Iran to Pursue Nuclear Program

In the on-going quagmire that is the War on Terror, the line between friend and foe is often convoluted and distorted. Osama bin Laden has practically fallen off America’s radar in favor of democracy building in Iraq, while the relationship with nations like Saudi Arabia and Egypt are also highly suspect due to evidence of their harboring terrorists and the questionable practices undertaken by the respective governments. One constant and outspoken threat since the late 1970’s that predates this current “War-on-Verb” has been Iran, who’s somehow managed to fall through the cracks and been devoid of major American military action.

The Islamic Republic of Iran became a theocratic republic in 1979 when the Shah was overthrown and forced into exile. The revolution yielded a government built on a religious hierarchy and run by well educated Islamic scholars. There is an elected president, and what is referred to as the VelÇyat-e faqih, or supreme leader. That office is currently occupied by Ayatollah Khamenei (not to be confused with his predisesor, Ayatollah Khomeini). The present day government of Iran was built on a solid foundation of conservative Islamic doctrine, with a heavy undertone of anti-American sentiments as seen in the highly publicized and still frequently mentioned Iranian hostage crisis.

The recently elected Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is a loose cannon who predicates perverted views about Judaism, the right of Israel to exist and has even gone so far as to publicly state that the Holocaust never happened. Ahmadinejad has also been accused of being one of the infamous kidnappers responsible for the hostage crisis, though he as well as others who are known to have been involved in the terrorist act have adamantly and continuously denied the claim. Combine the extremist style leadership and history with the vast oil fields and strategic location of Iran on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, and the potential for serious international problems becomes quite evident. As if being the proverbial thorn in American’s side for some 25 years was not enough, Iran is now actively pursuing a nuclear program that has gained the world’s full attention and continues with blatent acts of defiance toward many world leaders who have publicly criticized the program.

President Ahmadinejad has firmly resisted any potential actions taken by the world community, either via the United Nations or any other multilateral organization. A top Iranian official made clear the diplomatic problems in dealing with the situation, stating that any actions taken by the UN Security Council would be “the end of the road for diplomacy.” Iranian political leaders strongly defend that the work being done on the Iranian nuclear program is for energy and other peaceful means, rather than militaristic objectives. Spokesmen for the country have concluded that they have the fundamental right to pursue such a course of action, so in turn, they feel that intervention by the UN would be blatantly disrespectful of their national sovereignty. Iranian officials have loudly declared that they will resist any UN officials that may be sent to inspect Iranian nuclear facilities. In response to pressure from the United States and other major European powers, President Ahmadinejad responded recently to remarks made by President Bush during the January 31st State of the Union Address, saying, “I am telling those fake superpowers that the Iranian nation became independent 27 years ago and … on the nuclear case it will resist until fully achieving its rights.” Officials have also said recently that they will begin enriching uranium if the UN reports them to the Nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The prospect of Iran having nuclear capabilities in the near future is an undeniable threat to world wide peace and security. The outspoken anti-Semitic, anti-American and largely anti-western Iranian government is agreed by most to be incapable of handling the responsibilities that come with nuclear capacity. Add Israel’s existence, nuclear arsenal and alignment with America and other western nations into the mix, and what we have in the Middle East is one of the most unstable situations in modern human history. A hostile and straining standoff between two nuclear powers in close proximity, with obvious aggressive tendencies toward one another, cannot possibly lead to a positive outcome. Also, consider the ability of Iran to then sell the technology to other unstable nations and we begin to see the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse rearing their ugly heads.

Despite the frightening scenarios that could play out over the next decade or so, there is a positive opportunity for America and her leaders. Once again, the United States has the ability to bring the world’s greatest powers together in a strong multilateral coalition, and in effect, atone for some of the poor relationships made during the past presidential administration. If our leaders can show that we can, in fact, work with other nations without the air of arrogance and superiority that was seen by many in the world community during the build up to the war in Iraq, perhaps America can once again be viewed as the Great World Power that we are so capable of being. The path will not be easy, and it will most likely require American leaders to make concessions and allow other nations to step up and lead at times. In order to not appear as a Muslim-nation bully, it is imperative that the United States works hand in hand with the other nations of the world to show that nuclear abilities in unstable regions will not be tolerated, regardless of what the region may be. Since the United States can ill afford another militaristic campaign in the region, the importance of diplomatic cooperation with other main players in the free world is not only imperative, but the only sane possibility to ensure the peace and safety for people of all nations. It is time for the United States and the United Nations to rally the world to a cause and prove that diplomacy is not dead, but still the most valuable tool at our disposal.