A Different View
August 13th, 2012 // 12:54 pm @ Oliver DeMille
In a stunning reversal of the common wisdom, a leading voice in the United States is arguing that Iran should be allowed to pursue and get nuclear weapons.
And the person making the argument isn’t Ron Paul.
This view comes from long-time international relations expert Kenneth Waltz.
His idea, and the case he makes for its implementation, was published in the influential journal Foreign Affairs (July/August 2012).
As such, it has a real chance of gaining support in Washington.
Waltz says that there are four possible outcomes to the Iranian nuclear crisis.
One, diplomacy and sanctions could convince Iran to stop seeking nuclear capability.
Two, Iran might obtain nuclear power but not weaponize, like Japan.
Three, Iran might continue developing a bomb and eventually obtain it despite opposition from the U.S. and Israel.
All of these are unlikely because, as Waltz argues, Iran doesn’t want to give up this project, non-weaponized nuclear power could be quickly converted to weapons, and at some point Israel or the U.S. is likely to use force to stop the Iran bomb project.
A fourth option would be to support the Iranians in gaining nuclear capacity.
Waltz says this would stabilize the Middle East by creating a Cold-War style balance between Israel and Iran.
He points out that China, India and Pakistan all became “more cautious” after going nuclear.
I’m not a fan of this view, but I think a lot more regular Americans need to study the issue and make their opinions felt.
We have left international affairs to the experts for far too long.
Read Waltz’ article, and see what you think.
Then study the topic and start sharing your views.
It’s time for regular people to get much more involved in influencing what America does around the world.
***********************************
Oliver DeMille is the chairman of the Center for Social Leadership and co-creator of Thomas Jefferson Education.
He is the author of A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the 21st Century, and The Coming Aristocracy: Education & the Future of Freedom.
Oliver is dedicated to promoting freedom through leadership education. He and his wife Rachel are raising their eight children in Cedar City, Utah.
Category : Blog &Current Events &Foreign Affairs
Keith
12 years ago
The real problem with Iran is the defiant stand it has taken against the central banks by creating its own exchange to trade its oil and choosing to bypass the petro dollar and the IMF. All the destabilization in the middle east conducted by the state department is deliberately induced to maintain fiat control over the region. Lybia was the same. Despite what you think of Gaddafi, he was attempting to issue his own currency and bypass the entrenched money changers while moving to industrialize his nation. It is the same story that caused the civil war, industrial powers in England did not want americans to succeed and so sowers of discord moved in to help destabilize the country, to break it up. The time is quickly upon us to face evil and stop pointing the finger to misguide the public. It is time to make secrete combinations, false flag terror, fiat money control, and all the military, pharmaceutical, and corporate complexes public knowledge. No statesman can function without this knowledge and no people can rise in liberty without facing the true enemy.
Steve Swann
12 years ago
The real issue in my mind is not any of these logical states, but the force of religious zealotry within the rulers. We must be more realistic in dealing with a country that potentially may act less than logically.
Richard
12 years ago
I think Iran should be able to join the nuclear club. The case being made for a stabalizing influence in the Middle East is a good one. We are taught to pray for our enemies. Bless them that curse you and do good to them who despitefully use you. If nuclear power will help the Iranian people good for them.
Maybe rather than blow each other to bits, Israel and Iran will finally work out some peaceful sollutions that don’t involve them giving up their own sovereignty.
If we continue to work from a platform of fear I think it breeds further ditrust. I like to think we live in a universe of abundance. There is plenty of good to be don in the world yet. At the same time lets let the Patriot Missle System guard our shores from off chance some rouge element from anywhere in the world might send someting our way. 🙂