Everything Is Awesome, Mideast Edition

It takes a special innocence to imagine that the chaos unfolding in the Middle East can be put right.

ENLARGE

With National Security Adviser Susan Rice at his side, Deputy National Security Adviser Benjamin Rhodes briefs the press, March 21. PHOTO: ALEX WONG/GETTY IMAGES

By 

BRET STEPHENS

May 18, 2015 7:08 p.m. ET

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Ben Rhodes, President Obama’s deputy national security adviser, has been offering a reassuring view of the Iranian nuclear deal in the face of some Arab skepticism. “If you can diplomatically and peacefully resolve the nuclear issue in a way that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” he told reporters last week, “we believe that will lead to a much more stable region.” Mr. Rhodes also contends that with a deal “there will be no need to see [a] regional arms race.”

So what’s more frightening: That Mr. Rhodes believes what he’s saying? Or that he does not?

Just for Mr. Rhodes’s benefit, here’s a refresher course on stability and the arms race in the Middle East since April 2, 2015, the day Mr. Obama announced his framework nuclear agreement with Iran.