America's reluctance to take a strong position against Iran's nuclear ambitions is signaling weakness to Middle Eastern leaders, from Algeria to Pakistan. When we take soft positions against Iran's nuclear ambitions, opting for endless negotiations in place of strong sanctions or military options, the cultures of the Middle East equate them as proof that we do not have the political will to confront them. They therefore use the negotiation period as an opening for continuing their nuclear buildup while we dally over text and language.