Going Nuclear
Sorry if the title is a disappointment - this post is on Iran, not UK energy policy!
Iran seems more of a regional power now than it has been for decades. The reason: the US and allies. Once hemmed in by anti-social and slightly aggressive neighbours; like a Taliban ruled Afghanistan on one side and a war loving Hussein Iraq on another; Iran has had these regimes overthrown courtesy of the West and is now rumoured to be concentrating on other projects: nuclear weapons.
You could say what's all the fuss? The US, France, India, Pakistan and possibly N. Korea all have nuclear weapons, what difference does one more member to the club make?
The answer is Ahmadinejad.
He says Iran needs nuclear energy to boost it's economy (although Iran is sitting on a shedload of oil they actually have to import refined oil products because they lack the technology themsleves), whilst the US and others (including Israel) suspects more sinister reasons.
The guy recently fired upon, then seized a Romanian oil rig in Iranian waters and detained 26 workers in what the oil company describe as an "act of piracy"
I get the impression the Iranian populace is slightly worried by their leader's aggressive actions, continual taunting of the West and his unhidden desire to destroy Israel. It is bound to attract the attention of the US and their interesting way of solving problems in the region.
The Iranians are now willing to engage in serious talks over their nuclear programme, an option China and Russia are keen to promote, but the US doesn't feel talks will meet the UN's demands.
We shall see...
Iran seems more of a regional power now than it has been for decades. The reason: the US and allies. Once hemmed in by anti-social and slightly aggressive neighbours; like a Taliban ruled Afghanistan on one side and a war loving Hussein Iraq on another; Iran has had these regimes overthrown courtesy of the West and is now rumoured to be concentrating on other projects: nuclear weapons.
You could say what's all the fuss? The US, France, India, Pakistan and possibly N. Korea all have nuclear weapons, what difference does one more member to the club make?
The answer is Ahmadinejad.
He says Iran needs nuclear energy to boost it's economy (although Iran is sitting on a shedload of oil they actually have to import refined oil products because they lack the technology themsleves), whilst the US and others (including Israel) suspects more sinister reasons.
The guy recently fired upon, then seized a Romanian oil rig in Iranian waters and detained 26 workers in what the oil company describe as an "act of piracy"
I get the impression the Iranian populace is slightly worried by their leader's aggressive actions, continual taunting of the West and his unhidden desire to destroy Israel. It is bound to attract the attention of the US and their interesting way of solving problems in the region.
The Iranians are now willing to engage in serious talks over their nuclear programme, an option China and Russia are keen to promote, but the US doesn't feel talks will meet the UN's demands.We shall see...
posted by Mr T at 5:46 pm
5 Comments:
I think before 1979 when they still had the Shah, Iran (Persia) was a relatively moderate, liberal pro-western country which all changed when they had the Islamic Revolution and a hardline Shia ideology has been in place ever since.
Speaking of the Taleban, I'm sure Iran was the only country in the world to recognise it as the legitimate govt of Afghanistan. And the US (along with the UK) must acknowledge its own responsibility in indirectly creating the organization when it conceived the ill-founded plan to supply weapons and training to the Mujahideen in the 1980s.
If Iran ever does get nuclear weapons I’m sure the first target would be Israel. Why is Israel hated so much by its neighbours, though I suppose that’s another question altogether...
The only other countries to recognise the Taliban as the legitimate governemnt of Afghnaistan were Pakistan, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. A Tajik controlled the other 10% of the country with the Northern Alliance.
Excellent discussion gentleman. I think tho a Big Pete slant is called for.
The Iran government is like any other, interested in the control they have on their own country and the world. There is no doubt that they wish to have the bomb as it gives them greater influence and power in the region and the world. There target, ofcourse, will be the Jews. My worry is that they would use it. In a democracy the chances are highly reduced and would be used to curve American pressures. Remember, once a particular group has the bomb you can to next to nothing to remove them. The technology can then easily be spead. I am saddened by the Russian and Chinese position but not suprised. It is anyones guess what the outcome will be.
*yawn*.. Sorry, my tired "just woken up eyes" are struggling with all this deep thought! Why dont you come visit my blog and see pictures of Peter with a girls half pint..
Whilst I totally agree Iran having nuclear weapons would be a bad idea, it's a bit hard for us in the West to take the high ground with them when Gordon Brown has recently announced his intentions to spending billions on the next generation of Nuclear Weapons for the UK. There is also the inconvienent truth that it is only a Western democracy that has ever used a Nuclear Weapon in warfare (regardless of the merits of its use, and the credible argument that it may well have meant less people died in the long run).
It strikes me as a "Do as I say, not as I do" type ethos
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