This is the Daily Article podcast for Wednesday, July 6th, 2022.

Welcome! Today's article is written by Dr. Ryan Denison, the Denison Forum Senior Editor for Theology, and narrated by Chris Elkins.

On Tuesday, all 30 NATO allies formally approved Finland and Sweden to move forward in their bid to join the alliance.

This news came shortly after Russia cleared the last major obstacles to their control over the eastern part of Ukraine in recent days.

But while the world's attention remains largely fixed on the conflict there, and understandably so,

Russia and Iran have taken steps in recent months to remind America and its allies that the

prospect of war is not limited to Eastern Europe. As Karun Demersian writes, our allies in the Middle

East are growing impatient, acutely aware that Washington's attention

and war capital are being drawn elsewhere. Now the question is what point those allies will

take it upon themselves to respond. That danger of an allied response that threatens to draw

America into a larger war is especially dangerous with Iran.

While Russia's increased activity in the area is challenging,

Iran has interests that are more directly tied to the region.

As such, Iran has long favored an approach that tests the limits of America's commitment

without provoking a more serious response. William Weschler,

Director of Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council and a former Pentagon official, speculates

that Iran's actions are motivated by the desire, and I quote, to establish an accepted set of

behaviors that work to their advantage. and we have, in effect, largely

accepted those maligned norms of behavior over multiple administrations.

End quote. As problematic as Iran's behavior may be, their approach makes sense. But so does

America's reticence to become more involved in an open conflict outside our borders.

After all, once that line is crossed, where it leads is often beyond our control.

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