Gary Sick Quotes

United States, Academic
1935

Gary G. Sick is an American academic and analyst of Middle East affairs, with special expertise on Iran, who served on the U.S. National Security Council under Presidents Ford, Carter, and for a couple weeks under Reagan as well. He has authored three books, and is perhaps best known to the wider public for voicing support for elements of the October Surprise conspiracy theory regarding the Iran hostage crisis and the 1980 presidential election.

There is absolutely no truth to that statement. Iran has not, repeat not, been enriching in secret.

Gary Sick
- Truth
- Secret
- Enriching
It's very difficult to make predictions about the Iranian politics, but given the fact that Ahmadinejad was elected with a very clear purpose - to improve the economy - and he's failed.

Gary Sick

Politics in Iran is not played like American football. It's played like chess. There are multiple moves. You're jumping ahead. And a lot of it is very subtle, and it catches you by surprise later on. So I don't want to go overboard on this.

Gary Sick
- Politics
- Chess
- Played
I think in fact the regime, which initially thought they had been very clever in getting him elected ... realize they've got a tiger by the tail. I don't think they're all that pleased about it.

Gary Sick
- Realize
- Elected
- Regime
Ayatollah Khamenei actually is not the most powerful person in Iran. He does not make nuclear policy. He does not make security policy. He is one voice among many and not even the most important voice by any means.When nuclear strategy is being discussed in Iran, he is not the dominant figure to make things happen. So I think this sense which he has created to a considerable degree by his own self-promotion has made him the center of attention when, in fact, the real center of activity is some place else.

Gary Sick
- Attention
- Voice
- Policy