I think 9/11 reminded us all that Hobbes is back. The pessimistic nature of humankind perhaps is something we had lost sight of.
But I would say let's be a realist with respect to Iran. I think you could argue that some of the statements made in the west have made it easier for Ahmadinejad to hold power. They're about to go into a presidential election, and there may be a surprise in that election. While I guess we shouldn't pronounce on what we wish, clearly there is a huge challenge that the Government of Iran is facing from its domestic audience. Its economic agenda has been a disaster. It has very high youth unemployment and the like. I mention that just so we don't act in a way that allows a government to basically galvanize public support by campaigning against the United States or the evil west.
I've been quite impressed by how President Obama has articulated his approach to Iran, which is a willingness to have direct discussions, but he has also very clearly set out some policy parameters of what is expected in that relationship.
So I'm not optimistic or pessimistic; I'm a realist that this is going to take an awful lot of patience, diplomacy, and working forward. But I don't know what our other options are, because a military intervention in Iran would be a disaster for the region.