In our view: Will it be enough?

June 22, 2009 09:09 pm

— Is the president doing enough to support the election protests in Iran? In our view the answer is: maybe.
There is no doubt that the ruling theocracy in Iran uses the “Death to America” theme all the time to rally support from the Iranian public. It has worked for 30 years and is the basis for Iran’s foreign policy.
Iran is on the fast track to at least produce material for nuclear weapons. Just like North Korea, it in all likelihood wants to produce both the warheads and delivery systems quickly. It is clearly in our best interests in deterring such production.
Iran also wants to become the dominant economic and military power at least in the Middle East. It would love to achieve both economic and military hegemony over Israel. It wants to promote its brand of Islam over other Arab countries as well. Its support of terrorism throughout at least the Middle East, if not worldwide, supports such policies and goals.
The burning question is: How does America deter such policies and encourage Iran to “blend” into the mainstream of international relations peacefully?
Since the Iranian Revolution, America, and to some degree the European Union, has used the stick of diplomatic and economic isolations to attempt to force change in Iran. Based on its military and economic progress over the past 30 years, such attempts have been inadequate.
Some would promote strengthened economic sanctions. Some would like to “turn Israel loose” and let it launch a pre-emptive military strike against Iranian nuclear sites. Some would even promote an American military strike.
The president has chosen a different approach, one of dialogue, non-interference in internal Iranian debate while at the same time enunciating basic American principles that Iran should adhere to both internally and internationally.
It is a very difficult problem. The real question is: Do we as Americans have the patience, endurance and willingness to let the “power of the people” or long-term economic consequences take deep enough roots in Iran to force radical internal change as they did in the former Soviet Union?
Our conclusion? Maybe.