It is deeply regrettable that Iran may one day join the not-so-exclusive club of nations that possess nuclear weapons. It is a potential danger the world doesn’t need. If you’ll forgive an outburst of preposterous idealism, it would be kind of neat to have a world with no nuclear arms whatsoever.
But for the life of me I don't see how the world convinces Iran it’s not entitled to such weapons when Pakistan, North Korea, Russia, India, China, the United States, France, Britain and Israel all have them.
Iranians look at the map and the questions become even more pointed. Nearly half the nuclear countries are in their ‘hood or within easy shooting distance. This includes Russia, Pakistan, India and Israel. The region is astonishingly dangerous for everyone, but not least for Iran. Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird, repeatedly describes Iran as the greatest threat to security in the world. This is political bombast masquerading as statesmanship.
Beyond question, Iranians, led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have been outrageously provocative towards Israel, permitting the world to believe they want to see the country eliminated by force, if necessary. On the other hand, they have also said that if Palestinians themselves choose a two-state solution, one Israeli, the other Palestinian, Iran would respect that decision. On the third hand, they’ve said the exact opposite as well.
It’s only natural that Israelis are ready to meet any contingency. That’s exactly why few observers believe Iran would dare attack Israel, a suicidal move if ever there was one. And it’s why Israel grasps at excuses to preemptively attack Iran, a far more plausible scenario than an Iranian attack on Israel.
Mr. Baird might more accurately say that Iran is the most threatened country in the world. Is it not true that in the 32 years since the Ayatollahs took over Iran, they have invaded no one while nuclear Israel has aggressed against Lebanon, Iraq and Syria? Was it not Iran that was attacked by Saddam Hussein when he was a loyal U.S. ally? Could one not say that Iran is already under attack, given that several nuclear scientists have been assassinated, its nuclear programs have been cyber-attacked by a computer virus, and only two weeks ago a mysterious explosion at an ammunition depot killed 17 members of the elite Revolutionary Guard. Isn’t it true that Israel is also testing a long-range ballistic missile capable of reaching Iran?
As well, all Americans, regardless of level of ignorance, consider the Iranian government to be a menace to civilization. While the Obama administration understands how dangerously irrational an attack on Iran would be, there’s much pressure on it to do exactly that. Mitt Romney, likely Republican candidate and very possibly the next president, demagogically asserts that “if we re-elect Barack Obama, Iran will have nuclear weapons. And if you elect Mitt Romney, Iran will not have nuclear weapons.” This can only mean a preemptive American military strike, exactly what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is anxious to launch. What should Iran think of these very real threats?
While Mr. Obama may still be reluctant to use direct force, it is nonetheless true that Iran is surrounded by American troops, American naval might and American-backed enemies. Saudi Arabia, Iran’s bitter rival for Middle East hegemony, is interested in acquiring nuclear weapons. Is it remotely surprising that Iran would want to arm itself in every way possible? Every other country in the world functions on the basis of its own self-interest. Why should Iran be different?
