America’s Unwise Shadow Conflict With Iran

Foreign Affairs

America’s foolish shadow conflict with Iran

While Washington is unlikely to make Iran a friend, Tehran presents little danger to America.

The end of the Cold War was a grave threat to world peace. In the decades since then, Washington has increased the use of military force all over the world. In the past two decades Americans have almost been in constant combat.

Many battles in these conflicts have taken place in shadows. The Justice Department recently charged an Iranian with plotting to kidnap and murder John Bolton, one of President Donald Trump’s national-security advisors. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also been threatened.

Tehran reportedly also planned to kidnap Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad. While it disclaimed responsibility, Tehran blamed author Salman Rushdie for the much-publicized knife attack to which he was subjected. These threats galvanized opposition to any deal with Tehran. Republican Rep. Mike McCaul tweeted: “The admin should walk away from nuke talks & prioritize Americans.”

That the Iranian regime is criminal is not in doubt: it ranks near the bottom of Freedom House’s “Freedom in the World” rankings. Few of Tehran’s most vocal critics are more passionate than shedding crocodile tears for such violations of human rights. Many of these critics support even more extreme regimes, such as the Saudi monarchy dictatorship. This is more aggressive at home than Tehran. Indeed, Pompeo acted as devoted consigliere for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after the murder and dismemberment of journalist and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi, protecting the Saudi leader from economic sanctions and other repercussions for his crimes.

Several American Middle Eastern allies oppress their citizens and detain Americans on dubious charges. But, Washington grants and supports its friends, such as those from Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. American officials are committed to human rights except for when they feel that U.S. national interests demand otherwise.

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Hypocrisy in foreign policies is not a new phenomenon–for Washington and any other country. Americans excel at being sanctimonious, appearing as Vestal Virgins within a sinister, moral world. For instance, after reports on the plot on his life, Bolton commented: “It is not just a window into how they behave with their terrorist activities and sponsorship of terrorist groups, but how they conduct their foreign policy altogether.” Thus, he added, “This is not a regime that can be trusted to meet its commitments or obligations. This regime sees America as an enemy, and it acts accordingly .”

While this is true, it’s radically incomplete. Preceding the threats against Bolton and Pompeo was a singularly important event–the Trump administration’s dramatic assassination of Iran’s Qasem Soleimani, head of the Quds Force.

Soleimani had a bad influence in managing the government’s many irregular operations. Residents of the Middle East may have similar complaints about Soleimani’s deputy director of CIA operations and chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff or the national security advisor. His involvement in planning coups, as well as other questionable operations like the murder of Soleimani, could be attributed to him.

The world is filled with thugs and creeps who are in high places of power. Many of these people, including the Saudi Crown Prince “Slice’n Dice”, are American allies. All of them should be sent to the trash can. However, in general governments don’t target each other for obvious reasons: If they do, then retaliation will be likely. For Western democracies, this is especially important as they are susceptible to manipulation and infiltration by aggressive authoritarian countries.

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The Trump administration broke this informal rule with Soleimani. While there is no need to grieve his passing, it was foolish at the best. His support of the U.S.-led occupation in Iraq was the most compelling argument. That’s likely true, though Iran’s role has been often exaggerated.

But Uncle Sam also has dirty hands. American military officers and civilian officials are responsible for killing Russian soldiers, apparently including generals, in the Russo-Ukrainian war. And Washington’s support for the Afghan Mujahideen, with Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, cost numerous Soviet lives during the USSR’s occupation of that nation. The U.S. could not have been happier if Moscow assassinated those who designed these deadly policies.

Moreover, Washington was not killed in Soleimani by a low-level or backroom operator, but rather a political figure. His death caused widespread distress in Iran.

Washington is currently safe from serious Iranian retaliation through a combination of luck and restraint. The Trump administration failed in its attempt to ward off Iranian retaliation. (A similar pronouncement by the Biden administration also was ineffective.) Tehran staged a missile attack on a U.S. base, causing significant casualties–downplayed by Trump–but fortunately no deaths. Iran’s Iraqi allies lost their top commander to the drone attack by the U.S. Also, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was also attacked. Pompeo responded weakly with plans to close the embassy if necessary. Think about what the Republican reaction would be if Joe Biden or Barack Obama had been so weak-kneed.

Thankfully, the U.S. foiled the plot against Bolton. The Biden administration must warn Tehran that it will not target American officials. This plot to attack Iran is partly due to U.S. policies. Bolton’s life is in danger because the government that he served, with his reported support, killed a high-ranking Iranian official for activities comparable to those carried out by American officials against other nations.

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To paraphrase Bolton: The killing of Soleimani not only shows how American policymakers act with the promiscuous military intervention, sponsorship of authoritarian governments, and how they actually conduct foreign policy. U.S. officials will drone, bomb and invade other countries and kill or injure other peoples for whatever reason, regardless of the consequences.

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The impact of Trump’s assassination attempt on Soleimani is a lesson for Washington. Iran’s extraordinary tenacity has been shown. American policymakers need to recognize that U.S. interventions are not free. Retaliation is possible. This could lead to a spiral of disaster.

While the Islamic Republic of Iran may not be Washington’s friend in the future, Tehran is little of a threat. It isn’t just Iran who has been hostile. The war against the Iranian people has been going on for almost seven centuries.

Washington has made terrible and unfounded threats to Americans by attacking Iran, as well as plots like the Bolton one. The U.S. should not promise to support Israel and Saudi Arabia in their battles. Instead, it should let those nations take full responsibility for their security. Trump’s policy towards Iran was disastrous. Biden should have a completely different approach.

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