Security

Iran Going Nuclear? Get Over It, Strategist Says

Iran’s nuclear ambitions are on the minds of every world leader — including President Barack Obama, who tried to cut a deal with Russia to help disarm Iran. Strategist and Pentagon consultant Tom Barnett’s view? Get over it. "I make the argument — and I get into all kinds of fights over it — [that] […]

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Ahmadinejad_2_2 Iran's nuclear ambitions are on the minds of every world leader -- including President Barack Obama, who tried to cut a deal with Russia to help disarm Iran.

Strategist and Pentagon consultant Tom Barnett's view? Get over it.

"I make the argument -- and I get into all kinds of fights over it -- [that] you can’t stop the Iranians from getting nukes, so admit they’ve achieved a certain slot," he said.

Barnett is currently promoting his new book, Great Power: America and the World after Bush. He recently sat down with DANGER ROOM to discuss his tome, the rise of the "Long War" mafia, and the meaning of the global financial meltdown. During our conversation, Barnett shared a few thoughts about Iran's nuclear aspirations. He argued that Iran's probably going to join the club; learn to live with it.

Dealing with Iran, Barnett said, means accepting "that they’ve achieved what we don’t want, or what we have a hard time accepting, and that’s that they are in the great power club."

Which means "we’re not going to invade them," Barnett said. "We’re not going to go nuclear on them pre-emptively. Neither will Israel. Their connections to the Indians and Chinese are too big to blow off –- and to the Russians. So they’re in the club. A lot of people are not too happy about it -- but we sorta need them on both Iraq and Afghanistan anyway, so deal with that."

It's a provocative point, but Barnett's more pragmatic approach does seem to square with the administration's overture to Russia: Help us twist Tehran's arm and we'll back off on plans to build a missile-defense system in your backyard.

[Photo: via NYTimes.com]

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