In the U.S. War on Terrorism, Iran Is the Enemy

Publication Date: September 1985

Publisher: Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s): Alvin H. Bernstein

Research Area: Government

Keywords: Homeland defense

Type: Report

Coverage: Iran

Abstract:

Washington must begin looking more than one stop ahead in its battle with terrorism. The U.S. if it chooses, can do far more damage to Iran than Iran can to the U.S. A single, punishing reprisal strike is no answer. It will do little or nothing to end terrorism against the U.S. To fight this new low-intensity war, Washington must be determined to strike back again if tested. Without advance planning for that testing, without the willingness to move beyond a first reprisal, Washington again will have its bluff called by Iran, as happened in Lebanon in the final months of 1983. Teheran will exploit the U.S. lack of persistence and real strategy to humiliate the U.S. anew. If Washington is not, from the beginning, prepared to do what is necessary to inflict substantial damage on Iran, it should not use military force in the first place.