https://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2009/10/12/happy-trails/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usWed, 10 Jun 2026 00:08:47 -0400<![CDATA[Lee Smith in Slate paints a dark picture of America&#8217;s future in the Middle East. He notes the administration&#8217;s language towards Iran, which started with brave assertions to &#8220;&#8216;do everything that&#8217;s required to prevent&#8217; Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons  &#8230; has given way to new catchwords, like deterrence and containment&#8221;.  Containment? Oh well, one can live with that. But Smith argues the use of the word &#8220;containment&#8221; is to mischaracterize the situation. The problem he says is that current American policy towards the Islamic Revolution is already one of containment. And that containment is what is failing. The prospective condition the administration is describing as containment is really something else: a breakout. Once Iran gets the bomb, he argues, all the rest would follow suit. Having watched America impotently striving to keep Teheran from arming, the other powers would draw their own conclusion. Every man for himself. In short order the region would become a tinderbox. And what would despotisms in the region do with nuclear weapons? Smith offers up a number of ideas. Traditionally the despots have used force against their own people and ethnic minorities. Saddam used gas. Would other dictators stint at nukes?]]>Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:38:49 -0400<![CDATA[Richard Fernandez]]>https://pjmedia.com/richard-fernandez/2009/10/12/happy-trails-n189280