Franco Ordonez

Many saw it as weak and actually empowering of Iran economically.

During the George W. Bush years, Iran accelerated its nuclear program.

Bush, of course, labeled Iran part of its axis of evil.

This has really been an issue since the revolution in 1979.

Iran had been a modern society, and the government was actually an ally to the U.S.

The regime, though, that took over was largely built in opposition to the U.S.

and to Israel.

I mean, it seems focused on two likely sets of targets.

One would be limited strikes, perhaps against Iran's ballistic missile program or nuclear targets or leadership maybe.

A second could be something bigger, a longer campaign aimed at destabilizing or possibly overthrowing the regime.

Matthew Kroenig, who worked on the Iranian file at the Pentagon, he told me the administration will want to consider Iran's response, noting that Iran's response last time was limited because they knew or probably knew that the U.S.

had limited aims.

Yeah, it could be very soon.

The U.S.

now has a massive military presence in the Middle East, the largest since the run-up to the Iraq War.

The U.S.

held a third round of negotiations with Iranian officials in Geneva Thursday, as you noted.

And what observers say may be the last chance to prevent a war.

I mean, clearly those meetings are very important.

Now, U.S.