Eisenstadt: Sure, Iran is aggressive -- but does that make them craaaazy?

By Joseph Sarkisian

Best Defense bureau of Iranian
affairs

The
Marine Corps University's recently published monograph titled, The
Strategic Culture of the Islamic Republic of Iran, brings to light an
unconventional viewpoint on Iranian grand strategy. Its author, Michael
Eisenstadt, dispels the myths surrounding Iranian policy while providing an
in-depth analysis of the creative calculus the regime uses when making its
decisions at home and abroad. It is this calculus that the United States must
solve in order to achieve more effective engagement.

Eisenstadt
makes the case that the Iranian regime operates in a very pragmatic, calculated
manner as opposed to the image of an "irrational, 'undeterrable'
state with a high pain threshold," that its leadership likes to portray. Being
able to see past the rhetoric of holocaust denial, destruction of Israel, and
fears of a nuclear apocalypse, which Iran intentionally uses to paint itself as
a fearsome enemy, will be key to making tangible diplomatic progress.

In his
view, the image of Iran as an irrational
actor is overblown -- but the idea that Iran seeks to become a regional power
capable of exerting influence over the entire region and becoming the guardian
of Islam is real. Iranian defense planning is formed around this goal, as well
as to deter potential adversaries and to achieve self-reliance from the outside
world.

The
argument that, "The Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) is an unconventional
adversary that requires unconventional approaches in planning, strategy and
policy" is underscored by the fact that the conventional method of sanctioning
to change behavior has done nothing to stop uranium enrichment.

The
unconventional approach suggested by Eisenstadt suggests a rewriting of the
policy manual on Iran. The United States must spend less time countering
Iranian hard power and more time countering its even stronger soft power, pay
more attention to the effectiveness of Iranian psychological warfare, and
brainstorm better ways to pierce the veil of Iranian ambiguity. Once more of
these unconventional tactics are implemented, the end of the 32-year diplomatic
stalemate may finally come within reach.