US To Extend "Defense Umbrella" Over Mideast If Iran Goes Nuclear?

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came out with a most intriguing statement today in response to the concern over Iran fulfilling its goal of obtaining nuclear weapons. She said:

We want Iran to calculate what I think is a fair assessment that if the United States extends a defense umbrella over the region, if we do even more to support the military capacity of those in the Gulf, it's unlikely that Iran will be any stronger or safer because they won't be able to intimidate and dominate as they apparently believe they can once they have a nuclear weapon[.]

Considering that President Obama has taken missile defense and used it as a poker chip with the Russians in relation to fielding it for Eastern Europe, this is a most curious statement indeed. The missile defense for Eastern Europe would actually protect Europe from Iranian missiles, which have a range capable of hitting targets in Europe, as well as throughout the Middle East.

So, what would this defense umbrella look like if it is not missile defense?

Almost as quickly as she made those statements, officials were quick to issue qualifiers:

A senior aide to Clinton, speaking to reporters on background while the secretary's traveling party flew from Bangkok to Phuket, said Clinton's comments did not reflect her acceptance of a nuclear-armed Iran nor a literal accounting of what the U.S. would do if Tehran did acquire nuclear weapons.

Rather, the aide said, the secretary was only articulating what arguments the Obama administration makes to influence Iran's calculus. The aide also said Clinton's use of the term "defense umbrella" was not synonymous with the term "nuclear umbrella," even though the context of her comments centered on Iran's potential acquisition of nuclear weapons.

So, this isn't exactly missile defense, and it isn't extending the MAD doctrine to deter Iran. What exactly is it other than the empty bluster from an Administration that clearly can't figure out how to deal with Iran in a tangible and concrete fashion that protects US interests in the region. Empty platitudes wont cut it.

It should be little wonder that other Middle Eastern countries are considering nuclear programs of their own to deter Iran, because they see no one having the will to stand up to Iranian aggression.