Aired April 3, 2011
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CROWLEY: And isn't this in the end all about Iran? Isn't the president's Middle East policy and how he's dealing with these separate nations really with one eye on Iran most of the time?
JONES: I think -- Candy, I think you really asked a good question here. I think there are three -- three major pillars here. One is what's going on in North Africa and the Gulf and this uprising of popular opinion, and people who want a better life for themselves and want to be governed differently, in different countries.
Second, we shouldn't forget that the Middle East peace process is always at the center of this issue. There is no cause and effect relationship here, but if you really want to change the momentum where Iran is not quite as happy as it right now, because there are a lot of things that are going on with the Iranian government, you are probably reasonably happy with.
CROWLEY: Like for instance?
JONES: Chaos.
CROWLEY: Chaos helps Iran.
JONES: Trying to -- first of all, Iran is a little bit off -- it's flying under the radar right now, because you know you don't hear too much about their nuclear program, because everybody is focused elsewhere. But you can bet that Iran is affecting virtually everything and trying to play in every one of these countries where we're having some -- some difficulty. Even though under the banner of democracy and change, Iran is going to be -- is out there agitating things.
JONES: So the Middle East peace process, if there was any progress that could be made between the Palestinians and Israelis, would be a huge set back for Iran.
And to your question accounts Iran is the big shadow here, on the whole region, from Yemen to Egypt to Tunisia to Libya, and it's a factor that we should not -- we should not take our eye off of.
CROWLEY: Are we -- has the president been tough enough on Iran? Do you approve of the way he's been handling Iran?
JONES: Well, I -- as you know, I served in the administration for better part of two years.
CROWLEY: But you haven't been totally thinking that we -- you have suggested perhaps we've turned one too many cheeks in Iran.
JONES: Well, you get to that point where -- we got to the point I think in the middle part of last week, where the Iranian regime showed itself for what it is. The fact they walked away from Istanbul you know was a huge -- for me, a huge moment that said, look, this is the way these guys are. They're not serious. And we really do have to pay attention to their nuclear program. And while you leave the door open, I'm not terribly optimistic they will walk through it.
And all of the trouble going on in the region right now, has allowed them to slide under the radar. But I know for sure that the administration is not taking its eye off Iran in the long-term.
CROWLEY: Would you like to see policy a little tougher on Iran?
JONES: I think we -- I think they deserve to be treated with the firmness that their direction seems to be taking them. Yes, I think we should be very concerned. A nuclear capable Iran, nuclear weapons capable Iran is very dangerous. It would cause a -- certainly cause a nuclear arms race in the Gulf. And, third, I'm afraid that they would not hesitate to export that technology to their surrogates. And that would be very dangerous.
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