Thursday, September 4, 2003
Ambassador Robert M. Kimmitt suggests that Europe is in a unique position to take the lead on preventing a nuclear Iran. Europe, particularly Germany, have ties to Iran and economic muscle they could make use of to put pressure on the Mullah's regime.
Sadly, I believe expecting any sort of coherent moral leadership out of Europe for taking coherent and firm action against a country to prevent something small like...nuclear non-proliferation these days is like expecting...um...something that ain't gonna happen.
Iran: Time for Europe to Lead (washingtonpost.com)
Europe, on the other hand, has had diplomatic relations with the leadership in Tehran for over two decades, and there is a growing trade relationship of importance to both sides, but especially to Iran. For some European countries, especially Germany, ties with Iran and, earlier, Persia go back centuries, especially in the area of academic exchange.
To the surprise of many of its detractors in the United States, Europe's policy of "critical dialogue" with Iran has recently become more keenly focused on the dangers posed by Iran's nuclear activities and aspirations. This sharpening of approach has been hastened by Europe's growing concern about the parallel acceleration of Iran's missile development program.
Led by Germany, and on its own initiative rather than in response to U.S. pressure, Europe should publicly announce a policy under which it will not allow its companies to trade with a nuclear Iran, will not provide other than humanitarian financial support to a nuclear Iran and, in the World Bank and other international financial institutions, will vote against all but basic-needs projects for a nuclear Iran...
And that's more cooperation than I believe (expert that I am!) they can put together, and even if they did put something together, we've seen how pourous such schemes wer with regard to Iraq. Saddam managed to rake in billions personally while the world was supposedly watching the money. Further, we've also seen just how much effect economic sanctions have on repressive dictatorships for whom the prosperity of their people is a second concern at best - very little. And further still, once the mad mullahs have the Bomb, what's to stop them from nuclear sabre rattling a la the NorKs? "Give us the money, or else..."
No, with a regime like Iran's, I just don't see how anything is going to prevent their desire for the Big One. The only thing will be regime change, hopefully from within.
