Suicide is Painless
Ordinarily, I do not paste excerpts from news sources into my journal and instead, I usually post links. But, only part of the Reuters interview with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani is precisely relevant and though it has been characterized in some media; I feel the actual words may be important. Therefore, I am placing them under a cut for those whom may be interested.
Q. Some U.S. and Israeli officials have made it clear they do not rule out the military option against Iran. Are you prepared to take this risk? Are you prepared to go to war to keep your nuclear program?
A. War for what? Yes, If Iran wanted to violate international treaties, if Iran was pulling out of the NPT, if Iran had announced it was ... pursuing nuclear weapons, yes. Then these could be excuses for America or others. But when all Iranian officials are insisting on the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities and when they say it will remain so, what is the excuse for America or any other country to take military action against Iran? Our nuclear activities have been peaceful and will always remain peaceful. Besides, does this military action solve anything? Imagine that America, ignoring all the international rulings, attacks one of our nuclear facilities. What problem would be solved with this attack? Because we are independent in the nuclear field. Imagine that some centrifuges are destroyed because of the attack, then in a short period of time we will build them again. Or imagine if they destroy another part of our fuel cycle, then again in some months we will repair it. A country which is so independent in the field of nuclear technology is invulnerable. Actually, by making this technology home-made, we have made ourselves invulnerable.
Q. I imagine the Americans believe that at least technically it will slow Iran from reaching what they think is its goal of having a bomb. So there is a risk of attack. Do you not take the risk of attack seriously?
A. I do not think America itself will take such a risk. Because America knows very well that we will strongly answer such an attack. The Americans are very well aware of our capabilities. They know our capabilities for retaliating against such attacks. I do not think in their final calculations, they will take such risks. Besides, in case of any such attacks, we will definitely have greater motivation to make our fuel cycle and will accelerate it.
Q. So you are saying that your response to any military attack will be on the one hand military retaliation and on the other hand to accelerate the nuclear program?
A. If such an attack takes place, of course we will retaliate and we will definitely accelerate our activities to complete our fuel cycle and make nuclear fuel. But I personally do not think the United States will take such a risk. Americans mostly chant slogans and think that they can scare us by such slogans. Because America is very well aware of our response, I do not think they will take such measures against Iran.
[End Excerpt]
Apparently, Iran hasn't received word that President Bush is a madman, who happens to command the most powerful military in the world or quite possibly, they are just as mad. They also apparently have no qualms about chastising Europe and getting the over-hyped Condoleezza's back up. And, now we're being dealt the wildcard of Russian involvement.
Of course, if you factor-in the heavily-favored, pro-Iranian government that will soon take office in Baghdad and the fact that we, literally forced them to vote. Plus, if you take into consideration Iran's position between Iraq and Afghanistan. Eventually, I may have to explain why I keep invoking John & Yoko in my public comments, but in my head, I keep hearing Stipe.
Q. Some U.S. and Israeli officials have made it clear they do not rule out the military option against Iran. Are you prepared to take this risk? Are you prepared to go to war to keep your nuclear program?
A. War for what? Yes, If Iran wanted to violate international treaties, if Iran was pulling out of the NPT, if Iran had announced it was ... pursuing nuclear weapons, yes. Then these could be excuses for America or others. But when all Iranian officials are insisting on the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities and when they say it will remain so, what is the excuse for America or any other country to take military action against Iran? Our nuclear activities have been peaceful and will always remain peaceful. Besides, does this military action solve anything? Imagine that America, ignoring all the international rulings, attacks one of our nuclear facilities. What problem would be solved with this attack? Because we are independent in the nuclear field. Imagine that some centrifuges are destroyed because of the attack, then in a short period of time we will build them again. Or imagine if they destroy another part of our fuel cycle, then again in some months we will repair it. A country which is so independent in the field of nuclear technology is invulnerable. Actually, by making this technology home-made, we have made ourselves invulnerable.
Q. I imagine the Americans believe that at least technically it will slow Iran from reaching what they think is its goal of having a bomb. So there is a risk of attack. Do you not take the risk of attack seriously?
A. I do not think America itself will take such a risk. Because America knows very well that we will strongly answer such an attack. The Americans are very well aware of our capabilities. They know our capabilities for retaliating against such attacks. I do not think in their final calculations, they will take such risks. Besides, in case of any such attacks, we will definitely have greater motivation to make our fuel cycle and will accelerate it.
Q. So you are saying that your response to any military attack will be on the one hand military retaliation and on the other hand to accelerate the nuclear program?
A. If such an attack takes place, of course we will retaliate and we will definitely accelerate our activities to complete our fuel cycle and make nuclear fuel. But I personally do not think the United States will take such a risk. Americans mostly chant slogans and think that they can scare us by such slogans. Because America is very well aware of our response, I do not think they will take such measures against Iran.
[End Excerpt]
Apparently, Iran hasn't received word that President Bush is a madman, who happens to command the most powerful military in the world or quite possibly, they are just as mad. They also apparently have no qualms about chastising Europe and getting the over-hyped Condoleezza's back up. And, now we're being dealt the wildcard of Russian involvement.
Of course, if you factor-in the heavily-favored, pro-Iranian government that will soon take office in Baghdad and the fact that we, literally forced them to vote. Plus, if you take into consideration Iran's position between Iraq and Afghanistan. Eventually, I may have to explain why I keep invoking John & Yoko in my public comments, but in my head, I keep hearing Stipe.
