by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright May 25, 2009
All Rights Reserved.

          Iranian President Mahoud Ahmadinejad delivered an emphatic “no” to Presdient Barack Obama about negotiating and end to Iran’s uranium enrichment program.  Throwing down the gauntlet, Ahmadinejad challenged Barack to a U.N. debate on global security, refusing, under any circumstances, to halt Iran’s uranium enrichment program.  Western security officials believe Iran in about three years away from its first A-bomb.  Meeting in Washington May 18-20, Israel’s new Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Obama to do something about Iran’s nuclear program or face a possible Israel strike.  Barack indicated that he’ll give Tehran till the end to the year to show a good faith then consider his options.  Faced with reelection June 12, Ahmandinejad is talking tough, pandering to his conservative base and handing moderates more ammunition for a change of leadership.

            Obama offered to start a dialogue with Tehran, asking the Islamic government to “unclench its fist.”  While it’s good to turn a new leaf, Obama has been given no different message than the administration of George W. Bush, who identified Iraq, Iran and North Korea Jan. 29, 2002 as the “axis of evil.”  U.S. broke diplomatic relations off with Iran under former President Jimmy Carter in 1979 when Iranian militants hijacked the U.S. embassy in Tehran.  “Our talks [with major powers] will only be in the framework of cooperation for managing global issues and nothing else.  We have clearly announced this,” said Ahmadinejad responding to calls from the White House to negotiate an end to Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.  Ahmandinejad has no intent of halting the some 5,000 centrifuges busy spinning uranium hexaflouride gas into weapons grade uranium, a precursor to an A-bomb.

            Washington would like the world to believe that they have some magic wand for exacting concessions from Iran.  Ahamadinejad has been unwavering in his stand on Iran’s uranium enrichment program.  “The nuclear issue is a finished issue for us,” Ahmadinejad told a press conference.  “From now on we will continue our path in the framework of the [U.N. nuclear watchdog] agency,” signaling to Obama that Iran’s nuclear program is off limits.  Two sets of U.N. sanctions hasn’t discouraged Tehran from going full-steam ahead with its nuclear enrichment program.  Ahmadinejad has made it clear that Iran is a “nuclear state,” regardless of whether or not it possesses an A-bomb.  While he’s quick to call Iran’s nuclear program for peaceful purposes, he doesn’t say he’s not building a bomb.  Only that he opposes “in principle” the production, expansion and use of weapons of mass destruction.

            Ahmadinejad watched carefully as Pakistan warded off India once its imfamous bomb-maker A.Q. Khan developed its first A-bomb.  With an A-bomb, Amadinejad knows that he’ll have a lot more clout with the U.S., Israel and other hostile powers.  Nuclear capability helped Pakistan neuralize India in Kashmir and other disputed areas.  Ahmadinejad denied a nuclear or missile pact with North Korea.  Kim Jong-Il detonated an underground nuclear test comparable to the 1945 U.S. blast at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  Iran test-fired May 21 a new sold-fuel Sejil-2 missile with a range of around 1,200 miles, capable of hitting Israel or U.S. military bases.  This new missile exceeds the larger liquid-fuel Shahab-III missile a technology obtained from the North Korean Nodong missiles.  Iran’s new more mobile missile technology presents problems for the U.S. and other Western powers.

            Obama is running out options with Tehran.  Former Centom commander, four-star Gen. John P. Abizaid, indicated that U.S. deterrent policy could contain a nuclear-armed Iran, much the same way it has with Russia during the Cold War or more recently Pakistan.  Israel fears Iran would sell it A-bombs to Hezbollah, al-Qaida or some other terrorist group hostile to the U.S. or Israel.  Netanyahu has been threatening to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites, much the same way they destroyed Saddam Hussein’s Osirak reactor in 1981.  There’s no comparison with Iran’s fortifications and multiple cites at which it's currently enriching uranium.  Bombing above ground nuclear facilities might not stop Iran’s enrichment program and could trigger a wider war, something Iran generals say could be ended in short order.  Iran’s sophisticated navy, speedboats and missile technology work against a military attack.

            Obama and Netatanyahu must consult carefully before proceeding on any military adventure to halt Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.  Whether they like it or not, countries that develop atomic technology aren’t likely to stop the nuclear fuel cycle to run power plants.  Ahmadinejad believes he’s well within his rights under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty to develop the nuclear fuel cycle for peaceful purposes.  Ahmadinejad sees getting an A-bomb as the best path to peace, since the Persian nation can finally get the respect it deserves from the West.  Obama faces an uphill battle in the U.N. Security Council convincing China and Russia—two of Iran’s closest allies—to go along with tough new sanctions or possible military action.  Obama would spend his time more wisely containing Netanyahu from misreading Iranian intentions and preventing a catastrophic military mistake.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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