Eh, That's Too Rational
Today's Boston Globe has an editorial that is stunning in its good sense. While the presidents of the United States and Iran are waving sabres and unmentionable parts of their anatomies at each other, the rest of the world is holding its collective breath, fearing yet another war in that dangerous region, one instigated by the US and possibly carried out initially by Israel.
A possible solution to the current impasse was actually suggested several years ago. It is now being reconsidered, which means there are a few rational people still engaged:
The world needs to honor Iran's right under the treaty to peaceful nuclear energy, while preventing Iran from producing nuclear weapons. There may have been a time when Iran would have settled for access to nuclear fuel produced outside Iran. But as a result of President Bush's refusal to bargain with Tehran earlier, the options for preserving the nuclear nonproliferation regime have narrowed to the imperfect, the intolerable, and the unthinkable.
This is why a 3-year-old proposal from MIT physicist Geoffrey Forden and former British ambassador John Thomson is stirring renewed interest, as the Globe's Farah Stockman recently reported. In their plan, an international consortium would run a uranium enrichment facility on Iranian soil. This could provide Iran with a supply of nuclear fuel for the 20 reactors it wants to build by 2035. And if Iran's leaders rejected participation in such a consortium, their bluff would be called.
What a simple, yet brilliant idea. Unfortunately, it is not one that the current administration will likely consider because it doesn't involve threats and beating down. It treats the Iranians too much like adults, like members of the world community with rights and responsibilities.
The editorialist agrees, as the conclusion shows:
Some variation of this consortium idea might eventually resolve the dangerous confrontation over Iran's nuclear program. But that cannot happen until America has a president who ventures into the Iranian bazaar and tries to strike a bargain.
It is clear to me that only one of the two candidates is willing to make that venture, which is something to keep in mind for the next 6 months.
A possible solution to the current impasse was actually suggested several years ago. It is now being reconsidered, which means there are a few rational people still engaged:
The world needs to honor Iran's right under the treaty to peaceful nuclear energy, while preventing Iran from producing nuclear weapons. There may have been a time when Iran would have settled for access to nuclear fuel produced outside Iran. But as a result of President Bush's refusal to bargain with Tehran earlier, the options for preserving the nuclear nonproliferation regime have narrowed to the imperfect, the intolerable, and the unthinkable.
This is why a 3-year-old proposal from MIT physicist Geoffrey Forden and former British ambassador John Thomson is stirring renewed interest, as the Globe's Farah Stockman recently reported. In their plan, an international consortium would run a uranium enrichment facility on Iranian soil. This could provide Iran with a supply of nuclear fuel for the 20 reactors it wants to build by 2035. And if Iran's leaders rejected participation in such a consortium, their bluff would be called.
What a simple, yet brilliant idea. Unfortunately, it is not one that the current administration will likely consider because it doesn't involve threats and beating down. It treats the Iranians too much like adults, like members of the world community with rights and responsibilities.
The editorialist agrees, as the conclusion shows:
Some variation of this consortium idea might eventually resolve the dangerous confrontation over Iran's nuclear program. But that cannot happen until America has a president who ventures into the Iranian bazaar and tries to strike a bargain.
It is clear to me that only one of the two candidates is willing to make that venture, which is something to keep in mind for the next 6 months.
Labels: Election 2008, Iran
posted by Diane at 9:58 AM
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