Israel Matzav

Ignorance continues to be Blix

Al-AP reports that former weapons inspector Hans Blix has criticized the United States for - get this - "keeping open the possibility of military action to force changes in Iran's nuclear program." In other words, we should all give up the option and beg Iran to please stop. You've got to be kidding. But he's not.

"The military threat may well be counterproductive," Blix said at a news conference. "It is more likely to strengthen the ranks in Iran."

...

"The rewards are more important, the carrots rather than the sticks," he said. He said the United States and Europe should offer incentives – including support for Iran joining the World Trade Organization, improved economic relations and guarantees against outside attacks and attempts to topple the Iranian regime.

Before traveling from Berlin to Rome on Wednesday, Bush reiterated his previous statements on the issue, saying he favors a peaceful resolution to the standoff with Iran but has not ruled out force. Earlier, during the EU Summit in Slovenia, Bush warned that Iran, if armed with a nuclear weapon, would be "incredibly dangerous for world peace.

"So we've got to continue to work together to make it clear, abundantly clear, to them, that it's their choice to make: They can either face isolation or they can have better relations with all of us if they verifiably suspend their enrichment program," he said.

If you were living in a cave for the last five years, Blix's statement might make sense to you. But for those who are aware of what has happened with Iran to this point, it's clear that his prescription makes no sense at all.

In May 2005, Iran was offered membership in the World Trade Organization as "a reward for Tehran's agreement to continue to freeze its nuclear activities."

The United States, which accuses Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons, has vetoed its efforts to join the organization since it first applied in 1996. Even though politics is not supposed to play a role in issues relating to membership, the Clinton and Bush administrations used the World Trade Organization veto as one of a range of American economic penalties against Iran, an Islamic republic.

Because the organization, which is based in Geneva and has 148 member countries, makes decisions by consensus, the United States alone was able to block Iran more than 20 times over the years.

In March, President Bush announced that he would reverse that policy and agreed to consider sales of commercial aircraft parts after European leaders warned him that their nuclear negotiations with Iran would fail unless the United States joined Europe in a common bargaining position.

An array of Iranian officials dismissed the American gestures as insignificant.

Under a preliminary accord with Iran in Paris last November, France, Germany and Britain promised economic, political and security benefits in exchange for Iran's "objective guarantees" that its nuclear program was totally peaceful.

The economic benefits included helping Iran gain membership in the World Trade Organization, the promotion of private investment and technical help or cooperation in automobiles, telecommunications, civil aviation, agriculture and other fields. Joining the World Trade Organization offers access to a club of nations that are trying to reduce tariffs on trade in goods and services. The organization also settles trade disputes among members, and offers technical aid to developing nations.

In Geneva on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of the three European countries persuaded Iran to continue its freeze on nuclear activities, averting a diplomatic crisis that could have led to international penalties against Iran.

In exchange, the Europeans offered to present Iran with detailed step-by-step proposals by early August on how to move toward consensus on the shape of Iran's nuclear program.

That was in 2005. Since then, Iran has resumed its open pursuit of nuclear weapons and this was its response to the last incentive package it was offered a month ago.

On Monday, Iran rejected a six-power plan to grant it economic incentives to give up its quest to enrich uranium saying that uranium enrichment is its 'national right' and that it will not support any incentive that violates its 'rights or interests.'

Under these circumstances, to take the military option off the table altogether would be the worst move the United States could make. Blix's suggestion that it do so proves once again that ignorance continues to be Blix.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:29 AM