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Bush Still Spinning Nukes in Iran
By Marjorie Cohn
18/03/08 "ICH" -- --The unanimous conclusion of the 16 U.S.
intelligence agencies, that Iran ceased pursuing a program of
nuclear weapons in 2003, has dealt a severe blow to the
Bush-Cheney agenda of forcible regime change in Iran. For
several months, the rhetoric emerging from the White House
escalated to the point that many observers predicted Bush would
attack Iran before he leaves office.
But although the new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) makes
it more difficult to carry out his agenda in Iran, Bush is
trying to publicly undermine its conclusions. "I have said Iran
is dangerous," he declared, "and the NIE estimate doesn't do
anything to change my opinion about the danger Iran poses to the
world - quite the contrary." Will Bush provoke an incident with
Iran and then respond in “self-defense”?
Bush "rewarded" Iran for its help in consolidating U.S. power in
Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks by inaugurating Iran into his
“axis of evil” in January 2002. The following year, Iran offered
the U.S. government a comprehensive plan for negotiations and
cooperation, which addressed all of Bush's claimed pet peeves
about Iran. In Iran's 2003 memorandum, sent to the U.S.
government via Swiss diplomats, Iran proposed a "dialogue in
mutual respect." It sought negotiations with the United States
on the concerns Bush has repeatedly expressed.
Iran proposed “full transparency” to show “there are no Iranian
endeavors to develop or possess WMD.” It also sought to
guarantee “decisive action against any terrorists (above all Al
Qaida) on Iranian territory, full cooperation and exchange of
all relevant information.” In Iraq, Iran proposed "coordination
of Iranian influence for activity supporting political
stabilization and the establishment of democratic institutions
and a non-religious government." Iran agreed to discuss the
“stop of any material support to Palestinian opposition groups (Hamas,
Jihad etc.) from Iranian territory" and "pressure on these
organizations to stop violent action against civilians within
borders of 1967." And Iran listed its "acceptance of the Arab
League Beirut declaration (Saudi initiative,
two-states-approach)." This meant Iran would recognize the state
of Israel.
The Iranian memorandum also offered to negotiate the following
with the United States: "Halt in US hostile behavior and
rectification of status of Iran in the U.S.: (interference in
internal or external relations, 'axis of evil', terrorism
list)"; "Abolishment of all sanctions: commercial sanctions,
frozen assets, judgments (FSIA), impediments in international
trade and financial institutions"; "Iraq: democratic and fully
representative government in Iraq, support of Iranian claims for
Iraqi reparations, respect for Iranian national interests in
Iraq and religious links to Najaf/Karbal"; "Full access to
peaceful nuclear technology, biotechnology and chemical
technology"; "Recognition of Iran's legitimate security
interests in the region with according defense capacity"; and
"Terrorism: pursuit of anti-Iranian terrorists, above all MKO."
This 2003 offer by Iran to negotiate these pressing issues with
the United States was an incredible opportunity, which Bush, who
claims to pursue diplomacy, should have seized. Yet the White
House thumbed its nose at the Iranian offer and then tried to
cover up the story.
Why did Bush reject Iran's 2003 offer and now seek to discredit
the conclusions of the National Intelligence Estimate? Because
even if all his stated gripes with Iran were resolved, Bush's
hidden agenda would not be addressed. That agenda comes into
focus on the website of the American Enterprise Institute, a
neoconservative think tank that claims Paul Wolfowitz, Lynne
Cheney, Richard Perle and John Bolton as members. Under the
AEI's list of "Research Projects" is "Global Investment in
Iran."
Just as "Operation Iraqi Freedom" was about corporate control
over Iraq's oil, Bush's strategy on Iran is about making Iran
safe for global investment. And just as Bush lied about the
danger posed by Saddam Hussein, he is now lying about the perils
Iran poses.
U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency Director Mohamed
ElBaradei has consistently said there is “no evidence” Iran has
ever maintained a program of developing nuclear weapons. Yet
even though Bush learned about the NIE report in August or
September, according to National Security Advisor Stephen
Hadley, he invoked World War III in the same breath with Iran in
October. On December 4, Bush lied about when he learned Iran had
no weapons program, saying, "I was made aware of the NIE last
week."
Hadley's report on the timing of Bush's knowledge of the NIE is
corroborated by a shift in the rhetoric emerging from the White
House. During the last two months, Bush stopped talking about
Iran possessing nukes, and began referring to Iran having
"knowledge" of nuclear weapons, which he linked with World War
III.
In spite of the unanimous conclusion in the National
Intelligence Estimate and ElBaradei's informed judgment, we
cannot trust Bush-Cheney to abandon their imperial designs on
Iran. Bush will probably provoke a military confrontation with
Iran, then invoke the language in the 2002 Congressional
authorization for the use of military force in Iraq that says,
"The President has authority under the Constitution to take
action in order to deter and prevent acts of international
terrorism against the United States."
Congress must support Rep. Neil Abercrombie's resolution stating
that Bush has been given no authority to go to war with Iran.
Marjorie Cohn is president of the
National Lawyers Guild and a
professor at Thomas
Jefferson School of Law, where she teaches criminal
law and procedure, evidence, and international human rights law.
She lectures throughout the world on human rights and US foreign
policy.
http://marjoriecohn.com/
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