generalspeaking

Disarming, Arming, Alarming

In yet another demonstration of just how effective, committed and needful the United Nations is in performing the missions it commits itself to, here is Hezbollah, still in southern Lebanon bordering Israel's north, honouring its acceptance of a cease-fire with Israel, to abstain from weapons-acquisitions. And, of course, the UNIFIL mission mandate to ensure that Hezbollah does not illicitly import weapons into Lebanon from its suppliers in Syria and Iran, somehow manage to overlook the fact that they do, nonetheless.

Syria, in fact, and it has been verified by the United States, has successfully supplied Scud missiles to Hezbollah. Yet another blatant violation of the U.N. Security Council decisions calling a halt to hostilities. Al Rai Al Aam, a Kuwaiti newspaper, has reported that those missiles are capable of a 300-kilometer range. Those scud missiles just the latest to be slipped over from Syria to join the 40,000 rockets now in the possession of Hezbollah; shorter-range, but capable of reaching Haifa.

And to round out the anoying build-up of armed hostility around Israel, there is Russia proudly announcing that the Bushehr nuclear reactor it is aiding Iran in building is set to go, come August, right on schedule. The head of Russia's state nuclear corporation is quite clear on the matter: "Bushehr doesn't threaten the regime of nonproliferation in any way. No one has any concerns about Bushehr." Ah, proud enablement.

Of a regime committed to asserting itself as the nuclear-political-theocratic power in the Middle East. Just incidentally, on the side, threatening out loud and clearly understood by all whose hearing is not impaired that they will destroy the State of Israel.

By the sheer force of Islamist-based slander, (and it is profoundly base) of course, through the heated belligerence of inflamed rhetoric, nothing more. For although Allah has informed the ruling Ayatollahs that nuclear power in all its manifestations represents a brilliant Islamic empowerment, the Islamist Republic of Iran and the Republican Guard are simply disinterested in obtaining nuclear warheads.

The recently-concluded 47-nation summit in Washington to ensure that all were on board the agenda for securing nuclear materials from the potential possession of sinister forces eager to experiment with them - the better to inform the world that they mean business - was a triumph of togetherness. President Obama is immensely pleased to have "gained cooperation from Ukraine, Chile, Canada and others to help lock down this dangerous material."

Who, one might timorously enquire, is prepared to lock down this quite obviously dangerous threat to world security that Iran represents? Obviously, not Russia, and just as obviously not China. Petroleum resources count for much; world security not so much. Particularly when a presumed threat from the Islamic Republic of Iran is a mere figment of the West's (and Israel's) feverish imagination.

The new START Treaty signed in Prague between Russia and the United States should serve to allay any unwarranted nervousness on the part of the world with respect to the numbers of nuclear warheads and allied armaments floating around; some of them are to be warehoused; (dismantled, no) and can be handily forgotten. And of the two countries signing that treaty, otherwise?

Well, Russia, while expressing slight concern, is still arming Iran, and the United States is busy disarming Israel.

Labels: China, Middle East, Russia, United Nations, United States

posted by Pieface @ Thursday, April 15, 2010