I’m with you on John Batchelor’s prognostications, Quin. I’ve listened to John’s show a long time, and I think he regularly reveals information virtually nobody else has, or pays attention to, and that’s important. I take the trouble of driving my car to the nearest high ground so I can tune in WABC to listen to him most nights, I consider his show so important (Boston radio doesn’t carry him any more).

But you’re right, he’s short on solutions. For a fact-filled long read about Iran and its relationship with the U.S., both past and going forward, see Edward Luttwak’s Commentary essay here.

Luttwak is fairly sanguine — and makes a good case — about how soon Iran could develop The Bomb. He overlooks the possibility that China or the Norks could short-circuit that laborious process and move the Persians much closer much quicker. But his analysis of the historical interest of Russia in Iran is fabulous, as is his lengthy reminder of why Iran is so important to the U.S.