The Wire

Today Iran will comply with a European Union demand that it halt uranium enrichment, so that negotiations can begin over trade deals. Despite this concession, the United States continues to threaten pre-emptive strikes to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities. The European Union and Washington seem to be on another collision course in the Middle East over the US pressure on Iran, as the United States seem to be lining themselves up for another expensive military adventure. Or are they? Many analysts believe that the Americans will lean on regional allies, particularly Israel, to perform their own so-called “surgical strikes”… and do the Americans’ dirty work for them. The possibility of a US ally taking on such a role raises some important questions… such as whether the United States is experiencing imperial overstretch, because of its commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq. Ed Giles spoke to Dr Glen Bradbury, visiting fellow in the Humanities Research Center at the Australian National University, who believes that Israel will be on the sharp end in any potential conflict.