User:Chopbrown/Iran and Nuclear Proliferation: Narrow Interests or Common Good?
Monday, April 10, 2006 {{editorial}} In recent years, nuclear proliferation has become a major topic of interest to the world community. Following the end of the Cold War in 1990, leaders from around the world hoped that they would be able to contain the spread of nuclear weapons to prevent unnecessary loss of life. Countries such as Iran, which have seen a tremendous rise in nationalism and ethnocentrism have defied the United Nations and have refused to open up their weapons facilities to nuclear regulators. Iran, a nation that has an integral political and economic role in the Middle East, believes that its nuclear enrichment program is a god-given right, and no foreign country can take that away from them. By examining a series of articles, it is clear that boundaries separating countries can lead to a rise in fundamentalist tendencies, and that the need to prove a country’s national might may lead to tragic consequences for the rest of the world. Countries, such as the United States, are very firm on reducing Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. Anne Gearan, an ABC News correspondent, argues that it would be wise for Iran to be aware of its precarious position because the United States has not completely ruled out using military force; which is still a possibility if Iran continues its nuclear enrichment program. Other countries, such as Russia, support Iran. CNN News reports that Russia, which has veto power as one of the permanent members of the Security Council of the UN, is perhaps Tehran’s most important ally and business partner. In addition, CNN also reports that Russia is working to create a compromise legislation to head off sanctions or other punishments (which are supported by the U.S.) aimed towards Iran. Despite the warnings of the United States and deadlines issued by the United Nations to halt its nuclear program, Iran has continued to develop its nuclear capabilities. Luke Harding, a Guardian News reporter, reported on March 31st, 2006 that Iran rejected a United Nations deadline for nuclear postponement. Instead of working to solve this important issue, the members of the United Nations Security Council have been stuck in gridlock. This is because several of the different nations on the council have opposing views on how to solve Iran’s issue, unable to reach a consensus. Iran, however, continues to be firm in its national unity, supporting its program wholeheartedly. The ambivalence from the United Nations stems largely from the fact that there are too many diverse nations each with its own interests and boundaries, at the same time unwilling to compromise. If the United Nations wishes to solve problems regarding Iran, then they must work to reach a consensus and disregard the political and power boundaries that separate each nation. Even outside of the United Nations Security council, nations are still worried about Iran’s nuclear program. According to MSNBC News correspondent, Kevin Peraino, Israel, for example, says they know how to forestall Tehran’s nuclear schemes. Israel claims that it has had the experience in the past with such events, and Israel’s advice could be useful for countries around the world who wish to stop, or at least forestall Iran’s program. According to Ali Akbar Dareini, a news reporter for ABC, even though Iran denies it, several nations believe that Iran will use its enrichment program to build nuclear weapons. This is a main reason why countries around the world are worried tremendously by this issue, and may seriously consider Israel’s advice. This is a clear example of how countries around the world, despite religious, political, and economical boundaries, have and should continue to come together to solve a common goal. It is unfortunate that the United Nations has been unable thus far to reach a unanimous agreement with regard to nuclear proliferation. To some extent, each country is unable to reach a consensus due to their focus on a narrow set of interests rather than the common good. Iran’s ultranationalist front has lead to the adoption of a dangerous nuclear weapons program that threatens global stability. While all humans should be working for the best interests of the world at large, countries such as Iran have made this process increasingly difficult; hopefully, some day this will change. If nations around the world unite, despite the problems posed by religious, political, and economical boundaries, then global problems, like that which is posed by Iran, can be solved amicably.
[edit] Citation
* "[WWW.CNN.com Nations meet over Iran nuke issue]" — April 12, 2006
*Keven Peraino and John Barry. "[www.msnbc.com Will Israel strike Iran?]" — April 12, 2006
*Anne Gearan. "[www.abcnews.com U.S firm against Iran nuclear enrichment]" — April 12, 2006
*iLuke Harding. "[Guardian News Iran rejects UN deadline for halting nuclear program]" — April 12, 2006 v
Chopbrown 21:21, 12 April 2006 (UTC)boxbrown
