Bringing Iran to ‘Goldilocks’ point underpins the rationale behind this war

The great gamble of the US and Israel may be that they can bring Iran to a sort of “Goldilocks point” – that is, just right – of near, but not complete, collapse. “In other words,” said Ozcelik, “they are predicated on regime transformation – something short of total state collapse, but still a decisive alteration in how state power is organised, exercised and enforced....Planners may be tempted to look to Syria as a reference point. A popular, non-violent uprising against the regime eventually led to the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad, despite deep external sponsorship of the entrenched dictator.” But, she noted, “between point A and B in Syria lay 13 brutal years that included a multisided civil war and the emergence of armed radical groups”.