January 16, 2012

This issue focused on Iran policy as a critical national security concern, with multiple authors examining how the United States should respond to Iranian threats and nuclear ambitions. The cover featured analysis from defense experts Jamie M. Fly, Michael Rubin, Michael Makovsky, and Lawrence Goldstein on taking Iran seriously, illustrated with an image of the USS John C. Stennis in the Strait of Hormuz. The issue also covered the Republican presidential primary race between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, with commentary from several Standard contributors including William Kristol.