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Nov 14, 2003 The euphoria expressed by the political leadership of Western Europe, and to a lesser extent the US media, over the news of the deal made between the European Union and Iran concerning its nuclear ambitions gives cause to be wary. One good reason to be concerned is the horrid feeling that history itself is repeating itself. All you need do is reach back in your memories to the final decade of the last century, and think of another region of the world. In the East Asian, a nation we are all very much aware of named North Korea struck a deal with the United States of America. At the time it was heralded by some as a major victory for the art of diplomacy alas it was in effect a major victory for the art of blackmail. The deal that was made was effectively that the USA would supply North Korea with food resources as well as energy resources, which included the building of light water nuclear reactors. This is what the US supplied to N. Korea so that it would end its nuclear proliferation programs. The US kept up its side of the bargain and (surprise!) North Korea continued its programs clandestinely. They built the bomb, while we got high on our airs. We now return to the 21st century where a new deal has been made to effectively cast Iran in the role of North Korea and the European Union as the US. The players may have changed in this rogue state drama but the game is frightfully the same. Iran is sitting on top of one of the largest stashes of oil and natural gas in the world. Why would they need nuclear energy? Lets remember, or rather point out, that Iran has over 88 billion barrels of crude oil reserve within its borders and over 810 trillion cubic feet of natural gas according to the US Energy Information Administration. This is not a nation struggling to meet energy needs. The charge that faces Iran is that it is building nuclear reactors in order for it to further its nuclear weapons programs so that by 2005 or sooner it will have nuclear weapons. Many nations in fact are suspect of Irans intentions, though the United States is leading the charge. The issue itself has not gone before the United Nations Security Council, but Iran will continue to deal with the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA). This means that Iran will allow IAEA inspectors the right to inspect acknowledged sites in Iran as well as handing over documents concerning their nuclear research. Iran reaffirmed in its statement that "nuclear weapons have no place in Iran's defense doctrine." Obviously if you believe that then there are several bridges located in New York City, I have for you to purchase, contact me at the email address below. Iran is itself a rogue state, a member of what President Bush has termed the Axis of Evil. It is also a state sponsor of terrorism, terrorist organizations that are coddled by the regime in Iran include but are not limited to Hizbollah, the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and al-Qaeda. Iran was involved in a war with Iraq in the 1980s, it has more recently occupied the territory of its neighbors (The United Arab Emirates islands of Abu Musa and the Tumbs), it also exports arms and has resolved to destroy Israel as well as the great Satan America. This is a nation with ambitions and they are not benign ones for the Free World. The fact that Iran has only promised to suspend its uranium enrichment program and not end it should show that the deal with the EU is not worth the pontifications its been bellowed with. It will resume its program the question is when, not if, you can bet on that. Iran made this declaration with the EU in order to divide the West; this should be obvious to all. When you are dealing with the worlds premier theocracy, you are dealing with a fervent Anti-American entity. You cannot be anti-American and pro-Western at the same time, it is impossible. At one time you could say that the West as an entity was based on the English language and the French culture. This is no longer the case. American culture has replaced French culture on a global scale and thus the West is now, at its core, the English language and the American culture. Thus any warming up to our allies in Europe that Iran is currently attempting is only aimed at dividing the transatlantic alliance. As the Franco- Germanic Axis, which was unfortunately aided in this brokering by the United Kingdom, trumpets the success of diplomacy over confrontation, we see the wedge reappear across the Atlantic. Although it must be said that Prime Minister Blair has stated that he believes that Iran only came to the table because of the actions undertaken by the Coalition of the Willing. Im sure that the UK Prime Minister knows a stalling tactic when he sees one, and that is preciously what Iran has successfully engineered. Iran has already been successful at acquiring nuclear reactor technology from the Russian Federation. If left to just none intrusive verification from IAEA inspectors and their own word, Iran will undoubtedly have nuclear weapons sooner rather then later. With the ultimate deterrent, they would be able to continue to keep their citizens hostage and make their neighbors and the free world hostage to their theocratic dogma. This deterrent is something that Iran must be deprived of. At the end of the day Iran is scared, this is the driving force behind its actions. It is fear, at the fact that its Islamic revolution has failed to be one of its main exports and that the United States influence in the Middle East/ South Asian region has grown over the past few years instead of declined. To their immediate left the United States is there in Iraq, to their immediate right the United States is there in Afghanistan. That is why Iran has been developing long range missiles with a great deal of help from North Korea. Its amazing how so many nations can cooperate so well when they would seemingly have nothing in common. Perhaps that is something for us all to keep in mind. The Shehab 3, Irans premier missile has a range of 800 miles, and the Shehab 4 missile, currently being developed will probably have a range of 1200 miles. It is unlikely that Iran would undertake this costly endeavor just to place non-weapons of mass destruction, conventional weapons, on them. No these are to be the delivery systems for their nuclear weapons as well as a what ever other WMD Iran has up its sleeve. There is no telling how an unfettered nuclear powered Iran would act in reference to its terrorist allies; it would most likely act openly outside of the shadows in support of them. This would require an immediate and unambiguous response from America and its allies. Israel itself will most likely attempt to end Irans ambitions with an air strike similar to its campaign, which temporally ended Saddam Husseins nuclear program. We must also be concerned about the rumblings coming out of Saudi Arabia that they would acquire nuclear weapons as a deterrent to a nuclear Iran. That is not a prospect that I would like to imagine. The West and the rest of the Free World must send a strong and clear message to Iran that nuclear weapons are not for them. So far we have not seen this, instead we have seen a divided West bicker amongst itself while our allies outside the West try to see who to take their lead from. We must remember that Iran poses an ever-growing problem and threat to our way of life; it is not reforming, not while political prisoners are being tortured to death and women are being repressed. Nuclear Weapons are the strongest deterrent, at this moment but the proposed missile defense shield is the trump card to that. The West must continue to do what it does best, develop new technologies that will counter new threats. So far Iran has kept the issue of their nuclear proliferation out of the UN Security Council and has thrown another monkey wrench into the Transatlantic community, Iran = 2, West = 0. Iran should be engaged diplomatically, but deals without major concessions on their end such as permanently ending its uranium enrichment program, (which would have to be verifiable) are mistakes that will come back to haunt us just as North Korea is now haunting us. ------------ About the author: Ian Reilly is a recent graduate of Marymount Manhattan College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in the Humanities with a concentration in International Studies. He was born and raised in New York City, New York. Email Ian Reilly: McUKFrog@aol.com Comment on this column in the forum. 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