Iranian nuclear program should be taken seriously

The Red & Black’s Monday editorial cartoon juxtaposing a seemingly miniscule Iranian nuclear facility with an arsenal of U.S. bombs makes light of an increasingly volatile international conflict.

Over the past week, Iran revealed the existence of a secret nuclear facility built into a mountain and, following President Obama’s renewed calls for engagement, proceeded to fire off a barrage of medium-range missiles.

Their intent to create a deliverable nuclear weapon is clear – Republicans and Democrats (including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton) have stated so. Iran’s repeated calls for the destruction of Israel only further aggravate the situation.

In the absence of immediate, severe sanctions that could quickly effect regime change, it is increasingly likely that Israel will attempt to cripple the Iranian nuclear program through a military strike (with or without NATO support).

This would crush the nascent reform movement in Iran. Such an action would also, in all likelihood, instigate an all-out war which the United States would be obliged to enter. The situation is as ugly, if not more so, if Iran is allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. An Iranian bomb could lead to a destabilizing arms race in the Middle East and the proliferation of nuclear materials to terrorist networks… There are no good options.

Yet, the editorial cartoon seems to suggest that Iran is only seeking to build power plants and that the United States is somehow overreacting to Iran’s recent actions. The Red & Black should be embarrassed for making light of one of the most tense international situations since the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Alexander J. Cronon
Grad. Student, Norcross
Law

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