[Marxism] Will Bush Provoke Iran?

["Nasir Khan" <nasir.khan@xxxxxxx>]

Republished: http://sudhan.wordpress.com and http://nasir-khan.blogspot.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Will Bush Provoke Iran?

 

By Marjorie Cohn, AlterNet. Posted December 27, 2007.

The unanimous conclusion of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies that Iran ceased 
pursuing a program of nuclear weapons in 2003, has dealt a severe blow to the 
Bush-Cheney agenda of forcible regime change in Iran. For several months, the 
rhetoric emerging from the White House escalated to the point that many 
observers predicted Bush would attack Iran before he leaves office. 

But although the new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) makes it more 
difficult to carry out his agenda in Iran, Bush is trying to publicly undermine 
its conclusions. "I have said Iran is dangerous," he declared, "and the NIE 
estimate doesn't do anything to change my opinion about the danger Iran poses 
to the world -- quite the contrary." Will Bush provoke an incident with Iran 
and then respond in "self-defense"? 

Bush "rewarded" Iran for its help in consolidating U.S. power in Afghanistan 
after the 9/11 attacks by inaugurating Iran into his "axis of evil" in January 
2002. The following year, Iran offered the U.S. government a comprehensive plan 
for negotiations and cooperation, which addressed all of Bush's claimed pet 
peeves about Iran. In Iran's 2003 memorandum, sent to the U.S. government via 
Swiss diplomats, Iran proposed a "dialogue in mutual respect." It sought 
negotiations with the United States on the concerns Bush has repeatedly 
expressed. 

Iran proposed "full transparency" to show "there are no Iranian endeavors to 
develop or possess WMD." It also sought to guarantee "decisive action against 
any terrorists (above all Al Qaida) on Iranian territory, full cooperation and 
exchange of all relevant information." In Iraq, Iran proposed "coordination of 
Iranian influence for activity supporting political stabilization and the 
establishment of democratic institutions and a non-religious government." Iran 
agreed to discuss the "stop of any material support to Palestinian opposition 
groups (Hamas, Jihad etc.) from Iranian territory" and "pressure on these 
organizations to stop violent action against civilians within borders of 1967." 
And Iran listed its "acceptance of the Arab League Beirut declaration (Saudi 
initiative, two-states-approach)." This meant Iran would recognize the state of 
Israel. 

The Iranian memorandum also offered to negotiate the following with the United 
States: "Halt in US hostile behavior and rectification of status of Iran in the 
U.S.: (interference in internal or external relations, 'axis of evil', 
terrorism list)"; "Abolishment of all sanctions: commercial sanctions, frozen 
assets, judgments (FSIA), impediments in international trade and financial 
institutions"; "Iraq: democratic and fully representative government in Iraq, 
support of Iranian claims for Iraqi reparations, respect for Iranian national 
interests in Iraq and religious links to Najaf/Karbal"; "Full access to 
peaceful nuclear technology, biotechnology and chemical technology"; 
"Recognition of Iran's legitimate security interests in the region with 
according defense capacity"; and "Terrorism: pursuit of anti-Iranian 
terrorists, above all MKO." 

This 2003 offer by Iran to negotiate these pressing issues with the United 
States was an incredible opportunity, which Bush, who claims to pursue 
diplomacy, should have seized. Yet the White House thumbed its nose at the 
Iranian offer and then tried to cover up the story. 

Why did Bush reject Iran's 2003 offer and now seek to discredit the conclusions 
of the National Intelligence Estimate? Because even if all his stated gripes 
with Iran were resolved, Bush's hidden agenda would not be addressed. That 
agenda comes into focus on the website of the American Enterprise Institute, a 
neoconservative think tank that claims Paul Wolfowitz, Lynne Cheney, Richard 
Perle and John Bolton as members. Under the AEI's list of "Research Projects" 
is "Global Investment in Iran." 

Just as "Operation Iraqi Freedom" was about corporate control over Iraq's oil, 
Bush's strategy on Iran is about making Iran safe for global investment. And 
just as Bush lied about the danger posed by Saddam Hussein, he is now lying 
about the perils Iran poses. 

U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency Director Mohamed ElBaradei has 
consistently said there is "no evidence" Iran has ever maintained a program of 
developing nuclear weapons. Yet even though Bush learned about the NIE report 
in August or September, according to National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, 
he invoked World War III in the same breath with Iran in October. On December 
4, Bush lied about when he learned Iran had no weapons program, saying, "I was 
made aware of the NIE last week." 

Hadley's report on the timing of Bush's knowledge of the NIE is corroborated by 
a shift in the rhetoric emerging from the White House. During the last two 
months, Bush stopped talking about Iran possessing nukes, and began referring 
to Iran having "knowledge" of nuclear weapons, which he linked with World War 
III. 

In spite of the unanimous conclusion in the National Intelligence Estimate and 
ElBaradei's informed judgment, we cannot trust Bush-Cheney to abandon their 
imperial designs on Iran. Bush will probably provoke a military confrontation 
with Iran, then invoke the language in the 2002 Congressional authorization for 
the use of military force in Iraq that says, "The President has authority under 
the Constitution to take action in order to deter and prevent acts of 
international terrorism against the United States." 

Congress must support Rep. Neil Abercrombie's resolution stating that Bush has 
been given no authority to go to war with Iran.

Marjorie Cohn is a professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, president of 
the National Lawyers Guild, and the US representative to the executive 
committee of the American Association of Jurists.
________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text before replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism