“Iran A National Security Threat”
By Steve Gonzalez March 2, 2010Region: Middle East
Topics: Emerging Threats, National Preparedness
Since its creation and usage in World War II, nuclear weapons have rendered war between nation-states who possess them less likely to use them – However, this statement is unlikely to remain legitimate if countries persist on developing such weapons, who have a different outlook towards human life or who are unfamiliar with their sheer destructive power.
Recent threats against the United States and its allies by Iran, combined with its secretive nuclear weapons program, and opposition to negotiations on its nuclear program – validates that Iran is a threat to U.S. national security.
In 2001, former Iranian President Hashemi-Rafsanjani stated “the use of an atomic bomb against Israel would destroy Israel completely, while [the same] against the Islamic only would cause damages. Such a scenario is not inconceivable.” If such a scenario is not inconceivable, than how can we not consider Iran a threat to national security?
A nuclear Iran, who does not fully comprehend the deterrence theory, would likely try to advance its ambitious goals in the region through the use of force, gravely destabilizing regional security, and as a result, lowering its threshold on the usage of conventional forces. In recent years, Iran has been determined to create a reliable ballistic missile that will give them the capability of strategically delivering a nuclear warhead against its neighbors and beyond. With Iran considering its ballistic missiles as an essential element of its strategy – and if need be as an offensive means of producing victory, this is cause for grave concern.
Iran cannot be reasoned with nor deterred from launching such attacks against the United States or its allies by mere threats of massive retaliation or nuclear self-destruction. Allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons is illogical, as this is a nation whose ideology and hatred for the United States would overcome logic when assessing the usage of a nuclear weapon. We are not denying them the right to peaceful technology, but rather regulating it, and in the process ensuring stability and preventing a nuclear arms race in the region. Iran has repeatedly declared it will not negotiate over its nuclear program, regardless of any new U.S. sanctions or United Nations Security Council resolutions. At what point does the United States says enough is enough?
It has been the United States tradition, as well as vision to respect the views of its allies, other nation-states, and the international community when dealing with any threat; however, the United States cannot condemn its national security, population, or national interests when dealing with a country who continues to threaten the security of our allies, other nation-states, and our way of life.
As President Obama continues to assess the situation with Iran, it gives the perception of weakness, which encourages the ambitious Iranians to resume their nuclear program without fear of retribution from the West. It is the desire of all parties involved to find common ground with the Iranians concerning its nuclear program, but until then, the reality is and will be, at its current state, Iran is a genuine threat to U.S. national security until inspections and monitoring of their facilities can ensure a peaceful program.
Henry Kissinger once stated, “the paradox of the nuclear age is that the growth in nuclear capability – and hence the acquisition of vast total power – is inevitably matched by a corresponding decline in the willingness to use it.”
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