Iran’s strength is becoming bigger problem for U.S.
`Iran, one of two remaining members of President Bush’s “axis of evil,” is gaining strength and confounding U.S. attempts to curb its growing influence, several experts on Iran say.
Higher oil prices and political progress by Shiite Muslim groups in Iraq and Lebanon are empowering a country that is developing nuclear technology and supporting groups the United States regards as terrorist. As a result, Iran is better able to cause problems for the United States and its allies. [..]
U.S. actions since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have improved Iran’s strategic position, says Richard Clarke, former counterterrorism chief in the Bush and Clinton administrations.
He says Iran has achieved its goals from the 1980s: the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, who invaded Iran in 1980; political rights for Iraq’s Shiite majority and free access to Shiite holy sites in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala.’
