Bark Without the Bite

October 1, 2007
"His [Ahmadinejad's] statements cannot be dismissed, cast aside or ignored. Led by President Ahmadinejad, Iran is exponentially more threatening to our Nation, Europe, and the world than North Korea or any other country represented at the United Nations. A robust, layered International Missile Defense System will negate Iran's capability to threaten with nuclear weapons the United States, Europe, Israel, and other countries."
--Riki Ellison, President of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA), September 28, 2007
  • “He [Ahmadinejad] does not make Iranian security or nuclear policy. So, even if he wanted to launch a nuclear missile, one, he doesn’t have one to launch and, two, he would be the last person in the decision-making process and probably would not prevail. There are other people who really run the security policy in Iran, and for the most part he merely reflects it. He conveys that message in such a confrontational way that it scares people to death, and in that sense he has done immense damage to his own country.”
    --Gary G. Sick, principal White House aide for Persian Gulf affairs (1976 - 1981), served on the Ford, Carter, and Reagan National Security Councils, September 26, 2007


    • Subscribe to Middle East Progress Alerts

    Support Middle East Progress

    In-Depth Coverage

    Original Commentaries

    Setting the Record Straight

    Determined to Reach a Common Objective

    “We knew at the outset that the task would be difficult. We acknowledged that publicly and privately. We knew this would be a road with many bumps— and there have been many bumps—and that continues to this day. But we are not deterred. We are, to the contrary, determined more than ever to proceed to realize the common objective, which we all share, of a Middle East that is at peace with security and prosperity for the people of Israel, for Palestinians, and for all the people in the region. We will continue our efforts in that regard, undeterred and undaunted by the difficulties, the complexities or the bumps in the road.”—George Mitchell, special envoy for Middle East peace, remarks with Prime Minister Netanyahu, September 29, 2010

    Middle East Analysis

    Upcoming Events

    The U.S. Agency for International Development and Conflict: Hard Lessons from the Field

    May 17, 2011, 12:00pm – 1:15pm

    From Afghanistan and Iraq to Pakistan, Somalia, and South Sudan, the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, is engaged daily in trying to help some of the most troubled nations on the planet make a lasting transition to stability, open markets, and democracy. Few areas of the agency’s work are more challenging or more controversial.

    Join us for remarks by, and a roundtable with, the deputy administrator of USAID, Ambassador

    more