A tension builds up with Iran
Mohammad Amjad Hossain
January 27, 2012
It would be stupidity and utterly disastrous to the economy of the United States of America and to its people if another war with Iran takes place when the country is still in recession following participation of two uncalled for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq which continues for almost a decade. Prospect of war with Iran is heightened as both the United States and Iran moved closer to confrontation after Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, Nuclear scientist ,who was Director of Natamz uranium facility, was assassinated in Tehran. Iranian administration squarely blamed governments of the United States and state of Israel for assassination. The assassination took place just two days after the Iranian regime sentenced Amir Mirzaei Hekmati,US citizen of Iranian origin, to death on a charge of spying for Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).US administration denied that former Marine was a spy and said it had played no role In Roshan´s assassination .While disclosing the scenario, London Telegraph pinpointed that by now four nuclear scientists were assassinated in two years´ time, blown up the country´s leading missile expert and disabled Iran´s nuclear computer system.
As against economic sanction by United States on Iran administration of Iran has threatened to attack US warship entering the Strait of Hormuz. This threat emanates in view of the movement of US naval warship to the Gulf and three days after President Obama signed a law on the eve of New Year imposing tougher financial sanction to penalize Iran for a nuclear research program that the West allegedly suspect is aimed at developing nuclear weapons. European Union as of now did not follow suit with regard to harsh economic sanctions on Iran. In response to Iranian threat, US defense Ministry has made it clear that its warships are in the Persian Gulf to stay and will take steps to ensure the commercial oil shipping continues to sail through the strait of Hormuz.More than one sixth of the world´s crude oil passes through the strait of Hormuz, a strategic sea lane at the mouth of Gulf.
Political analysts in the US are of the opinion that this threat is the reflection of the economic pressure from US and Europe as well as harsh rhetoric of the politicians, who are seeking nomination for presidential candidate from the Republican Party, vowing to bomb Iran´s nuclear facilities to keep Iran from assembling weapons of mass destruction. All Republican politicians seeking nomination for presidential candidate except Congressman Ron Paul are in fact worried about nuclear Iran which by inference is meant destruction of State of Israel. Reality is that Israel possesses sophisticated weapons of mass destruction while remaining as non-signatory to nuclear non-proliferation treaty. James Phillips, a middle east analyst at the Heritage Foundation holds the opinion that Iranians are playing up threats to block the strait of Hormuz to deter an Israeli or US preventive attack on Iranian nuclear program, dissuade Europeans from imposing more sanctions and push up the price of oil.
Iranian, on the other hand, is making an all-out effort to get rid of the economic sanctions. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has undertaken a four nation diplomatic offensive in the first week of January to increase political, economic and military influence in Latin America, which is located in US backyard. Apart from attending inaugural ceremony of second term presidency of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega Iranian President visited Venezuela, Ecuador and Cuba. The visit reinforces recent commitments by Iran to invest millions of dollars in economic development projects for region which includes from a mining joint venture project in Ecuador to petro-chemical and small arms ammunition factories in Venezuela. In fact, Iran has been developing relations with Western hemisphere shortly after election of Ahmadinejad in 2005 who has made diplomatic priority in the region neglected by the United States in its own backyard. Meanwhile, Iran has expanded its diplomatic missions in Colombia, Nicaragua, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay and Bolivia and has strengthened its embassies in Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela. Iran dispatched number of diplomats to the region in recent months to cultivate countries in an effort to expand Iran oil market. Except Venezuela and Mexico no other country in the region has oil fields. US administration of Obama in October last year linked to a foiled assassination attempt on Saudi Ambassador to the United States to Quad force of Iran which Iran vehemently denied by saying that such false allegation by the United States is to create feud with Saudi Arabia.
Threat and counter threat would vitiate the climate of peace for which President Barack Obama was awarded Nobel Peace Prize. As of now President Obama has used restraint despite pressure from Israel and hawks and political leaders of the Republican Party. Taxpayers of the United States of America have spent trillion of dollars for two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq for no good of America. The United States of America is heavily indebted to China, which depends heavily on oil shipment from Iran. Therefore, war with Iran would complicate the environment if China´s interest is suffered. Not only China but also Russian Federation will side with Iran because Russia has helped Iran to build up Iran´s first nuclear power plant: Bushehr 1 reactor in 2011. I do not subscribe to the prescription put forward by London Telegraph to stealthily destroy threat posed by Iranian nuclear program than to waste the lives of young American and British soldiers in another fight that nobody wants. Iran, time and again, said its nuclear power is meant for commercial use and it has no intention for having nuclear weapon. United Nation´s watch dog of nuclear weapon: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) did not specify as yet that Iran plans to produce nuclear weapons. Its recent 25 page report described by Iran as US inspired propaganda.
War between Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Iranian regime from 1980 until 20 august, 1988, did not succeed to overthrow Iranian regime despite full backing of some Arab countries coupled with the US administration. It should be an eye opener to hawks in US and Israel. That Iran has acquired sophisticated modern technology reflects from drowning of US unmanned drone aircraft on December 4 last year causing political embarrassment and set back to US intelligence community. Hawks are playing same game as they did during the rule of Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Iran is now the spawn on the chess board. It is suggested that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries should stay out of this conflict for the good of Islam and Muslim ummah.
It would be wise if Obama administration would pursue peace initiative with Iran as he took such initiative with Taliban in Afghanistan. President Obama in fact should honor the Nobel Peace Prize by solving problem with Iran instead of a war in the 21st century. Americans have enough experiences of war. They do not want any more war which reflects in growing support for Congressman Ron Paul, who has been advocating no more war, in the primary election for selection of nominee for presidential candidate of the Republican Party.
Mohammad Amjad Hossain, retired diplomat from Bangladesh and former President of Nova chapter of prestigious International Toastmasters Club, writes from Virginia
As against economic sanction by United States on Iran administration of Iran has threatened to attack US warship entering the Strait of Hormuz. This threat emanates in view of the movement of US naval warship to the Gulf and three days after President Obama signed a law on the eve of New Year imposing tougher financial sanction to penalize Iran for a nuclear research program that the West allegedly suspect is aimed at developing nuclear weapons. European Union as of now did not follow suit with regard to harsh economic sanctions on Iran. In response to Iranian threat, US defense Ministry has made it clear that its warships are in the Persian Gulf to stay and will take steps to ensure the commercial oil shipping continues to sail through the strait of Hormuz.More than one sixth of the world´s crude oil passes through the strait of Hormuz, a strategic sea lane at the mouth of Gulf.
Political analysts in the US are of the opinion that this threat is the reflection of the economic pressure from US and Europe as well as harsh rhetoric of the politicians, who are seeking nomination for presidential candidate from the Republican Party, vowing to bomb Iran´s nuclear facilities to keep Iran from assembling weapons of mass destruction. All Republican politicians seeking nomination for presidential candidate except Congressman Ron Paul are in fact worried about nuclear Iran which by inference is meant destruction of State of Israel. Reality is that Israel possesses sophisticated weapons of mass destruction while remaining as non-signatory to nuclear non-proliferation treaty. James Phillips, a middle east analyst at the Heritage Foundation holds the opinion that Iranians are playing up threats to block the strait of Hormuz to deter an Israeli or US preventive attack on Iranian nuclear program, dissuade Europeans from imposing more sanctions and push up the price of oil.
Iranian, on the other hand, is making an all-out effort to get rid of the economic sanctions. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has undertaken a four nation diplomatic offensive in the first week of January to increase political, economic and military influence in Latin America, which is located in US backyard. Apart from attending inaugural ceremony of second term presidency of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega Iranian President visited Venezuela, Ecuador and Cuba. The visit reinforces recent commitments by Iran to invest millions of dollars in economic development projects for region which includes from a mining joint venture project in Ecuador to petro-chemical and small arms ammunition factories in Venezuela. In fact, Iran has been developing relations with Western hemisphere shortly after election of Ahmadinejad in 2005 who has made diplomatic priority in the region neglected by the United States in its own backyard. Meanwhile, Iran has expanded its diplomatic missions in Colombia, Nicaragua, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay and Bolivia and has strengthened its embassies in Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela. Iran dispatched number of diplomats to the region in recent months to cultivate countries in an effort to expand Iran oil market. Except Venezuela and Mexico no other country in the region has oil fields. US administration of Obama in October last year linked to a foiled assassination attempt on Saudi Ambassador to the United States to Quad force of Iran which Iran vehemently denied by saying that such false allegation by the United States is to create feud with Saudi Arabia.
Threat and counter threat would vitiate the climate of peace for which President Barack Obama was awarded Nobel Peace Prize. As of now President Obama has used restraint despite pressure from Israel and hawks and political leaders of the Republican Party. Taxpayers of the United States of America have spent trillion of dollars for two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq for no good of America. The United States of America is heavily indebted to China, which depends heavily on oil shipment from Iran. Therefore, war with Iran would complicate the environment if China´s interest is suffered. Not only China but also Russian Federation will side with Iran because Russia has helped Iran to build up Iran´s first nuclear power plant: Bushehr 1 reactor in 2011. I do not subscribe to the prescription put forward by London Telegraph to stealthily destroy threat posed by Iranian nuclear program than to waste the lives of young American and British soldiers in another fight that nobody wants. Iran, time and again, said its nuclear power is meant for commercial use and it has no intention for having nuclear weapon. United Nation´s watch dog of nuclear weapon: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) did not specify as yet that Iran plans to produce nuclear weapons. Its recent 25 page report described by Iran as US inspired propaganda.
War between Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Iranian regime from 1980 until 20 august, 1988, did not succeed to overthrow Iranian regime despite full backing of some Arab countries coupled with the US administration. It should be an eye opener to hawks in US and Israel. That Iran has acquired sophisticated modern technology reflects from drowning of US unmanned drone aircraft on December 4 last year causing political embarrassment and set back to US intelligence community. Hawks are playing same game as they did during the rule of Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Iran is now the spawn on the chess board. It is suggested that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries should stay out of this conflict for the good of Islam and Muslim ummah.
It would be wise if Obama administration would pursue peace initiative with Iran as he took such initiative with Taliban in Afghanistan. President Obama in fact should honor the Nobel Peace Prize by solving problem with Iran instead of a war in the 21st century. Americans have enough experiences of war. They do not want any more war which reflects in growing support for Congressman Ron Paul, who has been advocating no more war, in the primary election for selection of nominee for presidential candidate of the Republican Party.
Mohammad Amjad Hossain, retired diplomat from Bangladesh and former President of Nova chapter of prestigious International Toastmasters Club, writes from Virginia
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