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| Tuesday, 21 September 2004 |
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Nuclear issues spark new tensions by Lynn Ockersz The widespread panic triggered in the West by an ominous mushroom cloud that emerged in a remote region of North Korea recently, pointed to the constant anxiety among the principal Western powers over alleged nuclear weapons programs undertaken by whom they refer to as "rogue states."
In fact, North Korea was identified some time ago by US President George Bush as being part of an "axis of evil". The other countries which figured in this controversial labelling were Iran and Iraq. These states were seen as posing a diabolic threat to the current Western-centric global order. By hindsight it could be said that this Manichean categorization was a forerunner to US-led military action against Iraq, which is today the victim of a compounded, wasting military conflict. The politico-military crisis visited on Iraq by the US has led to the widespread impression that Iran and North Korea could be next in line for US-led, punitive, military action. Current attempts by the principal Western powers to pressurise North Korea and Iran to adhere rigidly to the Western-designed nuclear non-proliferation regime are likely to strengthen speculation that the US in particular is opting for an inflammatory confrontational approach in its dealings with Iran and North Korea who have earned for themselves, as mentioned, the Western-inspired denigrating title, "rogue states." Right now, Iran has reportedly refused to accept any IAEA sanctioned limitations on its nuclear activities and has "threatened to halt tough UN inspections" if its case was referred to the UN Security Council for a resolution. While right along Iran has taken the position that its nuclear activities are only for peaceful purposes, the additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which Iran has signed, obliges it to open its nuclear facilities to close IAEA inspections, including short notice visits by IAEA inspections to undeclared facilities. In one of the most recent developments on this front, the IAEA has called on Iran to immediately suspend all activities related to "Uraniam enrichment". November 25 has been set up as a deadline by the IAEA for a "full review" of Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program, reports said. The tone of Iran's reaction indicates that it doesn't intend to tamely succumb to Western dictates on nuclear issues. The same would apply to North Korea, which is currently engaged in a reconciliation and reunification process with South Korea. The latter effort is backed by the West and a tough line by the latter on the nuclear issue could jeopardise talks in the Korean peninsula. Iran under President Khatami has proved that a dialogue process between the West and the "Islamic world" is possible, provided the West proves reasonable and is open to a rapproachement with those who seem to be its ideological adversaries. For instance, President Khatami has often advocated a "Civilizational Dialogue" among the world's religions and cultures for furtherance of international understanding. However, nothing would be gained under this new paradigm, if the West insists on playing a hegemonic role in world affairs. Besides, the position of the West is not morally defensible on the nuclear non-proliferation issue. Put simply, the West cannot prevent other security-conscious powers from developing and possessing nuclear weapons, if the West itself owns such arsenals and is doing so out of security considerations. The West would need to practise what it preaches if it is to inspire conformism on the part of other states to international conventions on the nuclear issue. |
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