Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DHAKA4040
2005-08-16 08:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
Media Reaction: Iranian Nuclear Program; Dhaka
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS DHAKA 004040
SIPDIS
FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY),SA/RA, INR/R/MR, AND PASS TO
USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B
CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (LCDR FLETCHER),
J45 (MAJ NICHOLLS)
USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ STYNER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OIIP OPRC KPAO PREL ETRD PTER ASEC BG OCII
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: Iranian Nuclear Program; Dhaka
Summary: A News Today editorial says if the US exercises
its option to use force in Iran it would be not because of
sound reasoning but because of Americans' and their leaders'
inflated egos.
--------------
Iranian Nuclear Program
--------------
"Who Will Blink First?"
Independent English daily "The News Today" editorially
comments (8/16/05):
Who will blink first---Washington or Tehran? With a known
hardliner taking over as Iran's new President the answer to
this key question has become uncertain. Defying bans and
persuasions Tehran has reopened its Isfahan nuclear
facility with the expressed desire to process uranium---the
key ingredient necessary for both peaceful and military use
of nuclear energy. By reopening this plant within hours of
President Bush refusing to rule out use of force as an
option Teheran has sent a clear message to all those who
want a monopoly on nuclear weapons. Iran may not go that
far but it wouldn't be prudent to underestimate the
determination of the new regime and the anger of the
Iranian people.
Ahmedinejad, the new elected President of Iran, had earned
the reputation of a hardliner as the Mayor of Teheran. On
Sunday, he put two other hardliners in charge of the
Foreign Ministry and OPEC (Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries). These are indications enough that
Iran, a major non-Arab oil producer, would pursue its
eyeball-to-eyeball policy with the western countries that
have ravaged neighboring Iraq for what is now
internationally accepted as a bid to control the Middle-
East oil. The allegations of Saddam Hussein having weapons
of mass destruction (WMD) were plain subterfuge.
It stands to reason that the new Iranian leaders have
assessed the international situation thoroughly before
hurling defiance at the US. The Iraq adventure has turned
into a bloody mess, the world opinion has become more
hostile and even some of the alliance partners have become
skeptical. Italy's decision to pull its troops out of Iraq
is an example. The drop in the domestic approval rating for
the Bush administration is of no consequence because Bush
cannot have a third term. In a situation like this, would
the US and its loyal ally, UK, open a new and far more
dangerous front? Perhaps the only cause of concern for
Teheran is the possibility of the US using its leverage to
get sanctions approved by the UN Security Council. For more
than eleven long years Iraq had paid a very heavy price,
including the deaths of nearly half a million children, due
to the sanctions imposed following the Kuwait invasion.
Tehran is not alone in refusing to blink, there is
Pyongyang also. The six-nation talks have hardly made any
progress and North Korea retains its options. Therefore, it
is difficult at this stage to foresee how the situation
would develop. If at all the US exercises its option to use
force it would be not because of sound reasoning but
because of the Americans' and their leaders' inflated egos.
But as a small nation struggling to make its both ends meet
we need a peaceful world. A vast majority of the 192 UN
members also wants peace. But the question is will the lone
super power and its poodles allow this? Only future can
answer this question.
Chammas
SIPDIS
FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY),SA/RA, INR/R/MR, AND PASS TO
USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B
CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (LCDR FLETCHER),
J45 (MAJ NICHOLLS)
USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ STYNER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OIIP OPRC KPAO PREL ETRD PTER ASEC BG OCII
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: Iranian Nuclear Program; Dhaka
Summary: A News Today editorial says if the US exercises
its option to use force in Iran it would be not because of
sound reasoning but because of Americans' and their leaders'
inflated egos.
--------------
Iranian Nuclear Program
--------------
"Who Will Blink First?"
Independent English daily "The News Today" editorially
comments (8/16/05):
Who will blink first---Washington or Tehran? With a known
hardliner taking over as Iran's new President the answer to
this key question has become uncertain. Defying bans and
persuasions Tehran has reopened its Isfahan nuclear
facility with the expressed desire to process uranium---the
key ingredient necessary for both peaceful and military use
of nuclear energy. By reopening this plant within hours of
President Bush refusing to rule out use of force as an
option Teheran has sent a clear message to all those who
want a monopoly on nuclear weapons. Iran may not go that
far but it wouldn't be prudent to underestimate the
determination of the new regime and the anger of the
Iranian people.
Ahmedinejad, the new elected President of Iran, had earned
the reputation of a hardliner as the Mayor of Teheran. On
Sunday, he put two other hardliners in charge of the
Foreign Ministry and OPEC (Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries). These are indications enough that
Iran, a major non-Arab oil producer, would pursue its
eyeball-to-eyeball policy with the western countries that
have ravaged neighboring Iraq for what is now
internationally accepted as a bid to control the Middle-
East oil. The allegations of Saddam Hussein having weapons
of mass destruction (WMD) were plain subterfuge.
It stands to reason that the new Iranian leaders have
assessed the international situation thoroughly before
hurling defiance at the US. The Iraq adventure has turned
into a bloody mess, the world opinion has become more
hostile and even some of the alliance partners have become
skeptical. Italy's decision to pull its troops out of Iraq
is an example. The drop in the domestic approval rating for
the Bush administration is of no consequence because Bush
cannot have a third term. In a situation like this, would
the US and its loyal ally, UK, open a new and far more
dangerous front? Perhaps the only cause of concern for
Teheran is the possibility of the US using its leverage to
get sanctions approved by the UN Security Council. For more
than eleven long years Iraq had paid a very heavy price,
including the deaths of nearly half a million children, due
to the sanctions imposed following the Kuwait invasion.
Tehran is not alone in refusing to blink, there is
Pyongyang also. The six-nation talks have hardly made any
progress and North Korea retains its options. Therefore, it
is difficult at this stage to foresee how the situation
would develop. If at all the US exercises its option to use
force it would be not because of sound reasoning but
because of the Americans' and their leaders' inflated egos.
But as a small nation struggling to make its both ends meet
we need a peaceful world. A vast majority of the 192 UN
members also wants peace. But the question is will the lone
super power and its poodles allow this? Only future can
answer this question.
Chammas