There was a long-ago time, in a land far away, when high school students without exception would one day be assigned to read and discuss Frank Stockton's short story The Lady or the Tiger. In this story, a barbaric king puts a young man interested in his daughter of whom he does not approve in an arena where he must choose between two doors of egress. Behind one was a lovely damsel while the other concealed a fearsome and ravenous tiger. The princess, who was seated by the king, knew which was which and was loath to let her suitor be torn apart by the beast, but she also resented the damsel. She made a subtle sign to the suitor indicating which door he should choose. What was behind this door?
This is, in effect the dilemma faced by the Obama administration in deciding how the US should react to the actions of Iran in the Middle East. I recommend that you read Prof. Marvin Zonis' interesting essay on this subject, which defines the doors. It is unclear whether Pres. Rouhani of Iran is the fearsome tiger or the fair damsel.
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