The Future of Iran

Greetings everyone!

As I'm sure you've all been following the international dialogue surrounding Iran's nuclear development program, I've received some suggestions to post an article reflecting the current situation.

As the world is aware, Iran has been working towards developing nuclear weapons. After dismissing several recommendations from surrounding Muslim nations, as well as the pleas of the world community to abandon such plans, the future is unknown for the situation set to transpire in the Middle East. The IAEA has held failed talks with the Islamic Republic, showcasing an ongoing problem in Iran's unwillingness to negotiate.

The Quartet Committee grouping the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, has been the key Mideast peace brokers. However, even alternative choices and potential solutions by this group have fallen on deaf ears, as Iran pledges to move forward with its plan to continue enriching uranium, intending to focus on creating nuclear materials without IAEA supervision and approval.

As the situation worsens, one can't help but feel a sense of anxiety toward the idea of a future war in Persia. As democratic citizens, we believe constructive dialogue is the key to a safer world, and war must only be a tool used when all other means have failed. But how can one who has truly studied the current situation in its entirety still hold any 'practial' hope that this situation can be side-stepped and an agreement reached?

What we have is perhaps a very ignorant President in Iran, one who refuses to represent the beliefs held by the majority of his Republic, but rather, pursues his own personal interests while defying world regulations. Although one could argue that George Bush might be characterized the same way, I should point out that prior to the the invasion of Iraq, the American President did in fact hold the support of the majority of US citizens. His approval rating has since dropped significantly along with support for the War in Iraq, which is expected due to war being a process that brings with it uncertainty, instability, and loss of support over time. In order to accept the current promise America has accepted, we must realize that Iraq was meant as just a stepping stone towards converting most Islamic states into democratic entities. The task the US faces will not be completed by November of 2008 when Bush leaves office, nor by 2010. It will be decades before foreign nations leave the Middle East, so we might as well accept it for what it is.

On the opposite side of the table, sitting across from Iran is a plethora of nations to whom war is no new matter. They have witnessed first-hand the consequences of waiting too long to confront the matter of terrorism, as well as the experience of entering a country with their eyes closed. Because they have fallen victim to both situations, one can assume they are much less tolerant of being both defied and humiliated. This leads me to believe that when the world's attention is turned to Iran, the US will not be playing games. They will garner international support and proceed into Persia under the presumption that letting a situation like this linger will carry with it serious consequences to future tranquility.

It is a known fact that cancer can be best eliminated when detected in its early stages. And so, like a doctor taking his place above an ailing patient, I believe we will see an American scalpel held by the world community carefully examine its infected Iranian counterpart, and then move in for what it hopes will be a solution to the infirmity. Do I support the Iranian people? Yes. Do I support their government? No. Will peace eventually come to its people? It will take a committed set of nations, the united effort of many, and most importantly the courage of a people who wont stand idly by when the prospect of democracy in the Middle East comes knocking.

- Josh Bower