"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty." President John F Kennedy
I have used this quote many times to summarize my feelings on what we should be doing with the situation in Iran right now. I have also seen many people stating that we should not get involved because using the military in this situation is wrong. Well, your exactly right, but you are missing the point of foreign policy and what the elements of national power are.
Foreign Policy simply put is the complex and complicated creation of how our nation will react and interact with other nation-states. Much goes into creating this policy; personality, national interest, personal politics, and party allegiances. To offer an example, it is like making sausage. Lots of different things go into a grinder, and out the other end hopefully comes something good and useful.
The elements of national power are Diplomacy, Information, Military, and Economics. We, within the military sometimes refer to it as the acronym DIME. Every nation has at its disposal various levels of influence utilizing these elements of national power. But, all of them are essential and vitally important.
When we discuss what the United States should do about Iran, we are firmly discussing the "D" and the "I" of the "DIME" The "E" or economics would not be useful at this point since the Iranian People would be the ones feeling the brunt of it usage. The "M" or the military has no place here. But diplomacy and information have large utilization.
Through diplomacy we can leverage the UN and our alliances to pressure the Iranians into chance. We can also utilize it to show our support for the Iranian People, and let them know that they are not alone in their requests for greater freedom and a free and uncorrupted election. The information aspect allows us to communicate with them, and let them know that we do support them. Over the course of today I have seen numerous times an Iranian Citizen asking, "Where is the United States? Will you not help us?" The information sphere allows us to answer that question, with a resounding; Yes we are.
No matter what we do though, the future of Iran is in the hands of the Iranian People. I think anyone who is trying to predict where this is going to end, is fool-hardy at this point to make that sort of statement. But, we can let them know that we support them, and are with them, as they strive for greater freedoms.
I know many of you, when you hear a Military Officer speaking of what we should do, automatically believe we will advocate the use of force. That is simply not true. If there is anyone out there who understands what force can do, what it can not do, and especially when not to use it; it is us. This is a situation where diplomacy and information are the key elements of national power for us to use.
God Bless America
Bryan
http://majorsperspective.blogspot.com/
WOTN Note: Neither this nor any other reporting on the Iranian situation should be considered an endorsement of, a rebuttal of, nor a recommendation to the US Government or any other Government on Foreign Policy as War On Terror News has not been apprised of Government policy in this Situation. It is to be considered as an explanation of what policy may or may not be based on appearances.
Even as there is still no way to predict how this situation will turn out, there is not yet a way to judge if the current Administration, the prior Administration, or any other government is acting appropriately or not. History will be the judge and now is not the time for parisanship.
It does appear to this Veteran that the Tyrannical Dictator Khameni has sealed his fate at this juncture, but Success by the Persian People in their protests and struggles for Freedom does not ensure Freedom, but Failure by them does guarantee Tyranny.
The World cheers their efforts but the risks and the measure of success is on their shoulders alone. It does not appear that any external assistance is forthcoming for them, other than that of the world providing them information and cheering them.
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