Coercion--The Acceptable Use of Power

Nearly as soon as sanctions against Iran stemming from the nuclear program issues lapsed, the U.S. government announced new sanctions against Iran for ballistic missile testing.  Of course the Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif decried the coercive effort of the U.S. government.  Of course Zarif is right, it was a coercive act.  Welcome to big boy power politics Zarif.  

The use of power is best for any state when coercion is used.  Even better for any state is when they can get an ally or two to engage in coercive action against the targeted state (spreading the cost is a good thing).  For my two cents, we gave up too easy on the nuclear deal and will probably give up too easy on sanctions against Iran over their ballistic missile test program.  By the way, I agree with Zarif, Iran has a right to defend itself, Iran has the same sovereignty as every other recognized state.  But guess what, the U.S. also has a right to say we do not condone your testing and will try to stop you from testing.  The only question is whether or not enough real interest exists for the U.S. to exercise power in this particular situation.  Does an Iranian intermediate range missile system represent a threat to U.S. interests?  If the answer is yes, then we have cause to exercise power.