The Iran Situation: When “worst” means “war”…
Written by Major Tom
Filed under: Global Politics, News & Info
September 18, 2007
The sum of all our fears still remains. When North Korea had finally lessened its adamant stand on pursuing its bellicose nuclear program,—allowing onsite inspection of suspected facilities within its territory—I have thought then that the world could heave a sigh of relief, even for just a moment. But the nuclear menace whipped back with thunderous noise when French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner issued recently a very strong statement concerning Iran’s hesitation to forego of its nuclear ambition. “We have to prepare for the worst” Kouchner had said and “the worst” means military action against Iran. In fact, this has gotten the Russian Foreign Minister so up on his feet and quickly admonished the idea of war against Iran as very dangerous and risky.
Such “warmonging” statements from the French Foreign Minister; this only means that the EU had not been achieving anything palpable in its intense negotiation and bargaining with Iran. This is so discouraging knowing how EU had been so evidently confident before about the talks, promising that they would result to a most ideal compromise. EU had even been so critical of President Bush for being too fast on his gun when White House had been hinting of airstrikes against suspected nuclear facilities inside Iran since last year. Now, EU seems to have raised up its hands and given up. Cracks in the talks between EU and Iran had finally showed like an ugly head from some infamous box. And it seems to me that the main thrust to stifle Iran’s threat—as well as that of North Korea’s—had fizzled out in a jiffy and threatens to blow away so completely.
This Friday in fact, the United Nation Security Council is set to convene in order to size-up possible sanctions against Iran, increasing pressure against it to desist from its ardent uranium enrichment activities. And most of EU seems to conform to the imposition of new and more stringent sanctions although Russia is quick to point out that a military solution would be highly unadvisable anytime soon. The Iran issue is clearly on a tightrope and because of this, the nuclear menace remains alive and kicking. It’s sad. Very, very sad and alarming.
In connection with this, Israeli warplanes had allegedly busted a target in Syria that had appeared so likely to be nuclear-related structures. The U.S. government had in fact been privy of this Israeli information and had taken serious action on it. If the Syria nuclear case proves to be not merely a fabrication, then the present nuclear problem becomes three-fold as U.S. intelligence had confirmed the presence of North Koreans in Damascus even when nuclear connection had been repeatedly denied by both Syria and North Korea.
Iran, North Korea and now Syria—these three nations becomes focal to the nuclear problem that continues to haunt us. I hope the right steps would be undertaken to control this growing threat to world peace and safety. One or ones that would not have to reach the point of military action or anything near it.
Why is it that only the chosen few are allowed to have the big guns?
Comment by eric — September 19, 2007 @ 2:26 pm
To eric: Apparently that is the case although exception goes to India and Pakistan, which are not really rich country in the strictest sense. What is the qualification seems to be either being “roguish” or not, such as Iran and North Korea, whose leaders are so critical of western countries and ideas.
Comment by Major Tom — September 19, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
This is normally a Bush job description but since his credibility is at its lowest these days they probably need someone to do the saber rattling so the rest of the world will believe that something really sinister is going on in Iran
Comment by bw — September 19, 2007 @ 10:40 pm
To BW: The comments ade by the French Foreign Minister somehow had surprised me observing how France and EU in general had always been tamed in their public declarations. I reckoned something must be really disintegrating here and the world should listen…
Comment by Major Tom — September 19, 2007 @ 11:47 pm
The real danger here is not that of a cash-strapped North Korea becoming a nuclear power, but of countries that supports and funds terrorists having a nuclear capability…
Comment by snglguy — September 19, 2007 @ 11:48 pm
It’s getting uglier but somehow France is changing tunes, siding mostly on the US. I hope this will not get into that war phase. The sanctions planned should be looked into and studied further to prevent another Iraq. What a bloody mess politics is!
Comment by ipanema — September 20, 2007 @ 5:04 am
What I am afraid of is becoming a reality. We’re now on the road to a fight between religions all because of the Black Gold.
Comment by Schumey — September 20, 2007 @ 7:58 am
To sngle: What they are really worried is the North Korea and Syria connection
and focal to this anxiety is a certain pakistani nuclear scientist that had been
monitored to have been active in the underground nuclear trade. Nuclear technology in the hands of terrorists
is such a diabolic sceneario.
Comment by Major Tom — September 20, 2007 @ 9:16 am
Bakit yung US ba wala nun? Sus
Comment by Richmond — September 20, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
To ipanema: I really do hope so. Hours from now, we’ll know what the UN Security Council has decided. I just hope it’s not anywhere near military action.
Comment by Major Tom — September 21, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
To Schumey: And oil is getting more and more expensive at 80 dollars per barrel right now and threatens to go 100 dollars at anytime….This surely worsen the situation…..
Comment by Major Tom — September 21, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
To richmond: Yung nga. Yung batayan nila is whether or not ang isang bansa ay “roguish” or not, those withy heavy anti-western inclination…
Comment by Major Tom — September 21, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
two things. either we should really be alarmed because of what’s brewing in iran or France’s view on war has been changed when Sarkozy took the reins. not sure what to think, really.
Comment by slim whale — September 22, 2007 @ 12:50 am
This is what I meant when I posted about my paranoia — that the world may not safe for our children and our children’s children. This nuclear threat has always been a hanging damocles sword over mankind. Btw, I can’t get over the considerate (to the blurryeyed like me) size of the comments font. TY, major.
Comment by annamanila — September 22, 2007 @ 1:58 am
Sarkozy just want to be in the spotlight. I don’t think much changed since he took over from President Chirac. It is just another approach. Sarkozy “in style” is more American than European.We are not really used to that kind of politicians in Europe.
Comment by Sidney — September 22, 2007 @ 11:59 am
hi there major tom!
kababalik ko lang!
sana nga ay maayos itong problema sa countries na ito. i also hope the us will be more conscientious.
Comment by intsik — September 22, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
To slimwhale: I think and feel stronly that Sarkozy plays his card so differently from his most recent predecessors. Maybe, he should learn to be less excitable as he is right now.
Comment by Major Tom — September 23, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
To annamanila: Thanks for informing me about the very small comments fonts. I have readjusted it since then.
For me, weakening international borders as a result of ardent globalization in the past few years ahev increased the threat of nuclear tragedy ten-fold, and such menace in the hands of rogue entities would just be unimaginably disastrous.
Comment by Major Tom — September 23, 2007 @ 9:39 pm
To Sydney: As a european yourself, you know it better. Sarkozy is most unlikely in his form. So un-european as you say.
Comment by Major Tom — September 23, 2007 @ 9:41 pm
To intsik: Sana nga. But the nuclear menace seems to be a hard problem to solve. Iran is so adamant while N.Korea is so cash-strapped that it would be so difficult to convince them from trading nuclear technology and equipments.
Comment by Major Tom — September 23, 2007 @ 9:43 pm