My Photo  « The Iraq Study Group Report | Main | Can It Be 2008
Now, Please? »  December 07, 2006   TrackBack URL for this
entry:  Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Iran's
Interests:   This is a standard collective action problem. There
is a type of behavior -- supporting armed factions in Iraq --
that is individually rational for each neighbor, but
collectively disastrous for all of them.  This is pretty much
the Prisoners' Dilemma. The problem there arises because the
prisoners cannot communicate and make binding agreements with
each other.  An intermediary who can convince each of the
prisoners that the other will stick to the deal, for whatever
reason, solves the problem. Sounds like diplomacy to me.  Is
there any evidence that foriegn support is signifigant in
forming or strengthening these militias?  "Instability in Iraq"
is not an all-or-nothing proposition.  Yes, but the unthinking
partisans sure do think it is. It's a common affliction among
the ideologues; properties are binary, as th