US Pres. Barack Obama's removal of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and the failure thus far on talks with Iran seem likely to compound US strategic challenges in the coming two years. What is significant is that the issue is not really about nuclear weapons; it is about Iran's strategic growth. Iran appears to be on the strategic ascendant in the Middle East and Northern Tier as a result of two major occurrences on November 24,2014: the failure of the Five+One Talks in Geneva to bring about an agreement to reduce Iran's nuclear weapons production capability; and the forced removal of US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.
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