NO WAR WITH IRAN OVER NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY

Today's The New York Times has both an editorial and a Paul Krugman op-ed that mention Iran's nuclear program. I think the premise in both of them is wrong - that the West cannot allow Iran to continue to develop its nuclear program and in the process secure the know-how to build a nuclear weapon.

This premise will help war-mongering U.S. neo-cons justify an attack upon Iran. Already Norman Podhoretz is clamoring for the bombing of Iran as soon as practically possible. Bill Kristol on FOX also seems to take every opportunity to urge Bush/Cheney to take military action.

So why is the premise wrong?

First, Iran has every right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. It is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and is given this right under that treaty.

Second, even if Iran is developing a nuclear weapon in contravention of the NPT, it is totally understandably given the militaristic history of Bush/Cheney and their disastrous invasion of Iraq. Look at the history of the U.S. when it comes to mounting an attack on another country. North Korea had a nuclear arsenal; Iraq did not. The U.S. attacked Iraq, not North Korea. Having a nuclear war chest is insurance against being attacked by the United States. So Iran has every rational inducement to obtain technology to build a nuclear weapon.

We can live with a nuclear Iran. Just as we live with Pakistan, India, France, Russia, China, North Korea, Great Britain and Israel. Iran has shown no inclination, in contrast to the United States, with invading, attacking and/or occupying other countries. We should be more afraid of the policies of Bush/Cheney than those of Iran.