Nuts With Nukes
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: May 19, 2004
There is one force that could rescue Iran's hard-line ayatollahs from the
dustbin of history: us.
For all its denials, Iran seems to be pushing for nuclear warheads and for
missiles to carry them. It could make its first weapon in two years, and it
could eventually produce enough enriched uranium at Natanz for 25 weapons a
year.
Iran's leaders have regularly gotten away with murder. They apparently
helped bomb U.S. marines in Lebanon in 1983, a Jewish center in Argentina in
1994 and U.S. military barracks in Saudi Arabia in 1996. So it's easy to
understand why President Bush declared recently that it's "intolerable" for
Iran to be on the road toward nuclear weapons, adding, "Otherwise they will
be dealt with, starting through the United Nations."
To Mr. Bush, not unreasonably, Iran conjures up a frightening combination:
nuts with nukes. The push for a tougher approach toward Iran isn't partisan,
and a President Kerry might also pursue a more confrontational, albeit more
multilateral, approach to Iran.
But that would be a mistake.
First, it won't work. If we haul Iran before the Security Council, it will
restart its programs (it has suspended at least some) and kick out
inspectors. Iran will respond to more pressure not by dropping its nuclear
program, but by accelerating it.
Second, we'll create a nationalistic backlash in Iran that will keep
hard-liners in power indefinitely. Our sanctions and isolation have kept
dinosaurs in power in Cuba, North Korea and Burma, and my fear is that we'll
do the same in Iran.
What I fear is this: Over the next year or two, the West will press Iran
harder, Iran will halt its nuclear cooperation and evict inspectors, Israel
will bomb a couple of Iran's nuclear sites (a possibility widely discussed
in security circles, although it would slow Iran's nuclear progress without
ending it), and Iran's ayatollahs will benefit from a nationalistic surge to
stay in power and rule more rabidly than ever.
"We love America," began Mansour Jahanbakhsa, a businessman, in a typical
comment, but he added that Iran should develop nuclear weapons. "Iranians
would become angry at meddling by America," he said, and his demeanor
changed. "We are an old country with an ancient civilization, and we are
proud of it. How come Israel can have them and we can't? It makes me angry."
A young woman, Maryan Nazeri, complained about the regime but said she would
support it in a confrontation over nuclear weapons. "We're going to have
them," she said. "Maybe we do already. It's our right. We're Iranians, so
what do you expect? Just as you want America to be strong, we want Iran to
be strong."
Then Massoud Taheri scolded: "Your president calling us a rogue nation and
disrespecting our 5,000 years of civilization is offensive. How many years
of civilization do you have?"
Our goal should be regime change in Tehran. But if Mr. Bush (or Mr. Kerry)
pushes Tehran too hard over nukes, we'll fail to get rid of either the
nuclear program or this regime.
The only alternative is engagement - the precise opposite of the sanctions
and isolation that have been U.S. policy under both Presidents Clinton and
Bush. Sanctions are even less effective against Iran than against, say,
North Korea, because Iran oozes petroleum and is independently wealthy.
Isolation by the U.S. has accomplished even less in Iran than it has in
Cuba.
So we should vigorously pursue a "grand bargain" in which, among other
elements, Iran maintains its freeze on uranium enrichment and we establish
diplomatic relations and encourage business investment, tourism and
education exchanges.
"What would destroy the conservatives [in Iran] would be a money flood" of
American investment, says Hooshang Amirahmadi, the president of the American
Iranian Council. "In just a few years, the conservatives would be finished."
The bottom line is that we could soon have a pro-American Islamic democracy
as a beacon for hope in the Middle East - in Tehran, not Baghdad. The risk
is that we'll blow it.
*
Iran is a dazzling smorgasbord, from its "Death to America" murals to its
winding bazaars. You can join me on a multimedia tour of Iran here.
---
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| User: "Joe" |
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| Title: Re: Nuts With Nukes |
19 May 2004 09:42:58 AM |
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The "Nuts with Nukes" are in Israel.
Unless and until Israel is disarmed of its WMD, it is only natural that the
countries threatened thereby seek a deterrent.
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| User: "ig" |
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| Title: Re: Nuts With Nukes |
19 May 2004 12:18:07 PM |
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No No No. The nuts with Nukes is the USA.
"Joe" <jpsmith123@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:KamdnahAT_n77zbd4p2dnA@adelphia.com...
The "Nuts with Nukes" are in Israel.
Unless and until Israel is disarmed of its WMD, it is only natural that
the
countries threatened thereby seek a deterrent.
.
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| User: "Woodswun" |
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| Title: Re: Nuts With Nukes |
19 May 2004 05:35:31 PM |
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In article <vFMqc.278$IA4.2178@newscontent-01.sprint.ca>, "ig" <a@b.com> wrote:
No No No. The nuts with Nukes is the USA.
"Joe" <jpsmith123@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:KamdnahAT_n77zbd4p2dnA@adelphia.com...
The "Nuts with Nukes" are in Israel.
Unless and until Israel is disarmed of its WMD, it is only natural that
the
countries threatened thereby seek a deterrent.
Nuts With Nukes would be a great name for a rock band!
;-)
As for the other; Israel has never demonstrated a willingness to use its nukes
(they only seem to be anxious to use US -made weapons!). Pakistan and India are
far more unstable with nukes, as I believe Iran would also be.
Woods
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| User: "ex" |
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| Title: Re: Nuts With Nukes |
19 May 2004 03:57:13 PM |
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"Woodswun" <woodswun@tepidmail.com> wrote in message
news:TiRqc.222692$M3.190933@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
In article <vFMqc.278$IA4.2178@newscontent-01.sprint.ca>, "ig" <a@b.com>
wrote:
No No No. The nuts with Nukes is the USA.
"Joe" <jpsmith123@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:KamdnahAT_n77zbd4p2dnA@adelphia.com...
The "Nuts with Nukes" are in Israel.
Unless and until Israel is disarmed of its WMD, it is only natural that
the
countries threatened thereby seek a deterrent.
Nuts With Nukes would be a great name for a rock band!
;-)
As for the other; Israel has never demonstrated a willingness to use its
nukes
(they only seem to be anxious to use US -made weapons!). Pakistan and
India are
far more unstable with nukes, as I believe Iran would also be.
Pakistan is my pet fear ... *waaaaaaayyyy* too many fundy nuts and a gov't
that lacks the will to crack down on 'em.
If the gov't there gets overthrown, then the West will have to move fast to
neutralize the fundies ... or else there'll be hell to pay.
-ex
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/04
.
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| User: "Woodswun" |
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| Title: Re: Nuts With Nukes |
19 May 2004 08:35:57 PM |
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In article <vvSqc.29962$qJ5.768185@news20.bellglobal.com>, "ex" <ex@ex.com> wrote:
"Woodswun" <woodswun@tepidmail.com> wrote in message
news:TiRqc.222692$M3.190933@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
In article <vFMqc.278$IA4.2178@newscontent-01.sprint.ca>, "ig" <a@b.com>
wrote:
No No No. The nuts with Nukes is the USA.
"Joe" <jpsmith123@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:KamdnahAT_n77zbd4p2dnA@adelphia.com...
The "Nuts with Nukes" are in Israel.
Unless and until Israel is disarmed of its WMD, it is only natural that
the
countries threatened thereby seek a deterrent.
Nuts With Nukes would be a great name for a rock band!
;-)
As for the other; Israel has never demonstrated a willingness to use its
nukes
(they only seem to be anxious to use US -made weapons!). Pakistan and
India are
far more unstable with nukes, as I believe Iran would also be.
Pakistan is my pet fear ... *waaaaaaayyyy* too many fundy nuts and a gov't
that lacks the will to crack down on 'em.
Agreed. They have no control.
If the gov't there gets overthrown, then the West will have to move fast to
neutralize the fundies ... or else there'll be hell to pay.
Yup.
Woods
.
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| User: "ex" |
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| Title: Re: Nuts With Nukes |
20 May 2004 05:34:25 AM |
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"Woodswun" <woodswun@tepidmail.com> wrote in message
news:TiRqc.222692$M3.190933@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
In article <vFMqc.278$IA4.2178@newscontent-01.sprint.ca>, "ig" <a@b.com>
wrote:
No No No. The nuts with Nukes is the USA.
"Joe" <jpsmith123@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:KamdnahAT_n77zbd4p2dnA@adelphia.com...
The "Nuts with Nukes" are in Israel.
Unless and until Israel is disarmed of its WMD, it is only natural that
the
countries threatened thereby seek a deterrent.
Nuts With Nukes would be a great name for a rock band!
;-)
K-TEL PRESENTS! 20 EXPLOSIVE HITS FROM "NUTS WITH NUKE"
1 - RADON ON MY SHOULDER ( MAKES ME HAPPY )
2 - LUCY IN THE SKY WITH MUSHROOM CLOUDS
3 - JUMPIN' JACK FLASH ( THEN WE ALL DIE )
4 - I THINK I'M TURNING JAPANESE
5 - HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY THAT I LOVE YOU ( 'CAUSE IF I HAVEN'T IT'S
TOO LATE NOW )
6 - .........
.... and the band played on ....
-ex
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/04
.
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| User: "ig" |
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| Title: Re: Nuts With Nukes |
19 May 2004 06:26:52 PM |
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I highly doubt any contry other than the USA or terrorists will iniate a
nuclear attack.
"Woodswun" <woodswun@tepidmail.com> wrote in message
news:TiRqc.222692$M3.190933@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
In article <vFMqc.278$IA4.2178@newscontent-01.sprint.ca>, "ig" <a@b.com>
wrote:
No No No. The nuts with Nukes is the USA.
"Joe" <jpsmith123@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:KamdnahAT_n77zbd4p2dnA@adelphia.com...
The "Nuts with Nukes" are in Israel.
Unless and until Israel is disarmed of its WMD, it is only natural that
the
countries threatened thereby seek a deterrent.
Nuts With Nukes would be a great name for a rock band!
;-)
As for the other; Israel has never demonstrated a willingness to use its
nukes
(they only seem to be anxious to use US -made weapons!). Pakistan and
India are
far more unstable with nukes, as I believe Iran would also be.
Woods
.
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| User: "Joe" |
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| Title: Re: Nuts With Nukes |
19 May 2004 08:05:33 PM |
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You're right "nuts with nukes" includes the U.S. and Israel.
"ig" <a@b.com> wrote in message
news:vFMqc.278$IA4.2178@newscontent-01.sprint.ca...
No No No. The nuts with Nukes is the USA.
"Joe" <jpsmith123@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:KamdnahAT_n77zbd4p2dnA@adelphia.com...
The "Nuts with Nukes" are in Israel.
Unless and until Israel is disarmed of its WMD, it is only natural that
the
countries threatened thereby seek a deterrent.
.
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