September 15, 2007

Quotable

George Perkovich:

"If I were the Iranians, what I’d be freaked out about is that the other Arab states didn’t protest” the airstrike, said George Perkovich, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “The Arab world nonreaction is a signal to Iran, that Arabs aren’t happy with Iran’s power and influence, so if the Israelis want to go and intimidate and violate the airspace of another Arab state that’s an ally of Iran, the other Arab states aren’t going to do anything.”

"Freaked out" is rather strong, but certainly Damascus and Teheran have taken note. Be assured the lack of protests (at least significant, public ones) emitting from Cairo, Riyadh and Amman will be grist for the mill for the Cheneyites pushing for more of same, whether in Syria, or Iran.