The Foreign Service Journal, October 2005

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 5 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 31 F O C U S O N “ R O G U E ” S T A T E S W AR WITH I RAN , OR W AR WITH THE F ACTS ? re those war drums tuning up again, this time for Iran? An exiled opposition group spreads “intelligence” about nukes, while respected Secretaries of State front for neocon hawks. As the pres- ident and vice president hint of an attack to come, other officials lash Iran, and pundits voice their support for strong measures. Meanwhile, as Washington blusters, Europeans take a softer line. And on and on to a repeat of the Iraq invasion? Yes, it all sounds familiar, but I don’t think so. The Bush administration may be ideologically motivated, but it A E FFORTS BY THE B RITISH , F RENCH AND G ERMANS OFFER HOPE THAT THE DAY T EHRAN ACQUIRES NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAN BE PUT OFF INDEFINITELY . B Y H ENRY P RECHT PJ Loughran