. . . for their own back-yard? At least, that's what I take away from this pretty good article in the Washington Post about Central Asia. The author of the piece, Nick Schmidle writes:

One thing you have to keep in mind about the history of Iran in Central Asia is this: since the 6th century BC when Cyrus crossed the Oxus to subdue Queen Tomyris and the Massagetae the Persians have been fixated on influencing and stabilizing the lands to their immediate north. Only twice in Persia's three millenia of history have they been overrun from the West (Alexander and the Arabs). All the others came from the East and North (Mongols, Hepthalites, Turks, Uzbeks, Russians).  

more after the jump

Iran is a player in Central Asia. The Tajik language is closely related to Farsi. (Almost mutually intelligible I have been told.) I met many Iranians at a Sufi shrine outside of Bukhara (a city full of Tajik speakers--who will tell you, in a whisper, that they are really Tajik--smack in the middle of Uzbekistan). A sizable minority of Tajiks are Shi'a as well.

Version 2.0 of the Great Game, Schmidle informs us, is between Iran, Russia, China and the United States. He also tells us that the traditional measurements of who's winning and losing are not as important as what the man on the street thinks. (I agree.) In Schmidle's opinion we are losing. And it has nothing to do with how big our military is and everything to do with how big it is. We're stingy and the Defense Department is freezing State out of the development process, focusing on 'big runways' instead of 'winning heart and minds.' Why isn't USAID broadcasting RFE/RL from Afghanistan into these countries instead of just a web-presence? This lack of investment and absolutely no US cultural or media presence in places like Tajikistan, Schmidle tells us, will end badly. He's right. China and Russia are much more patient than us.

I remember, in 2003, asking my Kyrgyz taxi driver why he had so much faith in America. He told me, "because you're rich. Why else? You will help us be not poor any longer."

"But we don't do Marshall plans anymore," I replied.

"You are rich. Money solves all problems. Even with wife." he said, with a sly glint in his Asian eyes.

Our love of hi-tech stand-off weapons are what ultimately disillusion those who see us as a hopeful beacon around the world. We might never need such weapons if we invested more in people.

Of course, there's no shock and awe in that, is there?