Jeffrey Goldberg

Was Iran a problem for the security of the United States and its allies in the Middle East and beyond?

Sure, it was.

The question is, why now?

Why this way?

Look.

If there had been planning, you wouldn't have spent the last year alienating NATO.

Sure.

Right.

I mean, if there had been any kind of planning, you would have said, let us secure the Strait of Hormuz before we do anything else.

Let's not be surprised when the Iranians start trying to blow up stuff in the Strait.

Right.

And by the way, I'm now in the camp of people.

A lot of people are arguing this, that a war of choice is becoming a war of necessity in the following sense.

The global economy is going to be dependent on the Strait of Hormuz being open.

And the Chinese are watching a third tier war.

power, Iran.

Let's say Russia is a second tier power and China is a near peer adversary of the United States.

They're watching a third tier power screw with the United States in a narrow waterway.

Now, what are the Chinese looking at 24 hours a day?

A narrow waterway between Taiwan and China.