Despite the fact that Iran has the inherent right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes (under the third pillar of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which it is signatory) and is estimated to be a decade away from manufacturing the key components of a nuclear weapon, President Bush continues to exert mounting pressure on Tehran to halt its production of enriched uranium:
[Iran's failure to comply with diplomatic negotiations] "will result in action before the UN Security Council, further isolation from the world, and progressively stronger political and economic sanctions."If nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament are so important not only to American national security, but indeed, the preservation of the entire human race, then why has President Bush just signed a nuclear deal with India, allowing it unprecedented access to US reactors, technology, and expertise?
When asked about the possibility of using force to quell Iran's nuclear ambition, Bush ominously replied, "all options are on the table."
Unlike Iran, India already possesses an arsenal of nuclear weapons, and it has shown in the past that it isn't afraid to use them: New Delhi conducted overt test explosions in 1974 and again in 1998, both of which drew an intense volley diplomatic fire from the international community at the time (including the U.S.). Also unlike Iran, India has continually neglected to ratify the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, making it one of only three states (out of 191 in the world) to refuse its terms.
The deal marks a complete reversal of a nonproliferation policy that has been upheld without exception for over 35 years: by inequitably rewarding one of the world's most reckless nuclear powers with such a lucrative co-arrangement, the Bush administration has completely undermined the founding principles of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and has effectively negated whatever argument it could hope to make against Iran's own nuclear ambitions - or anyone else's, for that matter.
Of course, the anti-Iranian campaign has always been more about regional politics than America's own national security. Israel, the US's trojan horse in the Middle East, does not exactly appreciate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's constant assertions that they ought to be cast into the sea. It was just a matter of time before the big boys arrived on the scene to get the propaganda machine rolling, just as they did with Iraq in 2002.
Similarly, the new nuclear deal is more about tipping the international balance of power than it is about making a profit (though there's alot of that to be had, too). After all, it is in America's best interest to forge a grand alliance with India, a country that is fast-emerging as one of the world's strongest economies, and, more importantly, as a regional counterweight to the mighty Republic of China. Unfortunately, fortifying India as a nuclear power is more likely to kick-start an Asian arms race than anything else, but those have never been of much concern to the Bush administration anyway - their much-decried Ballistic Missile Defense program is evidence enough of that.
In fact, while the deal has yet to even make it past Congress (which it undoubtedly will), regional tensions have already started to rise: Pakistan, India's Western neighbour and historical arch-enemy, has already begun petitioning China for similar nuclear assistance after the US unequivocally refused them.
South Asia has long been one of the most turbulent and unstable regions in the world. If President Bush thinks that awarding India with regional superiority via U.S. support will alleviate the problem, he is dead wrong. For a man who is supposedly spearheading a global war on terror, he's just contributed an awful lot to their cause.
But hey, we've got bigger things to worry about, right? Things like gay marriage, flag-burning, intelligent design, and those damned Iranians.
posted by Sylpheed @ 10:31 AM
4Comments:
Good points. I agree that the US does seem to have a double standard. Don't forget that the US is also treating Pakistan (India's nuclear nemesis) belligerently despite being an ally in the "war on terror." Maybe it's because there are fewer economic interests there.
BTW, India is in South Asia. Southeast Asia is where I am. Sorry for the nitpick.
Whoa, someone I don't know personally actually left me a comment...awesome.
Thanks Dan, no worries about the nitpick, someone's gotta edit this stuff. =)
Checking out your blog now, and I like what I see... I'll reciprocate and leave you some comments in the future. Cheers!
Good post. Keen thinking. Keep it up.
It is almost like it's a repeat of World War II. The alliances are being forged and soon things are just going to explode. There is almost no way around it. These weapons will be used at some point. I am fearful of that time.
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