nuclear-news

An argument in favour of letting Iran have the nuclear bomb

Iran’s leaders are not irrational, as often portrayed, and that far from being emboldened they would be less bellicose if they acquired nuclear weapons for fear of sparking a nuclear conflict.

Most experts believe Iran has not yet made a decision on whether to go ahead and is
12-18 months away from a bomb were it to decide to pursue that option.

Let Iran have the bomb: US professor Kenneth Waltz THE AUSTRALIAN, BY: CHRISTINA LAMB, WASHINGTON From: The Times July 16 A LEADING US foreign policy expert has suggested Iran should be allowed to develop atomic weapons amid growing frustration at the failure of efforts to persuade it to halt its nuclear program.

Kenneth Waltz, a professor at Columbia University in New York and at
the University of California at Berkeley, has long advocated the view
nuclear weapons bring stability to the world, acting as a deterrent to
war.

But eyebrows were raised when his provocative essay – “Why Iran should
get the bomb” – appeared as the cover story in the latest edition of
Foreign Affairs, long seen as an influential establishment journal.
Professor Waltz insists that “the danger of a nuclear Iran has been
grossly exaggerated” and argues allowing Iran to go nuclear “would
probably be the best possible result; the one most likely to restore
stability to the Middle East”.

He claims Iran’s leaders are not irrational, as often portrayed, and that far from being emboldened they would be less bellicose if they acquired nuclear weapons for fear of sparking a nuclear conflict.

Professor Waltz cited as an example long-time enemies India and
Pakistan, which fought three wars prior to acquiring the bomb but had
“both become more cautious since going nuclear”.

He also rejected the argument that if Iran obtained nuclear weapons a
regional arms race would follow, with Saudi Arabia seeking the bomb.
When Israel acquired its bomb in the 1960s, he said, it did not
trigger an escalation even though it was at war with many neighbours.

It is a view with few supporters in Washington……  Most experts
believe Iran has not yet made a decision on whether to go ahead and is
12-18 months away from a bomb were it to decide to pursue that option.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/let-iran-have-the-bomb-us-professor-kenneth-waltz/story-fnb64oi6-1226426642715

July 16, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general