Let's do the sensible thing with Iran and Syria

As i've made mention previously, Middle East experts like Newsweek's Fareed Zakaria, have argued we should resume social, economic, and political ties with Iran and Syria. In both cases, the rulers are not as untouchable as they are purported in their state-controlled medias. Ahmedinejad's conference on the Holocaust is little more than a ploy to win back favor in Iran where he is not as popular as when he was elected. He has not delivered promise to bring Iran into the world scene as a true superpower: their economy is not producing the jobs he said it would. It's relative isolation from the Developed World is a major source of disdain for his younger constituents, who hold more than favorable opinions of the West and seek to integrate with us someday sooner, rather than later. Reintroducing ourselves in that country (if done in a more responsible manner than we previously conducted ourselves prior to 1978) would show the whole of the Iranian people that Ahmedinejad's media claims are not as real as they claim to be regarding the West. Plus, it would give tremendous impetus to those who seek to modernize and reform the current Ayatollah-dominated system of abuses of power and irrationality. It would create a new front in trade relations, thus creating more job opportunities for the US and Iran and further undermine Ahmedinejad's regime.

With regard to Syria, i cannot say i am as well-read, suffice it to say that what i do know is that President Bashar Al-Assad early this year conceded that relations between our two nations was necessary for both countries (we need his help with Iraq and Lebannon, and he needs our help with the plethora of internal problems he is facing). His country is also not as productive as his critics say it could be were it a part of the global economy, and as with other democratic movements throughout the region, that in Syria is gaining momentum and posing greater problems. This appears to be another opportunity for us to defend ourselves through not just counter-polemicizing, but in action, as our active presence in the region could have an undermining effect on his regime and an uplifting effect on trade.

Let us not miss these opportunities, for we also have the problem with Iraq, where these two players are key in solving that internal, as well as regional problem. Bringing those two under a regionally-respected system of cooperation would ultimately moderate their policies and would bring them under regional scrutiny. Plus, our positive contributions toward such a system as an active player and contributor would secure more favorable opinion in that part of the World.