Posted by
mgraves on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 10:28:37 PM
Iran ready to deal
For Pete's sakes; we've gone through this dog and pony show before.
Iran, under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty, of which it is a signatory, is entitled to pursue peaceful nuclear energy. Their hiding the reactors and their program tend to demonstrate a non-peaceful purpose to the Iranian nuclear development. The world community is under no compulsion to believe the bald statements of a dictatorial regime. In fact, when the actions of that dictatorial regime demonstrate the falseness of the claims of the regime, the world community has an obligation to disbelieve that regime. The burden of proof is on Iran.
Secondly, Iran is a terrorist state. Iranian secret police have murdered dissenters living in foreign countries. Iran has called for the death of individuals and offered bounties for completing the murder. Iran has funded and supplied Hezb'Allah. According to Bodansky, and others, Iran has offered safe haven and transit to Al Qaida members, and hosted meetings with Al Qaida. Iran has called for the destruction of a nation that is a UN member state and a responsible member of the global community of nations.
Iran should not, no, cannot, be believed. To believe Iran is to invite destruction, not just of Israel, as Iranian missiles can reach the heart of Europe, but of much of the West. A nation the holds the US to be a "great satan" will likely attempt to destroy the US, especially when that nation is lead by a man with an apocalyptic worldview. Let us remember the significance of August 22, as described by Bernard Lewis.
Iran is not a responsible actor and cannot be believed. Iran has no motivation to behave in a responsible manner, as there exists no credible threat to deter Iran. The UN is toothless, at best, and a facilitator of dictators and terrorists, at worst. Post-modern, post-Christian Europe is cowardly. The US has defanged itself by wanting to be liked rather than wanting to act in the interests of the US.