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Charting U.S. policy toward Iran
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- For a long time, the one country in President Bush's tripartite "axis of evil" that received the most attention was Iraq. North Korea has also had its moment in the spotlight, as a result of its stepped-up nuclear program. But lately it is Iran that is demanding more of the president's time and focus. And as U.S. intelligence officials study reports about Iran's nuclear program and its alleged support of Al Qaeda operatives, there is sharp debate -- inside and outside the Bush administration -- about what U.S. policy toward Iran should be. White House officials were scheduled to hold a high level meeting this week to chart out U.S. policy toward Iran. However, CNN's State Department Correspondent Andrea Koppel reports that the meeting is postponed indefinitely to allow officials to "tone down" the anti-Iran rhetoric of recent days and to focus on other pressing foreign policy issues. The Bush administration is also examining intelligence reports and consulting with allies in the region. The battle lines are reminiscent of those leading up to the war in Iraq. Koppel reports "neo-conservatives" in the Pentagon are arguing for regime change in Iran, but State Department officials are holding off on any recommendations for change in policy toward Iran at the moment. In a Wednesday interview with ABC News, the U.S. administrator for Iraq, Paul Bremer, raised concerns about increased Iranian activity inside Iraq and compared the strategy behind the activity to other extremist groups in the region. These groups, Bremer said, "send in people who are effectively guerrillas and have them get in the country and try to set up social services and decide that these social services are their ticket to popularity." Members of Congress are also split on how the United States should handle Iran. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D- Ohio, a Democratic presidential candidate, and a leading opponent of the war in Iraq, told me on Thursday's "Live From" on CNN that he doesn't think Iran poses an immediate threat. "Iran has worked with the United States after 9/11. I don't understand why this administration is, once again, leading us towards a war. We need this administration not only to tone down its rhetoric, but stop this belief that somehow the United States should be the policeman of the world, " Kucinich said. Sen.Sam Brownback, R- Kansas, also on CNN's "Live From," said no one is talking about sending in Marines to Iran. But Brownback added, "We should support those forces that are pushing forward democracy inside in Iran, and it's a large group of the population that's pushing for this." Kucinich denounced any efforts to challenge the Iranian government . "Why should the United States be engaging in trying to destabilize any government anywhere? I mean, where do we go from here? We attempted to destabilize the government in Iraq and the next step was an invasion," Kucinich said. He argued the war in Iraq made the United States less safe. Brownback said America is "in better shape now dealing with terrorism." But he pointed out that according to the State Department, Iran is "the lead sponsor of terrorism around the world." Brownback added, "The thought process is that we've got to go at the terrorists before they launch at us." With President Bush focused on his three-way Middle East summit in Jordan next week with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, as well as a more complicated rebuilding effort in Iraq than most anticipated, Iran is having to take a back seat for the time being. But few are betting that will last for very long. Judy Woodruff is CNN's prime anchor and senior correspondent. She also anchors "Judy Woodruff's Inside Politics," weekdays at 3:30 pm ET.
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