Iran, a 'communications satellite' and decidedly terrestrial politics
Iran argues for its missile muscle by successfully launching a communications satellite into orbit.
At first, I'm baffled why Iran would do this now - when it legitimizes a Bush-era policy to build the controversial 'missile shield' (whose functional capabilities are entirely open to debate) in Europe.
The more I think about it, it seems to me that the Iranian regime must believe that it is unable to sustain itself without confrontation and external enemies to divert attention away from significant internal corruption, inflation, and insufficient domestic oil exploitation infrastructure. Especially as world oil prices decline.
Iran, too, gains something in keeping the US locked into a missile defence program that enrages Russia, and leaves Europe vulnerable to Russia's gas-tap threat. It's one hell of a gambit, but even if it doesn't work in splitting NATO asunder, it serves to keep American foreign policy attention divided, especially as Iraq apparently stabilizes and there is every expectation of expanded NATO forces in Afghanistan.
EDIT: Certainly the US is being nipped in this new Great Game.
At first, I'm baffled why Iran would do this now - when it legitimizes a Bush-era policy to build the controversial 'missile shield' (whose functional capabilities are entirely open to debate) in Europe.
The more I think about it, it seems to me that the Iranian regime must believe that it is unable to sustain itself without confrontation and external enemies to divert attention away from significant internal corruption, inflation, and insufficient domestic oil exploitation infrastructure. Especially as world oil prices decline.
Iran, too, gains something in keeping the US locked into a missile defence program that enrages Russia, and leaves Europe vulnerable to Russia's gas-tap threat. It's one hell of a gambit, but even if it doesn't work in splitting NATO asunder, it serves to keep American foreign policy attention divided, especially as Iraq apparently stabilizes and there is every expectation of expanded NATO forces in Afghanistan.
EDIT: Certainly the US is being nipped in this new Great Game.