http://mwcnews.net/content/view/18841/42/
Bush Still Spinning Nukes in Iran
Posted December 19, 2007 | 11:41 AM (EST)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The unanimous conclusion of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, that
Iran ceased pursuing a program of nuclear weapons in 2003, has dealt a
severe blow to the Bush-Cheney agenda of forcible regime change in
Iran. For several months, the rhetoric emerging from the White House
escalated to the point that many observers predicted Bush would attack
Iran before he leaves office.
But although the new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) makes it
more difficult to carry out his agenda in Iran, Bush is trying to
publicly undermine its conclusions. "I have said Iran is dangerous,"
he declared, "and the NIE estimate doesn't do anything to change my
opinion about the danger Iran poses to the world -- quite the
contrary." Will Bush provoke an incident with Iran and then respond in
"self-defense"?
Bush "rewarded" Iran for its help in consolidating U.S. power in
Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks by inaugurating Iran into his "axis
of evil" in January 2002. The following year, Iran offered the U.S.
government a comprehensive plan for negotiations and cooperation,
which addressed all of Bush's claimed pet peeves about Iran. In Iran's
2003 memorandum, sent to the U.S. government via Swiss diplomats, Iran
proposed a "dialogue in mutual respect." It sought negotiations with
the United States on the concerns Bush has repeatedly expressed.
Iran proposed "full transparency" to show "there are no Iranian
endeavors to develop or possess WMD." It also sought to guarantee
"decisive action against any terrorists (above all Al Qaida) on
Iranian territory, full cooperation and exchange of all relevant
information." In Iraq, Iran proposed "coordination of Iranian
influence for activity supporting political stabilization and the
establishment of democratic institutions and a non-religious
government." Iran agreed to discuss the "stop of any material support
to Palestinian opposition groups (Hamas, jihad, etc.) from Iranian
territory" and "pressure on these organizations to stop violent action
against civilians within borders of 1967." And Iran listed its
"acceptance of the Arab League Beirut declaration (Saudi initiative,
two-states-approach)." This meant Iran would recognize the state of
Israel.
The Iranian memorandum also offered to negotiate the following with
the United States: "Halt in U.S. hostile behavior and rectification of
status of Iran in the U.S.: (interference in internal or external
relations, 'axis of evil', terrorism list)"; "Abolishment of all
sanctions: commercial sanctions, frozen assets, judgments (FSIA),
impediments in international trade and financial institutions"; "Iraq:
democratic and fully representative government in Iraq, support of
Iranian claims for Iraqi reparations, respect for Iranian national
interests in Iraq and religious links to Najaf/Karbal"; "Full access
to peaceful nuclear technology, biotechnology and chemical
technology"; "Recognition of Iran's legitimate security interests in
the region with according defense capacity"; and "Terrorism: pursuit
of anti-Iranian terrorists, above all MKO."
This 2003 offer by Iran to negotiate these pressing issues with the
United States was an incredible opportunity, which Bush, who claims to
pursue diplomacy, should have seized. Yet the White House thumbed its
nose at the Iranian offer and then tried to cover up the story.
Why did Bush reject Iran's 2003 offer and now seek to discredit the
conclusions of the National Intelligence Estimate? Because even if all
his stated gripes with Iran were resolved, Bush's hidden agenda would
not be addressed. That agenda comes into focus on the website of the
American Enterprise Institute, a neoconservative think tank that
claims Paul Wolfowitz, Lynne Cheney, Richard Perle and John Bolton as
members. Under the AEI's list of "Research Projects" is "Global
Investment in Iran."
Just as "Operation Iraqi Freedom" was about corporate control over
Iraq's oil, Bush's strategy on Iran is about making Iran safe for
global investment. And just as Bush lied about the danger posed by
Saddam Hussein, he is now lying about the perils Iran poses.
U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency Director Mohamed ElBaradei has
consistently said there is "no evidence" Iran has ever maintained a
program of developing nuclear weapons. Yet even though Bush learned
about the NIE report in August or September, according to National
Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, he invoked World War III in the same
breath with Iran in October. On December 4, Bush lied about when he
learned Iran had no weapons program, saying, "I was made aware of the
NIE last week."
Hadley's report on the timing of Bush's knowledge of the NIE is
corroborated by a shift in the rhetoric emerging from the White House.
During the last two months, Bush stopped talking about Iran possessing
nukes, and began referring to Iran having "knowledge" of nuclear
weapons, which he linked with World War III.
In spite of the unanimous conclusion in the National Intelligence
Estimate and ElBaradei's informed judgment, we cannot trust Bush-
Cheney to abandon their imperial designs on Iran. Bush will probably
provoke a military confrontation with Iran, then invoke the language
in the 2002 Congressional authorization for the use of military force
in Iraq that says, "The President has authority under the Constitution
to take action in order to deter and prevent acts of international
terrorism against the United States."
Congress must support Rep. Neil Abercrombie's resolution stating that
Bush has been given no authority to go to war with Iran.
Marjorie Cohn is a professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law and the
President of the National Lawyers Guild. She is the author of Cowboy
Republic: Six Ways the Bush Gang Has Defied the Law. Her weekly
articles are archived at www.marjoriecohn.com.
==========================
HOOROO
.
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
