The Next Big Idea A War Correspondent on the Crisis in Iran
36 snips
Mar 9, 2026 
Scott Anderson, veteran war correspondent and author of King of Kings, walks through the U.S.-Iran history and contemporary crises. He discusses recent strikes, unpredictability of decision-making, risks of civilian harm, how Iran might retaliate economically and regionally, and the historical roots of the 1979 revolution. Short, sharp takes on what could come next.
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Bombing Can't Stop Street Repression
- Bombing cannot eliminate the regime’s primary means of domestic repression.
- Anderson notes that the January killings were done with shotguns and machine guns, weapons unaffected by precision strikes.
Watch For Economic Pressure Not Military Breakthroughs
- Expect Iran’s regional attacks to be psychological pinpricks rather than decisive blows.
- Anderson warns the smartest Iranian strategy is inflicting economic pain via oil disruptions to pressure the U.S. politically.
How The U.S. Turned Iran Into A Regional Policeman
- U.S. support for the Shah intensified after the 1953 coup and Nixon's 1970s regional strategy.
- Anderson traces massive arms purchases and oil wealth that built Iran into a regional policeman under the Shah.
