EU Nuke Talks With Iran Fail

The European Union’s efforts to trade “incentives” for an end to Iran’s nuclear research program ended in failure yesterday. Security think-tanks say that Iran will now proceed with development of nuclear weaponry, and the theocrats in Tehran could have a bomb in 5 years if they really tried. Worse, the current global political situation in a real incentive to do so.

An unnamed European diplomat told Reuters yesterday, “With the Iranian rejection of the European proposal and the restarting of the conversion plant in Isfahan, it did seem to us that the Paris process had ended.” Although Iran could have a change of heart, it “doesn't seem remotely likely.”

John Chipman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies said, “If Iran threw caution to the wind and sought a nuclear weapon capability as quickly as possible, without regard for international reaction, it might be able to produce enough highly enriched uranium for a single nuclear weapon by the end of this decade.” He did suggest 15 years was a more realistic time frame.

Iran, which as noted here ad nauseum floats on an ocean of oil, doesn’t need nuclear power to light schools, hospitals and mosques. However, with the Americans in Iraq to the West, in Afghanistan to the East, and with Israel sitting in the region with around 200 nukes (according to various groups that count such thing), Iran may feel the need for The Bomb. After all, North Korea is part of the “Axis of Evil” in Washington’s eyes, and so is Iraq. Comrade Kim has The Bomb so he is negotiating with the Yankees. Saddam Hussein didn’t, and now, he’s about to go on trial. The conclusion is easy enough to draw.

Optimism in this case is unwarranted. The escalation of fear will result in the escalation of weapons. And as the weapons increase in lethality, the fear will rise. In short, the EU failure is going to make the Middle East an even more nervous neighborhood than before.



© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.
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