Interesting quotes from Khomeini's grandson, and how to deal with Iran

Great Debates
1

Khomeini’s grandson backs US

(Registration required to read NY Times article)

Frankly, I couldn’t believe my eyes reading this article, especially when he said that if freedom is delivered “from abroad, especially from the United States, people will accept it.”

No, I don’t support a forced regime change in Iran, at least not now. The US has its hands full trying to pacify Iraq (although I’ve noticed that no American has been killed by hostile fire in the last five days, which could be a hopeful sign that the resistance is weakening). America also has a bad history over there, with its overthrow of Mossadegh and (shameful) support of the Shah.

Nevertheless, I see the emergence of a decent Iraq (should it happen) as a clarion call for the disaffected and restless youth, intellectuals, and middle class in Iran to revolt against the mullahs, whose revolution has brought repression, chronic unemployment, and general despair to the nation…

But time is not on our side. Iran is getting close (within a few years) of getting the bomb, which we all know provides insurance against forced regime change. The mullahs protest that their nuclear program is for legitimate electricity purposes :rolleyes:, but with a country that rich in oil, that’s kinda hard to believe.

Seems like the US, EU, Russia, and Japan are working with the IAEA to get Iran to agree to sign on to an additional protocol of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty granting the IAEA rights to unannounced inspections. On the surface, this seems like a good idea on its face to engage in multilateral diplomacy with the mullahs.

What I worry about is the long-term ramifications - as in, if we are seen as negotiating with the mullahs, will the US risk alienating the Iranian people, who will eventually overthrow the crumbling mullahcracy.

What should the US do?

2

Carrot and stick approach. Offering steps to normalization of relations tied to increased UN monitoring. Maybe even throw in a formal apology for the overthrow of Mossadeq and support for the Shah. The best way (IMO) to destablize the Iranian government is to make its enemies no longer enemies.

3

I see a lot of carrot in your approach, BrightNShiny. What about the stick?

4

Well, the stick, I suppose is staggering the normalization out, and slowing the process down every time the Iranians fail to comply.

Plus, we can loosen or tighten our embargo as needed.

Geez, what’s your problem? Carrots are good for you!

5

Hey, I’m a big carrot fan. I do hate CarrotTop, though.

I guess I’m looking for the means to offer the carrot to the people of Iran, and the stick to its government. Could be impossible.

I’m leery of negotiating with this government, when in the not too distant future, a revolution could come, and the people will hate us for dealing with their former antagonists. How can we be their benefactors, which Khomeini’s grandson seemed to be hinting at? We seem to be reviled in the region for helping bad governments at the expense of the citizens, and I’m looking for ways we can avoid that (since it seems to bite us in the ass so often).

6

I think we have to look at Iran as a pretty unique situation. The revolution which installed the theocracy had support across a broad spectrum of the population, so it is, in some sense, their government. It’s not as if we would be dealing with some externally imposed evil dictator.

I really think that in the case of Iran, a movement back to democracy is inevitable. In this case, we should be on the leading cusp, rather than following it.

7

What should the US do? Please stay out.

History of past US involvements in Iran has only caused further delays in achieving the ultimate goal of most Iranians; democracy and freedom for their homeland.

The little Khomeini, along with the little Shah and Saddam-Backed MKO are the only people who would benefit from a US campaign in Iran, each with their own sinister motives.

8

If the energy produced from nuclear power is cheaper than the price ganied by selling the petroleum products, then, it’s perfectly sensible, even advisable. It wold free up a greater amount of petro-product to be sold at a rate that’ better than what the same product would yeild onceturned into electricity etc. If the power produced by the nuclear plants was more expensive than the sell price of the petro-products then it wouldn’e be such a good idea in the short to mid-term. Although, in the long run the petro will run out in the forseeable future.

9

Are you saying that Price of Oil (POO) is the determining factor as to whether a country such as Iran or Venezuela is justified in developing its own nuclear capability?

If that is your position, then POO is a critical parameter on this planet. We really need to know if the sole determinant of POO is the supply and demand of oil.

The OP asks "What should the US do [about Iran]?

Question: Is POO influenced at all with what US does in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, Central Asia and other oil producing countries.

In any case, what right have the 8 “axis of evil” have to dictate to other 170 countries whether they can or cannot go nuclear?

(The 8 axis of evil being the hypocrite, double-standard members of the nuclear weapon club who are not willing to get rid of their own bombs, but preach or sanction other countries not to have it).

So, why can’t Iran become the 9th member of the Axis of Evil irrespective of POO and the US role in it?

10

Aren’t there treaties about this sort of thing?

11

While I don’t doubt that Iran wants nuclear weapons, and that this is where part of Iran’s nuclear program is directed, the desire for nuclear reactors for long term power requirements isn’t crazy at all. The US provided the Shah with an experimental reactor and was contracted to provide 8 reactors to Iran prior to the revolution.

Iran’s nuclear program

If it looks like it will lead to progress towards Iranian compliance with the IAEA, I’m in favor of it. Surprise inspections stand a good chance of catching violations of the NPT. Iran has already signed it and it isn’t an international pariah like North Korea is in many ways. There is something a bit unpleasant about engaging in multilateral talks with a nation that still trots out Great Satan as a description of the US, but I don’t think it will reinforce the mullahs to do so.