Tuesday, November 19, 2013
The Fight for a “Right”: How an Iran Deal Might Hinge on One Simple Word
This article is about Iran's nuclear power program. More specifically it is about their "right" to enrich uranium. As you will read, enriching uranium is "the process that purifies harmless uranium ore into the stuff of nuclear bombs." This makes it extremely difficult to negotiate some kind of deal because this issue is one that is near impossible to compromise on. Many leaders fear that if Iran is legally given the "right" to enrich uranium, even supposedly for peaceful purposes, it would lead to disastrous consequences both realistically and legally. So what do you think our leaders should do? Is there an answer to a situation like this. Or can it only be answered with simply more questions?
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There is no right answer to this issue. No matter the actions that are taken there will be a side that is unhappy. I love/hate the fact that we act as the world's police officer. I love the fact that we are getting involved in a serious topic such as this. I hate the fact that we will assume the lead on taking action if it is necessary. Bypassing the UN and taking away what Iran believes to be a "right" will hurt America's image.
ReplyDeleteThe U.S. and other world powers are going to have to somehow make an agreement with Iran saying that if they use their nuclear energy for anything other than for peaceful purposes, there will be major consequences. Unfortunately it doesn't sound like Iran is going to stop their nuclear program any time soon, so this might be their only option.
ReplyDeleteI have a really optimistic look on foreign negotiations that are probably a little idealic, but I have no real problem with allowing this to happen. I think a strictly monitored nuclear energy would really help a country whose mono-economy of oil is running out and whose need to diversify their economy is most urgent. Iran isn't maybe so different from European nations in their need for energy, at least.
ReplyDeleteI feel very torn on this issue. On one hand it makes me angry when the United States acts like the police force for the world, but on the other hand I don't believe that Iran should posses nuclear weapons. Obviously our national security is incredibly important, but sometimes I question the amount of involvement the United States has in other countries.
ReplyDeleteI am completely in agreement with Michaela. I think that the U.S. should look at itself before telling other countries what to do. We have the right so why shouldn't other countries. I think that the U.S. thinks that it has more power than we actually do. I don't that negotiations will go very well, I'm a little pessimistic.
ReplyDeleteLike Yarrow, I am a also a little pessimistic about this issue. This feeling probably comes from the fact that Iran's foreign minister Zarif said that the right of this enrichment program is "so self-evident that the major powers needn't bother granting it." This makes it obvious that Iran is not going to stand down on this issue, but I also don't know how much the American people will want our country getting involved in this, especially considering all we are going through here.
ReplyDeleteRight now, the United States should be focusing more on our own country's issues rather than an issue that could be taken care of by the UN. However, the possibility of Iran creating and having nuclear weapons makes me a bit uneasy. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but after 9/11, I think I can say that a lot of Americans have similar views.
ReplyDeleteAt this point in time with everything else going on here at home, we should be concerned with our own issues, not something that could be handled by the UN. That being said, we should do everything that we can to make sure that Iran doesn't get a nuclear bomb. I guess it's not very comforting to know that a Middle Eastern country could get such a lethal weapon. It's scary, but I think our country should look at what's going wrong here before we try to keep playing peacemaker around the world.
ReplyDeleteI think calling Uranium enrichment a "right" would be a poor choice of words for American diplomats and a perfect choice of words for Iranian representatives. If Uranium enrichment is deemed a "right", which i think it is, Iran along with every other country recognized by the UN should be allowed that right. I find this issue to be another example of american hypocrisy, we advocate for smaller countries to relinquish their WMDs while we stockpile the latest and greatest weapons, unbeknownst to the UN and anyone else for that matter. I also find the matter to be our attempts to suppress an up and coming nation, although i don't agree that a nuclear weapons program should be their top priority, Iran may not even have the infrastructure and intellectual capital to produce effective weapons, let alone weapons that could rival ours. despite my advocacy for Iran's "right" to nuclear enrichment, i do believe that iran's nuclear program should be regulated and watched closely for a while until we decide that they can be trusted on their own.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with completely taking away the right of Iran to enrich Uranium when the United States and other countries have that capability. However, if Iran is allowed to enrich Uranium to the point where it will have such a deadly weapon, that is likely to cause a very unstable, dangerous situation. I don't think there is necessarily a specific right or wrong answer to this problem because it is so hard to regulate.
ReplyDeleteI have conflicting views on this issue. American getting involved in middle eastern countries issues has never ended well before, but allowing them to manufacture something to be turned into nuclear weapons seems disastrous. I think their definitely needs to be some monitoring of the enrichment, I just don't know to what extent.
ReplyDeleteI have conflicting views on this issue. American getting involved in middle eastern countries issues has never ended well before, but allowing them to manufacture something to be turned into nuclear weapons seems disastrous. I think their definitely needs to be some monitoring of the enrichment, I just don't know to what extent.
ReplyDeleteThis seems like a very testy matter to be dealing with. I agree with my classmates in saying we should mind our own countries' business. This issue makes me very nervous. If our country oversteps our boundaries and makes Iran angry they could potentially act on their anger. I think it would be best if we stayed out of issues concerning Iran and nuclear weapons.
ReplyDeleteIn some cases it sis good to be cautious and keep our distance from foreign countries. In other cases, it is important that we step in where we see fit. If any negative retaliations could happen to us it is not worth it. But if we can intervene and help people, I think that is for the best.
ReplyDeleteI think it is vital for the US to step in and take charge sometimes. Iran is a loose cannon and could start WW III any moment by sending off one Nuke. If any US city is nuked Iran will be nuked until it no longer exists. If we don't take action this is a possibilty.
ReplyDeleteI've never been a huge fan of how the United States acts in all other countries' business. Although this issue does make me nervous, Iran should handle this themselves so we don't get involved in a possibly dangerous situation.
ReplyDeleteMy answer is most certainly going to be as indefinitive as everone else's, but I agree that “we act as the world's police officer” as Ian puts it. The U.S started out a country that wanted to stay isolated from the rest of the world, but after expansionism and the two world wars, it'll be hard to change our ways. In some cases, we stepped over the moral boundary, but I think that this intervention, even with our “preoccupation with rights,” is justified. This “right” has to have some sort of limit. This doesn't just threaten the safety of the U.S, but that of the entire world. Nevertheless, hopefully we tread carefully.
ReplyDeleteThe US should be more focused on the current issues facing our country, rather than intervening when it can be solved by the UN. It does make me uneasy, though the thought of a weapon of this sort existing.
ReplyDeleteBeing that Iran has previously expressed interest in utilizing nuclear force against its enemies, it would be extremely unwise on our part, or anyone else's, to permit Iranians to enrich Uranium. Whether it is a right or not, Iran has demonstrated that they cannot be trusted with possession of such firepower.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't trust any nation wielding nuclear power. A nuclear war would probably be one of the worst things that could possibly happen. It is always unnerving to hear about our enemies gaining access to nuclear power. However, to stay out of any dangerous situations, I think we should mind our own business and let the UN take care of this.
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