Fighting Talk

The rhetoric over the Iran crisis is increasing alarmingly. Iran is has now been referred to the United Nations Security Council over its refusal to stop enriching uranium. Vice President Dick Cheney has warned of “meaningful consequences” for Iran when he addressed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). He also said that America "is keeping all options on the table in addressing the irresponsible conduct of the regime". John Bolton, the US ambassador to the UN warned of “tangible and painful consequences” when he addressed the AIPAC a few days earlier. All this despite the IAEA saying it "has not seen any [Iranian] diversion of nuclear material to nuclear weapons".

The Iranians have responded to these threats by announcing that they could also inflict “harm and pain” on the United States. Now Israel has entered the fray by declaring that they will act alone if the UN does not. "My answer to this question is that the state of Israel has the right give all the security that is needed to the people in Israel. We have to defend ourselves," Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said when asked if Israel was prepared to use military force if the UN failed to act.

This escalation of rhetoric is forcing all parties into positions from which they may not be able to retreat. What are we to make of this situation? The UN route will not give the results America Europe and Israel want instantly. The most that will happen in the immediate future is demands for Iran to comply and possible sanctions at a much later date. Only after that would military action be considered.

George Bush will be out of office in another two years or so, and there is no guarantee that the next administration will be so bellicose, whether it is Republican or Democrat. Already the neo-con hawks are distancing themselves from their previous encouragement for the disastrous Iraq war. A conflict with Iran will be different. The Iranian threat of being able to inflict “harm and pain” is not empty. America only had the courage to tackle Iraq after the International Community had starved the country for 12 years, and they are still embroiled. Iran has the ability to strike back and it could cause plenty of inconvenience for the coalition in Iraq. And before things even go that far they can disrupt the oil supplies that the West is so hopelessly addicted to.

This leaves the bleak option of some sort of early pre-emptive attack, possibly by Israel which rarely acknowledges international law. Such an attack would have to be devastating in order to minimise Iran’s ability to retaliate. I can’t help thinking that this is what is behind the unusually un-diplomatic talk. A war with Iran would probably be more popular in America than the Iraq conflict. The mainstream media is falling into line in ratcheting up the hate campaign and Iran has few friends in the world to support it.

Already it is looking like a conflict is unavoidable. Only a mass display of public disapproval over the whole world might possibly force our war-like leaders to think again. On March 18th, just such an opportunity will occur. Demonstrations against these wars are planned in many cities throughout the world. The more people who join these demonstrations, the better our chances of stopping this madness. Below is information for all those interested. Please spread it around. If you are a blogger, please post it on your site. Let’s make these warmongers listen to us this time.

If you live in Britain:
Go to the Stop the War Coalition site for information on demonstrations over the country and beyond.

If you live in the United States of America:
Go to A.N.S.W.E.R for information on demonstrations over the USA. Alternatively check out Politics In The Zeros

If you live elswhere in the world:
This page has information of events worldwide.