Can Iran Be Stopped?
Alison Silver
Issue date: 11/25/09 Section: News
America's efforts to stop Iran's nuclear program through negotiation will be unsuccessful, explained Bret Stephens, foreign-affairs columnist of the Wall Street Journal, on November 18. "We continue to engage Iran as they spit in the faces of our generous offers," described Stephens, former editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post. "They know America will come back with better offers. It's like stupid American tourist time and again." As America continues to offer Iran incentives to shut down their nuclear program, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the sixth president of Iran, continuously rejects these offers, demanding that America break its ties with Israel and form a stronger relationship with Iran.
Tehran has rejected an offer that includes the U.S. dissolving four binding Security Council resolutions demanding that Iran cease enriching uranium. Additionally, "it was not enough that France and Russia were prepared, with America's blessing, to convert Iran's existing stockpile of low-enriched uranium (LEU) to a grade of 19.75%, a hair's breadth shy of the 20% needed for a crude nuclear device," Stephens reminded.
Stephens elaborated upon the conclusion that military efforts may be a necessary measure regarding Iran. According to intelligence, Iran stopped its nuclear program when the American army was in Baghdad in 2003, since they were too scared to continue with the American presence in such close proximity. It is believed that ending the current Iranian regime is possible through a variety of methodologies. Through the combination of pressures such as sanctions and possibly the military, the Iranian regime would inevitably need to discontinue their nuclear program. The reason why people are opposed to this suggestion of military efforts is because they think the solution is temporary. "All solutions in life are temporary," countered Stephens, "and it doesn't mean you shouldn't do it."
"For all of Iran's stalling and cheating, the regime has been crystal clear about where it means to go," emphasized Stephens. "It bespeaks a degree of self-respect-the kind that tends to grow stronger the more the opposite party abases itself." It is crucial to understand that the Iranian regime believes it has a purpose and that a nuclear program will help to fulfill it, he said. Furthermore, Stephens warns that after Iran becomes nuclear, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt will become nuclear as well. "The world is not ready for four, five or six counties in the Middle East to have nuclear weapons," Stephens reminded, yet the reality is that Iran is moving closer to achieving a nuclear program.
Tehran has rejected an offer that includes the U.S. dissolving four binding Security Council resolutions demanding that Iran cease enriching uranium. Additionally, "it was not enough that France and Russia were prepared, with America's blessing, to convert Iran's existing stockpile of low-enriched uranium (LEU) to a grade of 19.75%, a hair's breadth shy of the 20% needed for a crude nuclear device," Stephens reminded.
Stephens elaborated upon the conclusion that military efforts may be a necessary measure regarding Iran. According to intelligence, Iran stopped its nuclear program when the American army was in Baghdad in 2003, since they were too scared to continue with the American presence in such close proximity. It is believed that ending the current Iranian regime is possible through a variety of methodologies. Through the combination of pressures such as sanctions and possibly the military, the Iranian regime would inevitably need to discontinue their nuclear program. The reason why people are opposed to this suggestion of military efforts is because they think the solution is temporary. "All solutions in life are temporary," countered Stephens, "and it doesn't mean you shouldn't do it."
"For all of Iran's stalling and cheating, the regime has been crystal clear about where it means to go," emphasized Stephens. "It bespeaks a degree of self-respect-the kind that tends to grow stronger the more the opposite party abases itself." It is crucial to understand that the Iranian regime believes it has a purpose and that a nuclear program will help to fulfill it, he said. Furthermore, Stephens warns that after Iran becomes nuclear, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt will become nuclear as well. "The world is not ready for four, five or six counties in the Middle East to have nuclear weapons," Stephens reminded, yet the reality is that Iran is moving closer to achieving a nuclear program.
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