WPR Weekly – Europe's race to trade with Iran, Myanmar's elections, the overstretched U.S. Army

Editor's Note This week, Ali Ghezelbash and Rouzbeh Parsi look at Europe’s race to trade with post-sanctions Iran and explain why expanding business there “is more complicated than just re-opening a dormant local branch or office.” What’s more, they write, “in a somewhat contradictory way, the Iranian economy has both been underestimated during the last five years of sanctions, and now runs the risk of its short-term prospects for growth being overplayed.” Oren Samet evaluates the opposition’s chances in Myanmar’s November elections, after an unexpected purge of the ruling party. That was an ominous sign for the country’s once-promising democratic aspirations, and “the prospect of constitutional reform could be in jeopardy.” And in his column, Steven Metz looks at the dangers of an overstretched U.S. Army. “A case can be made that today America is asking its Army to do too much with the resources it is given.” Coming up on WPR: Israel’s calculus after the Iran deal, Spain’s “Podemos of the right” and energy efficiency in Latin America. —Frederick Deknatel, Associate Editor   Editor's Note Monday, Aug. 17, 2015 - Friday, Aug. 21, 2015 Back-and-Forth Thaw With Venezuela Signals U.S. Return to Diplomacy By: David Smilde | Briefing Since early April, the U.S. has consistently engaged Venezuela on issues of mutual interest. The Obama administration seems to have brought its Venezuela policy in line with its long-term commitment to dialogue with adversaries and diplomacy that resists the division of the world into friend and foe. As Intelligence Evolves, Is the U.S. Getting Smarter About It? By: Ellen Laipson | Column As the demands for transparency reveal more about current and prospective roles for the intelligence community, there is an opportunity to deepen appreciation for the different ways that intelligence supports the policy process. But this ought to be seen as separate from supporting any specific policies. The Danger of America Asking Its Army to Do Too Much By: Steven Metz | Column The U.S. Army’s ability to do many things, from humanitarian relief to high tempo combat, has always been one of its selling points. But this utility can be pushed too far as demands grow: A case can be made that today America is asking its Army to do too much with the resources it is given. The Obstacles Ahead in Europe’s Race to Trade With Post-Sanctions Iran By: Ali Ghezelbash, Rouzbeh Parsi | Briefing The potential lifting of economic sanctions on Iran has quickly boosted interest in Iran’s economy, especially in Europe. But in a somewhat contradictory way, the Iranian market has both been underestimated during the sanctions era, and now runs the risk of its short-term prospects being overplayed. Election Troubles Grow for Myanmar’s Opposition as Army Tightens Grip By: Oren Samet | Briefing After months of deliberation, Myanmar’s main opposition party, the National League for Democracy, announced it would contest November elections. But party leader Aung San Suu Kyi has reservations about the fairness of the polls, and concerns for the party’s electoral prospects are already mounting.