BANGLADESH, Jan. 14 -- Soft power and coercive diplomacy tools have not worked for almost 20 years against "peaceful Iran" (as Obama used to call it), and America has opted instead to exercise hard power. Trump's order to kill Qassem Soleimani exposes once again the vast gap between the US and Europe on the problem of Iran.
In 2001, President George Bush launched the Global War on Terror doctrine, articulated in his "overcome darkness with the light of hope" speech at the UN. His successor, Barack Obama, took a different approach to the fight against global terrorism, as characterized by his conciliatory "new beginning" Cairo speech in 2009.
Today, a third approach to the war on terror is unfolding. By ordering the targeted killing of Qud...