We can all breathe a little easier, Iran and the U.S. have agreed to a framework regarding Iran’s nuclear program that, hopefully, will avoid military confrontation. However, Israel is not breathing easier but rather creating a movement against this treaty which might grab the imagination of many Republicans in Congress who would like nothing more than to create a rationale for another war in the Middle East.
While Iran has no nuclear weapons and signed on to the Non-Proliferation Treaty as early as July 1968, Israel has stockpiled at least 80 such nuclear weapons and has refused to sign on to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
While Iran has agreed, in this treaty, to allow for frequent and thorough monitoring of their nuclear program, Israel has never allowed the UN to assess their nuclear program.
In fact, while the U.S. has confronted North Korea, Iraq, and Iran, George W. Bush’ Axis of Evil, about nuclear weapons development, they have been instrumental in helping Israel develop their own nuclear weapons and arsenal and has never challenged Israel’s refusal to allow inspections.
Some of the most powerful countries, China, France, United Kingdom, United States, Russia, Germany, Italy, Syria, and Turkey, as well as dozens of others, have signed on to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, but not Israel. And, with the help of the U.S., they have successfully stonewalled any effort to bring them into the world of the United Nations. WHY?
Moeen Raoof, with over 20 years experience in international NGOs with expertise in peace-keeping, humanitarian, and emergency aid states, “Israel has always been strongly opposed to any nuclear deal with Iran. At the same time, Israel—which has so far refused to sign the non-proliferation treaty—is suspected of having a stockpile of 80 nuclear warheads. There is also Saudi Arabia that is seeking a way to sabotage the nuclear deal, as well. Israel wants to be the only power in the Middle East because it is moving more Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank, and it wants to dominate the whole area. If there are any other nuclear powers in the area then Israel has competition.”
Israel and the U.S. Congress are playing footsie and neither wants there to be a deal. The agreement is not yet done and there are backup issues, like the claim that Iran supports terrorism, which have not yet been worked out. We can rely on Israel, with the Congress’ support to do what they can to sabotage any attempt to conclude an agreement.
It should be noted that what has been agreed upon this week was available almost 10 years ago. Iran is insisting, and was insisting 10 years ago, on the right to pursue a nuclear energy program, not a weapons program, and the cessation of all sanctions being imposed by the U.S. . The U.S. and it’s ally, Israel would not accept these conditions.
To better understand what is happening today, let us not forget what was happening in 2002 and 2003. Despite the fact that the U.S. insisted, in the 1990s, that Iraq dismantle its nuclear weapons program and allow for UN inspections, which Iraq conceded to, the U.S. insisted that they had continued their program. Despite the fact that UN inspectors insisted that there was no evidence of nuclear weapons in Iraq, the U.S. initiated an attack on Iraq which we continue today. In other words, it had nothing to do with nuclear weapons, there was another more important agenda, getting our military into Iraq and the Middle East so that we can control their resources (oil and gas) as well as their political institutions and processes.
For the past 10 years, Israel and the U.S. have insisted that Iran supports terrorism. Everyone outside the U.S. knows that these are unsubstantiated claims yet, that hasn’t stopped the Americans or Israelis from ensuring the sanctions continue to be imposed against a nation that has said clearly that they would never build a nuclear weapon or threatened any other nation on this Earth.
Besides, as an aside, if the Iranians supported terrorism, they would be one of the closest allies of the U.S.
Dave Alpert has masters degrees in social work, educational administration, and psychology. He spent his career working with troubled inner city adolescents.
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Israel’s exceptionalism
Posted on April 6, 2015 by Dave Alpert
We can all breathe a little easier, Iran and the U.S. have agreed to a framework regarding Iran’s nuclear program that, hopefully, will avoid military confrontation. However, Israel is not breathing easier but rather creating a movement against this treaty which might grab the imagination of many Republicans in Congress who would like nothing more than to create a rationale for another war in the Middle East.
While Iran has no nuclear weapons and signed on to the Non-Proliferation Treaty as early as July 1968, Israel has stockpiled at least 80 such nuclear weapons and has refused to sign on to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
While Iran has agreed, in this treaty, to allow for frequent and thorough monitoring of their nuclear program, Israel has never allowed the UN to assess their nuclear program.
In fact, while the U.S. has confronted North Korea, Iraq, and Iran, George W. Bush’ Axis of Evil, about nuclear weapons development, they have been instrumental in helping Israel develop their own nuclear weapons and arsenal and has never challenged Israel’s refusal to allow inspections.
Some of the most powerful countries, China, France, United Kingdom, United States, Russia, Germany, Italy, Syria, and Turkey, as well as dozens of others, have signed on to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, but not Israel. And, with the help of the U.S., they have successfully stonewalled any effort to bring them into the world of the United Nations. WHY?
Moeen Raoof, with over 20 years experience in international NGOs with expertise in peace-keeping, humanitarian, and emergency aid states, “Israel has always been strongly opposed to any nuclear deal with Iran. At the same time, Israel—which has so far refused to sign the non-proliferation treaty—is suspected of having a stockpile of 80 nuclear warheads. There is also Saudi Arabia that is seeking a way to sabotage the nuclear deal, as well. Israel wants to be the only power in the Middle East because it is moving more Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank, and it wants to dominate the whole area. If there are any other nuclear powers in the area then Israel has competition.”
Israel and the U.S. Congress are playing footsie and neither wants there to be a deal. The agreement is not yet done and there are backup issues, like the claim that Iran supports terrorism, which have not yet been worked out. We can rely on Israel, with the Congress’ support to do what they can to sabotage any attempt to conclude an agreement.
It should be noted that what has been agreed upon this week was available almost 10 years ago. Iran is insisting, and was insisting 10 years ago, on the right to pursue a nuclear energy program, not a weapons program, and the cessation of all sanctions being imposed by the U.S. . The U.S. and it’s ally, Israel would not accept these conditions.
To better understand what is happening today, let us not forget what was happening in 2002 and 2003. Despite the fact that the U.S. insisted, in the 1990s, that Iraq dismantle its nuclear weapons program and allow for UN inspections, which Iraq conceded to, the U.S. insisted that they had continued their program. Despite the fact that UN inspectors insisted that there was no evidence of nuclear weapons in Iraq, the U.S. initiated an attack on Iraq which we continue today. In other words, it had nothing to do with nuclear weapons, there was another more important agenda, getting our military into Iraq and the Middle East so that we can control their resources (oil and gas) as well as their political institutions and processes.
For the past 10 years, Israel and the U.S. have insisted that Iran supports terrorism. Everyone outside the U.S. knows that these are unsubstantiated claims yet, that hasn’t stopped the Americans or Israelis from ensuring the sanctions continue to be imposed against a nation that has said clearly that they would never build a nuclear weapon or threatened any other nation on this Earth.
Besides, as an aside, if the Iranians supported terrorism, they would be one of the closest allies of the U.S.
Dave Alpert has masters degrees in social work, educational administration, and psychology. He spent his career working with troubled inner city adolescents.