2005 Report:
- Iran will continue to try to develop nuclear weapons
- Iran is likely to be able to produce a nuclear weapon within 10 years
- Could possibly make one sooner
2007 Report:
- Iran stopped nuclear program in 2003
- Could produce a highly enriched uranium by 2009, most likely 2010-2015
- Probably not likely that Iran could produce enough enriched uranium to produce a nuclear weapon by 2009
So, Iran... they've stopped their nuclear program.
The first problem: President Bush has been basically lying to our faces about Iran's threat to American security. The Bush administration has been sitting on this report for months. He knew! He knew that Iran was not as great of a threat that he was making; yet, he decided to continue lying to the American people. Unfortunately, because of the way that Congress and the American people have been letting President Bush and VP Cheney get away with taking away American's rights (Patriot Act, warrant-less wiretapping), gaining more power (again, the Patriot Act and now "The Office of the VP"), and simply lying to us (WMDs in Iraq), America can be assured that nothing will be done to call the President out on his mistakes.
The second problem: In President Bush's press conference after this report was released, he continued to assert that Iran was still a threat to the United States. A threat? No doubt. If I were Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, I would not the United States very much. Why would I want to cooperate with a President who declared me part of his "Axis of Evil"? Why would I want to cooperate with an administration that wrongly declared that I was producing nuclear weapons? Iran does pose a threat to American national security. However, that threat is derived from President Bush and the Bush Administration's unwillingness to even talk with America's "enemies". The Bush Administration feels that they can name-call and walk all over the rest of the countries in the world in order to protect the freedom of democracy. It is uncalled for to allow the President to tell the American people and the world that the United States still believes that Iran is a threat- even though the report just published shows that Iran has stopped their nuclear program- 4 years ago at that! This cannot be the case. In order for freedom, equality, and peace to be achieved, world powers, especially America, need to accept other nations and work towards promoting peace between nations. Let's not go back to middle school-esque social interactions; we're all grown up now, it's time to act like that.
Check out the New York Times article on this issue. Republicans and Democrats are both getting hyped up about this issue.
It will be interesting how this new evidence about Iran will play into the 2008 Primaries and Elections. Republicans will either have to pull themselves away from the authoritarian way that President Bush is trying to control the views and actions of Americans towards Iran and put forth a statement saying that they will not attack other countries without full and complete evidence. Or, knowing the Republicans, they will continue to say that Iran does pose some sort of threat that could result in the United States getting involved in that country- of course, who does not love war, especially after 5 years of a failing one! This issue will definitely help the Democrats on other hand. Strong stances against action in Iran, held by both Obama and Edwards, will hopefully gain support. The Obama campaign will especially be aided by this report, as he has declared to at least start talking to America's enemies in the world. However, this report may hurt frontrunner Clinton, who seems to support Bush on many of his ideas concerning foreign policy, a stupid move, considering how the Iraq War worked out. Listen to your husband Hillary, he's smarter than Bush (there really is no comparison) and he has a lot more experience.
Take a step back people. Do we want EVERYONE to hate us? I don't think so.
Think clearly, think about the future, think about what we know. Now decide what to do...
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