Thursday
Sep172009
The US, Iran, and Missile Defense: The Inside Story
Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 14:48
Text: The US Draft Resolution on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament
Receive our latest updates by email or RSS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
The media will be buzzing for the rest of the day about an American "scrapping" of its plans to base missile defense in sites in Poland and Czechoslovakia. Amidst the drama, it may not put together the story, which is as much about US-Iran relations and an Obama "grand initiative", to be unveiled at the United Nations next week.
Here's the inside story, which broke two days ago on Politico, but went largely unnoticed by the media. Last Friday, the United States delegation at the United Nations circulated a draft Security Council resolution on "Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Disarmament". This called on all states to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT -- note: this includes Israel) and to join the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which was resisted by the George W. Bush Administration. Any "situation of noncompliance with nonproliferation obligations [would] be brought to the attention of the Security Council, which will determine if that situation constitutes a threat to international peace and security". (The text of the resolution is in a separate entry.)
It's a stunning if risky move. The Obama Administration is hoping to move the agenda away from specific cases such as Iran towards a wider framework encompassing all existing or aspiring nuclear powers. In the short term, that means dropping the deadline of either September or December for Tehran to give way on all demands regarding its nuclear programme. The US had gotten itself into a very difficult position with that artificial date, as it faced pursuing further economic sanctions and thus jeopardising its talks with Iran on co-operation over issues such as Afghanistan.
Similarly, the pursuit of missile defense was looking more and more ludicrous. The obvious target was Moscow, but saying this or even letting it be assumed risked US relations with Russia across a number of issues. So the pretense was set up that the sites in Eastern Europe are the frontline against Iran, which was technically if not politically farcical. The Obama Administration thus risked committing itself to pouring away millions/billions of dollars on a system which made little sense.
Obama's grand initiative has other political advantages. It seizes the limelight from President Ahmadinejad's own trip to New York, and it reassures Western European allies who would prefer discussions on very real security issues rather than made-up ones. But will it work in the longer-term? Given the fraught nature of what passes for political debate in the US these days, expect a barrage of counter-publicity that this is a weak President caving into America's enemies.
Receive our latest updates by email or RSS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
The media will be buzzing for the rest of the day about an American "scrapping" of its plans to base missile defense in sites in Poland and Czechoslovakia. Amidst the drama, it may not put together the story, which is as much about US-Iran relations and an Obama "grand initiative", to be unveiled at the United Nations next week.Here's the inside story, which broke two days ago on Politico, but went largely unnoticed by the media. Last Friday, the United States delegation at the United Nations circulated a draft Security Council resolution on "Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Disarmament". This called on all states to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT -- note: this includes Israel) and to join the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which was resisted by the George W. Bush Administration. Any "situation of noncompliance with nonproliferation obligations [would] be brought to the attention of the Security Council, which will determine if that situation constitutes a threat to international peace and security". (The text of the resolution is in a separate entry.)
It's a stunning if risky move. The Obama Administration is hoping to move the agenda away from specific cases such as Iran towards a wider framework encompassing all existing or aspiring nuclear powers. In the short term, that means dropping the deadline of either September or December for Tehran to give way on all demands regarding its nuclear programme. The US had gotten itself into a very difficult position with that artificial date, as it faced pursuing further economic sanctions and thus jeopardising its talks with Iran on co-operation over issues such as Afghanistan.
Similarly, the pursuit of missile defense was looking more and more ludicrous. The obvious target was Moscow, but saying this or even letting it be assumed risked US relations with Russia across a number of issues. So the pretense was set up that the sites in Eastern Europe are the frontline against Iran, which was technically if not politically farcical. The Obama Administration thus risked committing itself to pouring away millions/billions of dollars on a system which made little sense.
Obama's grand initiative has other political advantages. It seizes the limelight from President Ahmadinejad's own trip to New York, and it reassures Western European allies who would prefer discussions on very real security issues rather than made-up ones. But will it work in the longer-term? Given the fraught nature of what passes for political debate in the US these days, expect a barrage of counter-publicity that this is a weak President caving into America's enemies.
Reader Comments (6)
[...] US, Iran, and Missile Defense The US, Iran, and Missile Defense: The Inside Story Posted by: Scott Lucas in Middle East & Iran, US Foreign Policy The US, Iran, and Missile [...]
Wow, thanks Scott! I had no idea. President Obama shows his strength when he takes steps fully knowing that people will call him weak.
Here's an article about the missile deployment plans:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/world/europe/17iht-letter.html?_r=1&partner=MOREOVERNEWS&ei=5040" rel="nofollow">Obama Ends a 'Special Relationship'
It's the ultimate neocon nightmare... easing the tensions they so meticulously crafted, talking to people... We are about to hear some scary stuff from some cranky pundits. WaPo & WSJ will become radioactive
Amy,
Already hearing the scary stuff. Bolton immediately crawled out to yelp. Twitter right-wingers blaring "appeasement" --- worst was Nat'l Review's Rich Lowry snapping that it is 70th anniversary of Soviet invasion of Poland.
S.
If not for the right how would we know that President Obama is simultaneously Neville Chamberlain, Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin, with Poland in the balance? We are in deep trouble.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCMW9u-lokk" rel="nofollow">President Obama Speaks on Missile Defense in Europe
video
He talks about changes in the system rather than focusing on "scrapping"
well, please take my advice,
If U.S did anything wrong with iran, simply U.S soldier's in Arabian Gulf & Iraq will destroy.
Before U.S.A was somthing scary, but now..... sorry i cant say it.
Long Life Iran.