Republic - that shortlived union between Syria and Egypt (a much more natural relationship than Syria-Iran) that was touted to represent the future of Arab nationalism. Didn`t last long, did it? Don`t be so sure that Syria, which plays the junior role in its relations with Iran, can`t be removed from the Iranian sphere at the right price. Iran is a rising power in some respects, but the mullahs` regime is literally hated by its people and so I wouldn`t expect a future Iran to be ruled by the same clique of fanatics. It isn`t written in stone that a future Iran will be a knee-jerk enemy of the US. |
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