Thursday, December 3, 2009

Iran left out in the cold

By Kaveh L Afrasiabi
Asia Times

"Notably absent from President Obama's Afghan speech this week were references to other stakeholders in the region - especially Iran. Apart from the role Tehran can play regarding security issues, as long as the bulk of the Afghan drug trade passes through Iran, the country can't afford to sit idly by.....

After nearly a year in office, Obama's initial enthusiasm for some sort of resurrection of the US-Iran common cause on Afghanistan has apparently fizzled out. It has been replaced with a new strategy of self-reliance, reflected in the omission of any reference to Iran and other important regional players. Should things not go as planned, however, Obama may soon veer back to his initial belief hat the road to Kabul travels through Tehran."

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