Trouble Ahead

Iran's playing a dangerous game. Or are they?




The West's hands are tied. Suffering from post-Iraq blues, America is unlikely to engage in another war in the Middle East, at least not alone. And Europe? The chances of me winning the lottery are much higher than any agreement by France, Germany and the UK about invading another Muslim country. That would inflame further sentiment among the Muslim communities that there is some secret conspiracy to attack Islam. And besides, China would definitely veto any decisions to attack Iran: they've signed lucrative oil contracts with them.

So what options are UN politicians left with... sanctions? Maybe, but that could prompt Iran to further withdraw from negotiations with the West. I can't imagine them playing a tougher line, but it could happen. They could go North Korea's route.

And therein lies the problem. We have two autocratic, tyrannical, unstable, fanatical countries developing nuclear weapons. There's no doubt about their intentions as all efforts by Europe offering civilian nuclear development have been rejected.

So why shouldn't they have nuclear weapons? Well, do we need to remind ourselves of Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Without transparency, accountability, security, and more importantly, freedom of information, the leaders of these countries can use these weapons with impunity. On a whim of a dictator, we could see cities mushrooming out of existence.

And yet, the West looks particularly incapable of doing much at the moment... "Let Loose the Dogs of War" I say... kick some North Korean butt to show these IAEA rule-breakers we mean business (and also to show that there ISN'T a mad conspiracy against Islam). If the carrot don't work, use that stick.