Word: iranianized
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...what it has done in the past: small-scale attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Hizballah and Hamas rocketing of Israel. But as bad as that would be, what if Iran is preparing for a much broader response, even a full-fledged war? (See pictures of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad...
...have established a doctrine of deterrence that calls for a disproportionate response against the U.S. and Israel in the event of any attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, no matter how limited. The doctrine stipulates that anything less than a large-scale response would risk the credibility of the Iranian regime - and its survival. And importantly, it does not draw a distinction between Israel and the U.S., if for no other reason than Israeli jets have to fly across U.S.-controlled Iraqi airspace to hit Iran...
...Saberi's detention had the hallmarks of a diplomatic cat-and-mouse game from the start. Iran watchers viewed it as a play by Iranian hard-liners to insert themselves into the debate over diplomatic engagement, giving anti-détente forces a tool to retard diplomatic progress because the U.S. would have to limit its engagement with Tehran as long as Saberi was held captive. "They can use her to sabotage any opening," said Suzanne Maloney, an Iran expert at the Brookings Institution. (See pictures of the health-care system in Tehran...
...Saberi's release is seen by the Administration as a victory for Iranian pragmatists over hard-liners - and the U.S. may find a benefit in reciprocating. Releasing the detained Iranians could build trust for talks between Washington and Tehran on security issues in Afghanistan and Iraq and also on the thorny issue of Iran's nuclear program. And it could strengthen the hand of the Iranian pragmatists who sent the signal through the European diplomatic channel...
...downside, however, the Arbil three are, in the Pentagon's eyes, hardened Iranian agents dedicated to undermining stability in Iraq. Washington believes the Revolutionary Guard remains an active sponsor of militant and terrorist groups throughout the region. And the U.S. is wary of establishing a precedent of seeking the release of detained civilians by freeing government operatives held for involvement in espionage or other covert activities...