by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Sept. 8, 2009
All Rights Reserved.

            Looming as another thorn in his side, President Barack Obama faces some daunting challenges when it comes to halting Iran's nuclear program.  He’s given the Iranians till the end of the year to suspend its nuclear enrichment program, something grown to an estimated 9,000 centrifuges spinning Uranium 235 into Uranium 238 hexaflouride gas.  Despite denials by Iran, U.S. and European officials are worried that Tehran seeks weapons’ grade uranium to create its first atomic bomb.  Newly reelected Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sent a loud signal to Obama that he won’t compromise Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities.  Iran accused the U.S. of fabricating evidence about Tehran’s nuclear weapons program.  Speaking at his first press conference since winning reelection June 12, Ahmandiejad ruled out any concessions on Iran’s nuclear program.

                  Ahmadinejad challenged Barack to an open debate about Iran’s nuclear program.  “Iran’s nuclear issue is over,” telegraphing to Obama that he won’t compromise Iran’s fissile program.  “We will never negotiate Iran’s undeniable rights,” rejecting U.S. and U.N. demands for Iran to back-down.  With Israel threatening to take unilateral action, Barack is running out of time to stop Iran from enriching uranium.  Ahmadinejad agreed to discuss “world issues” with the U.S., telling a press conference he’s ready to discuss everything but nuclear non-proliferation.  “We are ready discuss world issues with the U.S. president in the presence of mass media.  The time of hidden agreements is over, and television debates are the best way,” said Mahmoud, calling Barack’s bluff about more sanction or possible military intervention.  Iran knows the U.S. can ill-afford another military adventure.

            Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nentanyahu has put Obama on notice that if the U.S. doesn’t restrain a growing Iranian nuclear threat, then Israel will.  Netanyahu views Iran’s fissile program an “existential” threat.  He won’t sit on his hands without seeing concrete steps to contain Iran’s atomic program.  Israel wants to see “substantive and prompt steps to halt Iran’s military nuclear program,” without producing any proof that Iran even has a “military” weapons program.  International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei told his board Aug. 7 in Vienna that he’s at a “stalemate” with Iran.  Ahmadinejad ejected ElBaradei’s inspectors in 2008, greatly limiting access in 2009 to Iran’s secret nuclear programs.  Ahmandined, who won a disputed election last June, calls the U.S. a “bullying power,” insisting Iran has a right to develop the “nuclear fuel cycle.”

            Ahmadinejad plans to speak Sept. 7 at the opening of the U.N. General Assembly, denouncing the U.S. and U.N. for meddling in Iran’s internal affairs.  “We protest the current situation,” said Mahmoud, rejecting any attempt to stop Iran’s fissile program.  Secretary of Defense Robert Gates intends to heap pressure on the U.N. Security Council to impose tougher sanctions, including banning future Iranian oil sales.  U.S. officials have had a difficult time convincing Russia and China to go along with tougher sanctions, in part because the U.S. took Georgia’s side in its dispute with Russia in 2008.  Russia too has a strong trading relationship with Tehran.  More sanctions could jeopardize a multibillion-dollar contract completing Iran’s Bushehr heavy-water nuclear reactor.  Russia is owed billions and is unlikely to support more sanctions at the expense of a multibillion-dollar contract. 

            Iran claims it’s now ready for wide-ranging talks with the U.S. over its nuclear enrichment program.  Ahmadinejad has no problem talking about Iran’s right to the “nuclear fuel cycle,” giving Tehran the right to enrich uranium for “peaceful purposes.”  Pakistan thought it enriched uranium for peaceful purposes when its bomb-maker A.Q. Khan built its first A-bomb.  Pakistan cites years of deterrence since getting the bomb in 1998.  Ahmandinejad created a stir over its possible atomic weapons’ program when he called Jan. 30, 2006 for Israel to be “wiped off the map.”  With bellicose rhetoric like that, it’s no wonder that the U.S. Security Council has grave concerns about Tehran getting its hands on an A-bomb.  Ahmadinejad doesn’t get the connection between making threats against Israel and the U.S. and U.N. opposition to Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.

            Telling the press that he’s willing “talk” with the U.S., the Iranian president has no intent shutting down his nuclear program.  Obama must study his position carefully before giving Israel the green light to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities.  Despite Iran’s secrecy and refusal to allow IAEA inspectors, there’s no evidence that Iran has an active military program.  Recalcitrance alone doesn’t prove the presence or absence of weapons of mass destruction.  Before the March 20. 2003 Iraq War, Saddam Hussein refused to allow Dr. Hans Blix and his team of weapons’ inspectors to confirm the presence or absence of banned weapons.  Blix pleaded with the White House for more time.  After it was too late, the U.S. military confirmed Blix’s analysis that Saddam possessed no weapons of mass destruction.  Before history repeats itself, Obama must rethink his approach to Tehran.

 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.