As you listen to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice deliver her ultimatum to the Iranian mullahs, imagine you are a passenger on a hijacked airliner, headed towards Iran. You already know what the neo-crazy hijackers did to Iraq, shortly after Bush-Cheney-Rice delivered a similar ultimatum to Saddam Hussein.
“The pursuit by the Iranian regime of nuclear weapons represents a direct threat to the entire international community, including to the United States and to the Persian Gulf region.
“In defiance of repeated calls from the IAEA Board of Governors and from the Security Council, the Iranian government has accelerated its nuclear program, while continuing to conceal its activities from international inspectors.”
What “pursuit” is Condi talking about?
Well, you’re supposed to perversely conclude – as she does – that Iran’s Safeguarded nuclear program somehow constitutes a pursuit of nuclear weapons.
And what activities are the Iranians concealing?
None. You see, Iran is in total compliance – as required by the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons – with an International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards agreement entered into “for the exclusive purpose” of “preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons.”
And, despite years of intrusive go-anywhere see-anything inspections – whose frequency and scope have gone far beyond that required under Iran’s Safeguards Agreement, even beyond that required had an Additional Protocol to the Agreement been in force – Director-General ElBaradei repeatedly reports that he can find “no indication” of diversion of “source or special nuclear materials” to a military purpose.
What about activities at Iranian military labs and bases? Well, such activities – that do not in any way involve “source or special nuclear materials” – are literally none of ElBaradei’s business. And, even on those numerous occasions when the Iranians have voluntarily allowed ElBaradei access to those labs and bases, the IAEA Statute prohibits his telling anyone but his staff what he found there.
That, of course, is why Bush-Cheney have illegally intercepted ElBaradei’s communications with his staff – and God knows who else – beginning months before the launch of Bush’s War of Aggression Against Iraq.
But, back to Condi’s ultimatum to the Mullahs.
“The Iranian government’s choices are clear.
“The negative choice is for the regime to maintain its current course, pursuing nuclear weapons in defiance of the international community and its international obligations.”
Of course, there is no evidence whatsoever that the Iranian regime is pursuing nuclear weapons.
And, insofar as its NPT obligations are concerned, the Iranian regime is fulfilling them.
Which is more than can be said of the Bush-Cheney-Rice regime.
Since the Iranian nuclear program has been verified by the IAEA to not have a military purpose, and since Iran is in compliance with its IAEA Safeguards Agreement and if fulfilling its NPT obligations, Condi’s first choice is not available to them.
How about her other choice?
“The positive and constructive choice is for the Iranian regime to alter its present course and cooperate in resolving the nuclear issue, beginning by immediately resuming suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, as well as full cooperation with the IAEA and returning to implementation of the additional protocol which would provide greater access for the IAEA.”
Okay, suppose the Iranian regime capitulates to Condi’s outrageous ultimatum, which violates the NPT and the UN Charter. Then will Bush-Cheney-Rice give the Iranians what they want most, a guarantee we won’t preemptively nuke them in their burkas?
No way!
“The nuclear issue, though, is not the only obstacle standing in the way of improved relations. The Iranian government supports terror. It is involved in violence in Iraq. And it is undercutting the restoration of full sovereignty in Lebanon under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559.
“These policies are out of step with the international community and are barriers to a positive relationship between the Iranian people and the people of the United States, as well as with the rest of the world.”
Well, Condi, you ask; “What if the mullahs flat-out reject your ultimatum?”
“So we now have an opportunity to either check their movement toward further sophistication of their nuclear program by negotiation, to which we would be a party, or to check it by greater pressure on the Iranians through sanctions and other measures through the Security Council and, if necessary, with like-minded states outside of the Security Council.”
If necessary? With “like-minded” states, outside the Security Council”?
You mean the way Bush and the “coalition of the willing” checked Iraq?
Well, are you just going to sit there?
Let’s Roll!
