Finally some honesty towards Iran
Britain’s foreign secretary is to urge Arab leaders to make clear they do not support Iran’s nuclear ambitions, as he visits the United Arab Emirates.
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“The consequent nuclear arms race would be very dangerous. The acquisition of a nuclear weapon would strengthen Tehran’s regional position, injecting its attempts to stoke up division and promote instability with much greater confidence.”Mr Miliband will say the sanctions which the European Union and United Nations have put on Iran are not designed to promote regime change or as a precursor to military action.
No military action against Iran. Well it’s about time he said that, so the bluff could be laid to rest and diplomacy by any other means took over. This should have been done ages ago: its obvious the other Arab countries (especially Saudi Arabia) don’t want Iran to have nukes either – it destabilises their own balance of power. Let’s see how the Ahmedinijad responds.
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Filed in: Current affairs, Middle East
How strange that the government changed their rhetoric on such a critical foreign affairs issue and in doing so put the UK at odds with the US on the same day as the PGR report is released.
Funny, that.
http://www.lettersfromatory.com
Without wishing to sound too pedantic, Iran isn’t an Arab country, but a Persian one. If you don’t know that distinction, it is very difficult to begin to understand politics between Middle Eastern countries.
I think its intriguing and meddlesome in a old school British way… how he’s trying to stoke Arab state’s fear and wariness of Iran.
Well there is another way to deal with this false dillema – the arabs could get nukes of their own.
…and let the off by mistake… ’solving’ the Israel problem, in a way, but leaving a giant hole in the earth into which our oceans would empty thus mitigating sea level rise…
and you wonder why the israelis aren’t that keen on the muslim or arab bomb? sheesh.
b’shalom
bananabrain
Bananabrain, there is nothing to wonder.
A nuclear free middle east is what you should be pushing for. Or share out all the ones already in the region. The ME needs MAD more than anyone else.
what a good idea, let’s share the israeli nukes with the syrians, after all they’ve just given the murderer of a 4 year old girl a medal.
b’shalom
bananabrain
ok – don’t give it to Syrians. You choose.
One day, eventually you will come to realise the absurdity of the situation.
Better to conclude that nukes have no place anywhere in the middle east.
so put the UK at odds with the US on the same day as the PGR report is released.
Not really, the new US policy will be the same.
how he’s trying to stoke Arab state’s fear and wariness of Iran.
Arab states have been quite wary of Iran anyway. You forget that until recently the Saudis didn’t like the Iranians… nor did the Iraqis or Syrians.
To be honest I am far more worried about the prospect of a nuclear North Korea, but that seems to have dropped off the radar.
I agree with you, though I think North Korea is collapsing with the (imminent?) death of their glorious leader.
“and you wonder why the israelis aren’t that keen on the muslim or arab bomb? sheesh.”
And you wonder why Muslims and Arabs are not keen on a Jewish Bomb? Sheesh. Given that the Religious and right wing community are likely to outnumber the rest in a few decades you don’t care about that?
Remember the cluster bombs and their massive use in Lebanon?
Pray tell me why does all foreign policy have to revolve around what Israel wants? What about what the others in the region wanmt or don’t you give a damn about them?
It was the Arabs who helped bail out the west not Israel. In fact The Jerusalem Post in a rather disgusting article tried to portray the Arabs as making profit from the west and implied they didn’t care. Wonder what Memri said about that!
Sunny’s Article – “Mr Miliband will say the sanctions which the European Union and United Nations have put on Iran are not designed to promote regime change or as a precursor to military action.”
But they said that before they invaded Iraq! What makes you think they mean it this time?
Israel is sabre rattling and every time they do the UK and USA obey. It is likely Iran will be attacked at the say so of the USA, UK and Israel.
The problem is that the west has decided that Israel is allowed to have nukes and do as it pleases and the others aren’t Thus an imbalance and you have countries wanting to equip themselves.
Until Israel is brought towards the norms that are expected of other countries this won’t stop.
Sadly Israel doesn’t realise that its massive arms advantage brings it nothing in terms of peace and thus Miliband needs to focus on peace between Israel and its neighbours which will dramatically reduce arms races in that region.
If Israel and Syria are at peace then Syria has no need for nuclear capability and neither does Israel. Thus pressure can be put on Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. But allowing clubs of haves and have nots is causing the problem which only feeds the arms industry.
Miliband isn’t a serious Foreign Secretary until he has the courage to demand of Israel what he demands of Iran.
“what a good idea, let’s share the israeli nukes with the syrians, after all they’ve just given the murderer of a 4 year old girl a medal.”
Yes lets have Israel have them which is ethnically cleansing Jerusalem and rapidly settling the West Bank all in violation of international law and does Miliband say a word – No. Do you highlight this disgraceful behaviour???
Lets let Israel have them because they build Museums of Tolerance on Muslim graveyards and then pretend
they are terribly protective of everyones rights
Lets let Israel have them because they settle and occupy land illegally in violation of numerous UN sanctions.
Lets let Israel have them because it allows Jewish killers much more leniancy that Muslim killers.
Fact is that Israel is only marginally better than those you label and has some pretty hideous practises of its own.
I mean Israel has elected killers and bombers into senior positions but of course that is acceptable.
Pot Kettle Black.
And you wonder why Muslims and Arabs are not keen on a Jewish Bomb? Sheesh. Given that the Religious and right wing community are likely to outnumber the rest in a few decades you don’t care about that?
The converse argument can be read on many right-wing sites and goes something like: “You wonder why people don’t like Muslims in Europe – in a few generations the Religious and right wing community are likely to outnumber the rest, Eurabia, Eurabia, etc, etc…”
And it’s just as shite.
Currently the stats of the number of Israelis who are in favour of a peace settlement and withdrawal from the occupied territories is roughly 90%. In a few generations the right-wingers and extremists will have “out-bred” this 90% of Israelis? You have a poor understanding of population dynamics and an even poorer grasp of the way politics works. Israeli right-wingers tend to prosper in times of terrorism – in the same way reactionary conservatives with draconian laws tend to be popular in every democracy whose public feel threatened. If compromises can be reached with its neighbours (and this appears to be the case with Syria – despite the bombing of a suspect plant) the influence of right-wingers in Israel will wane. This can only be good news for the Palestinians, the majority of whom have been let down by pretty much everybody concerned. A nuclear Israel sat within striking distance of a country whose idiot leader has called for its destruction is likely to feel slightly less threatened than a non-nuclear Israel, surely?
Israel is sabre rattling and every time they do the UK and USA obey.
Obey? So Israel pulls the strings of the US/UK does it? Where have I heard this shit before? An incredibly ignorant statement, especially given the US and UK are beholden to Arab oil. You didn’t see George Bush sword-dancing with Israeli leaders did you?
Back to the matter at hand. Very good post Sunny – there was a leaked report some months back from the Arab League I think which made exactly your point – how a nuclear Iran was very muched feared by the surrounding Arab states, simply because it would destabilise the region and escalate an arms race those countries can ill afford. I don’t have it to hand so you’ll have to take it on trust that you’re on the money with this one
and let’s not forget what that’s about, or how long it’s really been going on. this isn’t about islam either, it’s about the historic mutual dislike of arabs and persians; the persians have never got over the arab dominance of islam, which overthrew the ancient persian empire which used to run the region. hence the iranians’ commitment to an alternative, more mystical and, dare i say it, ethnic form of islam. it’s not a coincidence.
the idea of rightwing israeli nutters with their hand on a bomb is pretty worrying, i do agree. however, you have to admit that the israelis have already had the bomb for nigh on thirty years and have only ever used it as a deterrent, not to diffuse the knowledge to uncontrollable terrorist groups or to bolster the egos of unaccountable, one-party-state dictators. as much as i respect arabs, iranians and muslims in general, the political culture of their states isn’t really going to provide a counterpoint of stability.
yes – and i object to cluster bombs. now, do you remember hezbollah’s massive arsenal of rockets which sent the whole of northern israel to bomb shelters? i thought we were talking about rewarding murderers for cold-blooded murder of children here. let’s not forget the issue – in israel people have some element of democratic accountability. entering a house and braining a four-year old girl with a rock is still more likely to result in a prosecution than in a medal. the israelis do at least admit that such a thing is not cause for celebration. when ariel sharon was found to be culpable over sabra and shatila it ruined his reputation and he was unable to operate politically for decades – he wasn’t given a medal and feted with a televised parade and treated as a hero, like samir kuntar. whatever you can say about israel or israelis, you can’t possibly say that.
i think arguing moral equivalence here is pretty much flying in the face of common sense.
b’shalom
bananabrain
“Currently the stats of the number of Israelis who are in favour of a peace settlement and withdrawal from the occupied territories is roughly 90%. In a few generations the right-wingers and extremists will have “out-bred” this 90% of Israelis? You have a poor understanding of population dynamics and an even poorer grasp of the way politics works.”
No it is you who has a poor grasp. You’ll find that many secular Israelis who want peace are also leaving the country in increasing numbers and going to the USA, Canada and Europe. The right wing is even more radical and growing in influence. So it is worrying that this is an issue most people ignore.
“Obey? So Israel pulls the strings of the US/UK does it? Where have I heard this shit before? An incredibly ignorant statement, especially given the US and UK are beholden to Arab oil. You didn’t see George Bush sword-dancing with Israeli leaders did you?”
An incredibly stupid analysis. Bush was leading them on a merry dance to part with their money that was it. He gave them precisely nothing despite the hysteria of the right.
When Israeli Leaders meet Bush they lead him on a merry dance to part with Palestinian Land such as Sharon did when he got Bush to preempt negotiations and Israeli leaders get him to pay for their continuing follies.
The Arabs are being so damn stupid they are paying to prop up America who then pay Israeli to colonise the West Bank. That is the height of stupidity. Indirectly the Arabs are paying the settlers in the West Bank.
This was the ideal time for the Arabs to put pressure on the USA and UK and they did precisely nothing more than sign cheques. Stupid, Stupid Stupid.
Mr. Bananabrain – “the idea of rightwing israeli nutters with their hand on a bomb is pretty worrying, i do agree. however, you have to admit that the israelis have already had the bomb for nigh on thirty years and have only ever used it as a deterrent, not to diffuse the knowledge to uncontrollable terrorist groups or to bolster the egos of unaccountable, one-party-state dictators. as much as i respect arabs, iranians and muslims in general, the political culture of their states isn’t really going to provide a counterpoint of stability.”
Although I agree with your point what worries me is that the “new” Israeli right is not like the old Israeli right if you see what I mean. The old right was what the centre is now, hard on security but willing to compromise to a degree hence you had Begin sign the Sinai accords, Rabin who although Labour was a liberal right winger but again he signed the Oslo accords with Arafat where to Arafat’s credit he trusted the spirit of the accord to withdraw but then came Bibi who destroyed that trust and since then the right is even more radical and with extreme religious undertones that this is God given land. Now you have the right which says that Israel is the enemy of the Settlers, now you’ll say this is a minority but it is growing in number and influence.
Can you imagine Bibi and his right wing with access to nukes, I am afraid that is a scary thought. In your heart do you trust the Israeli right as it is now (not in the past) with their hand on nuclear weapons? I suspect not. You will mistrust Iran more and that is understandable but I think even in your heart you will find it difficult trusting what now makes up Israel’s right wing with nuclear weapons.
You have columnists in the Jerusalem Post (Caroline Glick) calling Bush to bomb Iran. In the past as you say Israel wouldn’t have gone this far. Now Israel itself is more militant and it is no longer about survival but power and supremacy in the region.
Bibi isn’t Begin and to think that Israel’s Military is safe under his stewardship is naive at best.
Behind him are even more scary leaders and commentators egging on Israel’s Government to basically defy its own population and engage in continual war.
“when ariel sharon was found to be culpable over sabra and shatila it ruined his reputation and he was unable to operate politically for decades – he wasn’t given a medal and feted with a televised parade and treated as a hero, like samir kuntar. whatever you can say about israel or israelis, you can’t possibly say that.”
Again with respect I am afraid it is degrees you are talking about. Sharon’s reputation wasn’t destroyed and in fact it wasn’t the first time he had committed such acts. Sharon remained in the circles of power and rose to top office. Indeed Sharon whilst still having blood on his hands was able to get the ultimate parade on Temple Mount without anyone calling him a provocateur which is what he was.
The only thing Sharon didn’t get was a medal but then again Kuntar didn’t get elected Head of State. Take your pick as both got away with disgraceful crimes. One got a medal and hero status and the other got elected to head of state and hero status. Both were responsible for innocent deaths.
“whatever you can say about israel or israelis, you can’t possibly say that.”
I say nothing about Israelis because like the Palestinians I think most deep down just want peace and to get on with their lives. I do have plenty to say about Israel and Palestine and the Arabs who are too damn stupid to work out their differences and get on with building that great region. You must understand that when I say something about Israel it isn’t that all the people are like that, equally I understand that when you say about the Arabs, Muslims or Palestinians you don’t mean the majority of people.
Look neither of us or our communities need people like Sharon, Arafat etc. to be feted as heroic. They are far from it.
BTW. I like your site and it is a nice start but I’d like to see more on community initiatives to be put up there so people can get more involved. Just a suggestion, but keep up the good work
“now, do you remember hezbollah’s massive arsenal of rockets which sent the whole of northern israel to bomb shelters?”
Sorry I forgot to say – yes I do and indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians is abhorrent no matter who it is.
But with respect you also need to get out of this cycle of look what they did. Yes hezbollah fired rockets but the Israeli retention of Sheba Farms is their poor excuse. Israel’s poor excuse is ownership but that is a poor excuse, why not give back the land to Lebanon and let Syria and Lebanon sort it out. So both sides have poor excuses.
What is Israel’s excuse for denying Palestinians their rights in Jerusalem to build homes or extend their homes? What is its excuse for what it is doing in stripping the Palestinians of land in the West Bank. Going round like this gets us nowhere.
To enact change we need to look within and also out, recognise fault on both sides and move on.
Don’t be afraid of peace but strive for it and it will come. Be afraid and all that comes is excuses for more brutality.
This is how I see it. The moment Israel’s armed forces became nuclear capable and the US and UK (both nuclear) walked illegally into neighbouring Iraq, it was game over! It left Iran with no other viable alternative but to develop their own nuclear defence policy. To see what Iran is doing in any other way, IMHO would be dishonest in the extreme. Every nation ,unto this earth, no matter how unpalatable, has the right and the moral obligation, of self defence and no amount of whinging and wringing of hands will convince me, different.