Waltz has also published in the July/August issue of Foreign Affairs the single most preposterous analysis by an allegedly serious strategist of the Iranian quest for a nuclear weapon. His title and subtitle neatly sum up his argument: "Why Iran Should Get the Bomb: Nuclear Balancing Would Mean Stability."
Pipes even wonders why he is still a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, given that they published and led with that article.
I'm way ahead of you on both counts, Professor Pipes.
To answer the rhetorical question posed about whether Professor Waltz is the "stupidest strategist," the answer is no. The frightening thing isn't that his arguments are stupid but that it seems to reflect the emerging consensus of our foreign policy elites.
Stupidity is excusable. Delusion is far more dangerous. I don't know why we spend so much time wondering if Iran's leaders are rational. I wonder if our so-called foreign policy elites are rational.
