Iran has decided it will not send a ship with armed Revolutionary Guards to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Michael Ledeen says the lesson of this retreat is clear:

1. They talk a lot but they're afraid, profoundly afraid (can you imagine the RG generals talking to the Supreme Leader? "But Excellency, they will kill us all...");

2. They will not risk direct confrontation, because any defeat will encourage the Iranian people to bring them down;

3. They talk a lot about the glories of martyrdom, but the martyrs they have in mind are the Arabs they send into battle or on suicide missions against us;

4. The trouble with American leaders is that they want to be loved, whereas a healthy dose of fear will do wonders for the region.

Clarice Feldman