Straits of Hormuz

The ongoing campaign of sabotage and targeted killing is clearly having a powerful psychological effect and has slowed the Iranian program. But the question remains whether these tactics, even in combination with the tough sanctions scheduled to take effect in coming weeks, can actually stop it.

Iran has doubtless learned something from two countries in particular. The first is North Korea. The second is Libya.

In the game of high stakes international chicken with Tehran, the better diplomacy is to turn the chairs and force the ayatollahs to blink first.

"I have to admit that I'm beginning to miss George W. Bush," is the way former Republican Senator "Chuck" Hagel responded when being asked by CNN's Wolf Blitzer to assess the foreign policy record of the administration of Republican President John McCain.