Real Diplomacy Works—Military Threats Don't (I missed the Omaha event)

I'm on the Nebraskans for Peace list. Did the CIA drop me off it by accident?

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/iran/message.html

The Bush Administration has deployed a rhetoric of confrontation against Iran, including the threat of military force without United Nations or even Congressional authorization. Many of the Bush Administration's claims that Iran is a threat echo claims used to justify the U.S. invasion of Iraq and rest on similarly dubious evidence. Policies have been approved, such as authorizing the killing of Iranian officials in Iraq, that could easily escalate into a broader military confrontation.

The new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) has revealed the consensus of U.S. intelligence agencies that Iran abandoned nuclear weapons research in 2003 and has not restarted it. The NIE shows that European diplomatic efforts were successful in convincing Iran not to pursue nuclear weapons research (just as diplomacy has been successful in North Korea). Now that we know this, it is time for the U.S. to engage in real dialogue with Iran. Since we know that there is little risk Iran will develop a nuclear weapon soon, we know there is time to talk. However, despite the release of the NIE, the White House continues to hype the “danger” from Iran. Bush Administration officials continue to reject calls for real diplomacy with Iran.

Therefore, we are calling on Americans to push for real diplomacy: to call for “direct, unconditional and comprehensive” talks, as Republican Senator Chuck Hagel put it. Such negotiations need to address both the security concerns of the United States and the security concerns of Iran. Former Bush Administration officials with expertise in the Middle East and Iran recently outlined in the New York Times how such negotiations could proceed. The Bush Administration must end its demand that Iran make crucial concessions, such as the suspension of uranium enrichment, before negotiations can even begin.

A U.S. attack on Iran would be foolish and dangerous. It would risk causing another disaster like Iraq that will cost many lives, American and Iranian. Furthermore, though Iran now appears not to have a nuclear weapons program, a U.S. attack might convince Iran it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself.

A military confrontation between the U.S. and Iran is unfortunately still possible. Congress needs to act to prevent this from happening and to promote real diplomacy. Americans can put pressure on their elected officials to compel them to act.

FULL story and more at link.

February 18: Omaha, NE
7:00 pm in the Gallery Room, 3rd Floor of the Milo Bail Student Center on the University of Nebraska Omaha Campus
Sponsored by Physicians for Social Responsibility and Nebraskans for Peace. For more information, contact Mark Welsch at nfpOmaha@NebraskansForPeace.org.