THE IRAN PROBLEM II

Amir Taheri has a very interesting analysis of the Iran problem in today's NY Post...

...Iran is determined to play a central role in shaping the future of Iraq, and will do all it can to affect the results of the election. The reasons are not hard to divine. Until 9/11, Iran was the only power interested in changing the regional status quo. It saw itself surrounded by enemies, notably Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan. It also nurtured hopes of de-stabilizing the traditional Arab regimes that it regarded as moribund. The Clinton administration had gone out of its way to forge a relationship with the Taliban, sending a succession of emissaries, including then-U.N. Ambassador Bill Richardson, to Kabul to sweet-talk Mullah Muhammad Omar into joining Washington in efforts to isolate Tehran. In 1998 and 1999, the Clintonites also tried to find a modus vivendi with Saddam. But the 9/11 attacks persuaded Americans that the status quo they had cherished in the Middle East was a threat to their national security. As far as destroying the Taliban regime and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein were concerned, Iran was on the U.S. side: The Americans were doing what the Iranians had prayed for. But when it comes to creating a new order in the region, Iran wishes to have its say.

Read the whole thing. It is a somewhat different take on possible Iranian motives and methods than what I have seen in the past from other experts.