3.9.07

Thursday, February 22, the US announced that Iran has not ceased its nuclear program in accordance with International Atomic Energy Association’s recommendations and has decided to pursue their nuclear program even more actively. (Full story at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070222/ap_on_re_mi_ea/nuclear_iran) Ever since the enrichment was revealed by Alireza Jafarzadeh in late 2002, the United States government and some of the European community have been adamant about dismantling the program. This feeling has become more heightened since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced Iran had successfully enriched uranium in April 2006. With the new news of more centrifuges and unheeded UN resolutions, what can Iran expect? The "talks" the United States is promising work? According to the Associated Press, the “ U.S. has said it has no plans to strike Iran militarily — but has also said all options remain on the table.” So what now? Tony Blair’s UK is withdrawing troops from Iraq and the oft-whispered next in line, Gordon Brown, is even more adamant in his anti-war stance. The Coalition is crumbling, yet America has begun sending more Navy ships to the Persian Gulf in the precursors of escalating brinksmanship. The citizens of the United States are war-weary and will not support the invasion of yet another Middle Eastern country, and with a current intragovernmental debt of $3,797,757,195,339.85 (http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np), along with a Congress balking at more defense spending bills and troop surges, the United States can ill afford another war. Russia and China, with heavy investments in Iran , will continue to block tougher sanctions in the UN Security Council. The only other option is actual diplomacy, a ceasing of governmental stubbornness on both sides in order to resolve the conflict with direct talks. This will not be simple. This will not be painless. This will not happen overnight. But it must happen.