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The Double Standards of the West |
Current rating: 0 |
by Thomas Pany
Email: mbatko (nospam) lycos.com (verified) |
18 Jan 2006
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While the West works on developing ever-new nuclear weapons, should Iran be barred from the peaceful use to which it is entitled according to international law? |
THE DOUBLE STANDARDS OF THE WEST
Pinocchio’s Nose Grows Longer. Can the Nuclear Conflict with Iran be Defused?
By Thomas Pany
[This article published in the German-English cyber journal Telepolis, 1/12/2006 is translated from the German on the World Wide Web, http://www.telepolis.de/r4/artikel/21/21770/1.html.]
The debate over the Iranian nuclear program has burst into flames again. It appears Iran can play the black-white piano of the East-West conflict in this sensitive matter better than the West that seems helplessly caught in its reaction patterns. Teheran has long included these reactions in its strategic calculus and counts on the support of non-European powers, above all Russia and China.
As announced some time ago, Iran has resumed its “research program” for uranium enrichment. The seals were removed in the Isfahan facilities – in sight of the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA). As expected, authoritative western politicians reacted with great indignation. “No measure is excluded,” they said.
In all likelihood, the matter will be brought before the UN Security Council. Iran’s unilateral activities started without consultations snub the self-image of the western governments that see Teheran’s independent step as ominous. The reactions of westerners are marked by the worry that Iran is developing a nuclear bomb. Iran’s chutzpa must be stopped. The reactions from Europe and the US carried out with threatening gestures could prevent the militarization of the nuclear program.
The high-handed appearance of the current Iranian president Ahmadinedschad makes it easy for western politicians to counter all Iran’s efforts in nuclear policy – except for renouncing on the nuclear program – with the greatest mistrust. To top it all, it is a good opportunity for the new German government under Merkel to rehabilitate itself as a loyal friend and ally to Washington.
A few aspects are hardly considered in the exciting debate. For a long while, Iran acted in harmony with the Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty [1] and appeared open and ready for international observers and controls of its nuclear research program.
According to information [2] of the Russian secret service RIA Nowosti, Ahmadinedschad will sign a law “that suspends Iran’s fulfillment of the demands of the supplementary protocol to the non-proliferation treaty.” This is not a reassuring signal. Iran has rejected the Russian proposal to conduct uranium enrichment on Russian soil and insisted on carrying out the entire nuclear fuel cycle in its own country. Thus there are good reasons for mistrust.
But if Iran should actually pursue secret nuclear facilities [3], this would move their ambitions into a completely different light. However convincing proof has not been offered. The preparations for the Iraq war justify a great skepticism toward the suspicions of leading western nations.
For Iran, the development of nuclear facilities is a matter of prestige. The land that is proud of its cultural and scientific tradition will not be interrupted in this point by western governments entangled by their own economic interests. The country has the support of the majority of its population and all fractions of its parliament for this course. American experts who argue that Iran does not need nuclear power plants will not dictate to Iran. The US and Great Britain had a different opinion in the times of the Shah and wanted to do business with the country [4] in nuclear power facilities.
CHINA’S KEY ROLE
Perhaps this is yesterday’s snow. Still hypocrisy appears here that is also obvious elsewhere. While the West works on developing ever-new nuclear weapons, should Iran be barred from the peaceful use to which it is entitled according to international law? This is a difficult matter that does not become easier through the more or less hidden announcements by the western side to reassess its military options. On the other hand, business with the raw material energy is involved for Iranian representatives. They see the West with a long double standard nose that becomes ever longer.
The Iranian leadership argues on this basis. In November 2004, Iran signed an immense oil- and gas deal [5] with China and maintains good business relations with Russia [6]. While Russia’s attitude maneuvers in the nuclear dispute, the Chinese position until recently was unequivocal [7]: “Iran has the right to continue working on nuclear technology,” the acting Chinese foreign minister Zhang Ye Sui said after spending a few days in Teheran. With this assurance (China’s veto can block a decision of the Security Council), the Teheran leadership can profile itself domestically and internationally as the great Moslem country that can ignore western rhetoric and defy the Europeans and the US superpower.
However limits are set to overly bold ventures. Yesterday’s statement of the spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry made this clear [8]:
“We express our concern…about the recent new development in the Iranian nuclear issue. We hope that the Iranian side can do more to help build mutual trust and promote the resumption of talks between Iran and the EU countries.”
Whether Iran will take this advice to heart is uncertain. If it does, this would help deactivate the Cold war dynamic and considerably strengthen international pressure for controls on its nuclear program. |
See also:
http://www.mbtranslations.com
http://www.toostupidtobepresident.com
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Re: The Double Standards of the West |
by Tanveer Jafri
tanveerjafriamb (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
28 Jan 2006
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TANVEER JAFRI
COLUMNIST
MEMBER: HARYANA SAHITYA ACADEMY
1630/11, Mahavir Nagar, AMBALA CITY (HARYANA) (INDIA) PHONE: 0091-98962-19228,
EMAIL-tanveerjafri58 (at) yahoo.co.in, tanveerjafriamb (at) yahoo.com,
tanveerjafri1 (at) rediffmail.com
DOUBLE STANDARD ON IRAN`S NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY
Iran by restarting its programme of nuclear research and development, which was kept frozen for two years, has created a sensation in the countries which are rich in nuclear technology especially in the western countries. America, by considering itself, all in all, as it did in Afghanistan and Iraq, has become a self made general in this matter. Iran is firm on its declaration, as it has a right to get nuclear technology so it will continue to nuclear research programme. Rejecting all the feelings of uncertainties regarding manufacturing of nuclear ornaments, president of Iran, Mehmood Ahmedi Nijad clarified, “Iran does not need nuclear arms and beginning of nuclear research programme by Iran is not, at all a preparation for manufacturing nuclear arms. He also says, “Deep investigations of Iran’s nuclear installations done by nuclear investigating agency of united nation organization could not find any thing objectionable showing Iran’s preparation of making nuclear arms. In this regard if America and its allies suspect Iran, it seems a part of big conspiracy.”
Undoubtedly the big stores of nuclear arms are dangerous for not only a few countries but these are a standing danger for the whole humanity. No country in the world should manufacturer or store nuclear armaments. The double standard for nuclear armaments adopted by western countries cannot be justified at any cost. Iran wants to increase its electricity production capacity and for that it needs to start its nuclear research development programme so that it may use cheap nuclear energy in place of costly oil, for its electricity generation. This attempt of Iran is being looked at as a big danger for humanity by the western countries. But history tells that if ever, atomic explosion has been done in the world that has been done by America that considers itself, the big custodian of the world peace. Is not it a strange thing that America that used atomic bombs on Japan and killed, millions of people, is now teaching a lesson of world peace to the world? Iran that had neither used nuclear arms in the past, nor there is any proof of manufacturing these dreadful weapons, is being shown as a scare crow, the world is being told that the nuclear research and development programme of Iran is being started, only to make nuclear weapons.
Now there are some western countries that have not only adequate quantity of nuclear weapons in their stores but have chemical and biological weapons also. These weapons are very harmful for humanity and can destroy the humanity. But nobody raises any objection against those countries. It is well known fact that on the initiative of five nuclear equipped big powers and to check the spread of nuclear armaments in the world, a draft was prepared named as comprehensive test ban treaty (C.T.B.T.). Under the provisions of this C.T.B.T., which came into existence in 1968, the five super powers of the world, America Russia, Britain, France and China were allowed to keep nuclear armaments with them. It was also decided that these five countries, rich in nuclear armaments would neither sell nor give these arms to any country. It was also decided that they would not transfer this technique to manufacture the nuclear arms to any other country. Under the provision of C.T.B.T. the other countries of the world were allowed to develop nuclear energy for the peaceful purposes. Under these circumstances international Atomic energy commission is empowered to keep a vigil over all the Now the countries that raise objection on the peaceful development of nuclear energy and doubt its development in Iran have not themselves kept their promise of abandoning their Now the countries that raise objection on the peaceful development of nuclear energy and doubt its development in Iran have not themselves kept their promise of abandoning their these weapons. Not to say of forsaking their nuclear arms, they never thought it proper to advance a serious and positive step in this direction. Not only this, some of these super powers are installing dozens of new atomic energy canters, every year. Nobody is these to object their deeds and it seems that their nuclear energy in not being felt as a danger for the world.
Opposition of Iran’s nuclear development programme by America has some other reasons. One main reason is that the western countries, including America, opposing Iran’s nuclear programme want that if Iran really wants to start its nuclear research and development programmee for the electricity production of the country, it should purchase the required nuclear energy from them which is in abundance with them. That nuclear energy is quite useful for being used in nuclear energy electricity production. Iran does not want to waste its foreign exchange on this item by purchasing it from them. Iran gives importance on being self dependent in this sphere instead if giving its money to western countries. Sometime back America got a golden chance to oppose Iran on this matter when president of Iran Ahmedi Nijad said a true but bitter statement about Israel. In his this note, president of Iran challenged the geographical existence of Israel. In his fresh and controversial statement, Nijad said, “If Germany and Austria feel themselves culprit of cruelty on Jews they should abandon a part of their land for Israel, According to Nijad, “you did cruelty toward Israel so give some parts of Europe to Israel so that it may form its government there. From where have they come, who are ruling over Palestine today? Where were they born? Where did their ancestors live? Clearly, there roots were not in Palestine but surely fate of Palestine is in their hands.
On this statement of President of Iran, Israel reacted by saying, “Nijad is a problem, not only for Israel but for the international society.” On this bitter statement of president of Iran & the reaction note of Israel, White House without losing the time, availed the chance & confirm our doubts about his rule. Clearly, it is important that Iran must not possess the power to develop the nuclear arms.” Before this president Nijad had stirred the still water by saying, “Israel should be removed from the world map.”
It is not so that if Nijad had not given this statement, America & its allied nuclear powers would have ignored this nuclear research & development programme of Iran. The countries opposing Iran on nuclear development programme must look into their own that hour devoted & dutiful they had been towards CTBT. Visualizing Iran as a danger for humanity, they must look at their own works that how much real damage they have done to the humanity. After that they can get the right to doubt Iran’s intention otherwise not. If they are sincere to abandon the deadly weapons that are detrimental to humanity, the double standards being adopted for it must be given up. A transparent & greater policy acceptable to the entire world requires to be formed. (tanveerjafri58 (at) yahoo.co.in)
TANVEER JAFRI |
