IRAN'S DEFIANCE NOTHING NEW, YET DECEPTION IS THEIR GAME

The continual defiance of Iran concerning their now successful nuclear capability is nothing new since Iran has been defiant to the world since the beginning of the fanatic Islamic theocracy leadership in the 70's. Beginning with the U.S. hostage crises during the Carter administration Iran has never followed what is considered protocol for peaceful nations of the world. Each time that Iran has exercised their defiance they have remained steadfast until they accomplished their initial goal. For instance the hostage crises was Iran showing the world that they did not fear the, "great satan, " and as the crises progressed their intent became directed at the embarrassment and weakening of the Carter administration. Of course Carter did not need help in administering a weak Presidency but the Iranians succeeded in the total embarrassment of the United States and Carter even to the point of releasing the hostages immediately upon the inauguration of President Reagan. Their defiance and persistence in succeeding in their objective is what makes Iran so dangerous in the current confrontation over nuclear enrichment and weapons. They have proven throughout the theocratic regime that they have no fear of the military power of the west especially the United States and that they have an understanding as to how far to push the envelope before backing down in their rhetoric slightly before resuming their hard line stance. All the while using this deception as a means to keep the world off track just enough to eventually accomplish their objective and in a sense forcing the world to accept not only their defiance but whatever they set out to and then eventually achieved. This particular confrontation has much greater ramifications than any previous objective that Iran has pushed because of the danger that it holds for the Middle east, Europe, Asia and of course the United States. As a sponsor of terrorism it is highly feasible that though Iran does not have the delivery capability at this time to reach the United States with a nuclear missile they do have the capability of developing a small device that can be disguised in a package such as a suitcase and smuggled into the United States by a Iranian sponsored terrorist then detonated in a major city with devastating results. With the announcement of the successful enrichment of uranium Iran will move to "industrial scale'' uranium enrichment involving 54,000 centrifuges at its Natanz plant, the Associated Press quoted deputy nuclear chief Mohammad Saeedi as telling state-run television today. According to Stephen Rademaker, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation, "Using those 50,000 centrifuges they could produce enough highly enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon in 16 days.'' Yet according to Iranian President Ahmadinejad Iran is enriching uranium for energy use only with no intent in weapons development. Once again the backing down of the hard line rhetoric creating the deception that could allow the time necessary to complete their goal of a nuclear weapon. While this deception and what looks to be the eventual completion of weapons capability whether it is sixteen days as the above report states or sixteen months, Iran cannot be allowed nuclear weapons capability because their extremist views will insure an attack somewhere. Diplomacy is always the first step but the world drags its feet through the United Nations which contributes to the complacency in many of the worlds trouble spots. Military action is always the last resort and if the use of tactical nuclear weapons becomes necessary to a targeted response to the Natanz plant then so be it. There are many more military options to a nuclear strike even if it is a tactical nuke which has more control of the fall out. Air strikes followed by ground action may also do the trick. Once again diplomacy must be exhausted first but if history holds true with Iran then force will become necessary because of Iran's defiant and deceptive attitude combined with their arrogant lack of fear to a military response to their actions. Many believe that Iran will back down and comply to world demands but their past shows otherwise.

Ken Taylor