The President of Iran presents more than a nuclear threat to the world; his defiance of the international community is galvanizing Muslims throughout the world behind a radical vision of puritanical Islam that rejects the liberal democratic model. In responding to this new Nasser, the international community might recall the original's ability to turn military defeat into political victory.

Ahmadinejad has repeatedly asserted that the West needs Iran more than Iran needs the West. While Iran has the economic influence to inflict significant damage on the world economy, Ahmadinejad’'s flippant remarks have little basis in reality and his policies are likely to incur significant damage to his country.