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Thursday, August 23, 2007
-4:51 AM
Leaders
The Riddle of Iran
There are many things in the world that are a bad idea to build. A nuclear weapon is a good example.
Iran's nuclear ambitions have grown from preposterously propagandistic speeches into a worrying reality. While most of the world's attention has been drawn to the raging battle in Afghanistan, Israel and its neighbours, Iran is well into developing nuclear fuel for its first bomb. Such is the situation that experts say Iran could have 'The Bomb' (as it is known) by 2015 (Others say that the project could be in its final stages of completion within a mere 2 years).
Doomsday criers hold your end-of-the-world repertoire, however, for nuclear Armageddon might not be the end of the world. MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) psychology aside, Iran's tough exterior might be merely that. Its president, who has infamously threatened to 'bury the West', has given many fiery speeches but has failed to back them up with any real action. And despite what Israel claims about Iran being 'basically a messianic apocalyptic cult', Iran's leaders are far from suicidal. They know about Israel's and the United States' formidable nuclear arsenal, and since its situation is far removed from that of North Korea (crumbling regime with nothing to lose), there are signs that Iran may not be so trigger-happy.
More like than not, its nuclear ambitions are fueled by the need for a bargaining chip, to drive larger countries to the diplomatic table. 'The Bomb' has a way of making normally big players sit up and pay attention, for rather obvious reasons. Yet this is a dangerous game Iran is playing. Faced with such a dire, sudden nuclear player on the block (and perhaps fueled by a desire to appear aggressive in the run for presidency). To quote Senator John McCain, "although attacking Iran would be bad, an Iran with nuclear weapons would be worse."
Iran must play its cards right. To misquote a tired cliche, with the Great Bomb comes great responsibility.
-2:54 AM
International
The Arctic
Drawing lines in melting ice
With the recent discovery of the natural resources the frigid ice caps seclude, no fewer than five countries have each staked their claim to the frozen extremities of the North Pole. Russia, America and Canada are the major players in the new peacetime international contention - and others are set to join the fray.
With all the contending countries being members of the United Nations, there will undoubtedly be a 'peaceful resolution' to the current issue. More like than not, the General Assembly will agree to divide up the Arctic into neat pieces before the velvet glove is removed and the iron fist revealed. Yet, it seems an unsatisfactory resolution to an uncomfortable issue, and as tempers and resources run short, it is improbable that these countries will be content with their share of the pie for long.
If the glare of worldwide drama seems too large to comprehend, envision these countries as individuals rather than superpower entities, and one finds with surprise that the current situation reflects incidents that occur in everyday life. It is almost as if the respectable, dignified heads of state have been reduced to spoilt, purile juveniles that essentially want a new toy all to themselves. When it dawns upon them that none of them can have it all to themselves, they go crying to a higher 'authority' to put muscle behind their complaints. Indeed, this incident reveals much about how simple and selfish the human psyche can be (particularly in the face of great potential benefit) and the great danger it poses when translated to international politics that have untold repercussions on billions of people.
For now, however, the disputes of the Arctic Circle are far from growing too hot. Grand and impressive as they may sound, military bases and mining stations are far from being constructed. A decade could easily pass before all the parties involved are finally appeased, bi-lateral talks could last for years more. Even in the recent expeditions, the competing countries have reluctantly agreed to work with each other; the recent Danish expedition was aboard a Swedish vessel, whose path was in turn paved by a Russian icebreaker.
Still, all involved would do well to tread carefully - for as the world's limelight stokes up a flame in the Arctic, the ice grows thinner by the day.
