Under a Safeguards Agreement concluded by
Iran with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as required by
the Treaty on Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Iran agreed to
allow IAEA inspectors to satisfy themselves that no "source or special
nuclear materials" are being used or have been used in furtherance of a
nuclear weapons program.
Last month, Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei made yet another report
that as best he can tell no proscribed materials are being or have
been so used.
However, in his most recent report, ElBaradei made the gratuitous remark to the
effect that "the agency is not at this point in time in a position to
conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in
Iran."
According to Condi, that gratuitous remark raises "questions that are
within the competence of the Security Council, as the organ bearing the
main responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and
security."
How could ElBaradei's possible incompetence translate into Iran's
nuclear programs constituting a threat to international peace and
security?
Well, there's more to it than that. Quoth Condi:
"Perhaps one of the biggest challenges that we face is the policy of
the Iranian regime, which is a policy of destabilization of the world's
most volatile and vulnerable region. And it's not just Iran's nuclear
program but also their support for terrorism around the world. They are,
in effect, the central banker for terrorism around the world."
Aha! So it's not "just Iran's nuclear program."
No. According to Bonkers Bolton,
it's the "mullahs in charge" of those programs.
"When you see the risk of a government led by a president like
[Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, a man who has denied the
existence of the Holocaust, who has said Israel ought to be wiped off the
map imagining somebody like that with his finger on a nuclear button
means that you can't take any option off the table if you believe, as
President Bush does, that it's unacceptable for Iran to have nuclear
weapons.
"They're determined to acquire nuclear weapons, unless we can find a
way to stop them. And what we're trying to do through peaceful and
diplomatic means in the Security Council is put heat on it.
"As long as the hard-lined mullahs are in charge, we think they're
determined to get them and we're determined to stop them."
Hence, Bush-Cheney-Rice got the IAEA Board to report the entire Iranian
dossier to the Security Council because the "mullahs are in charge."
Unfortunately, that dossier not only documents (a) Iran's
voluntary cooperation with IAEA inspectors that far exceeds
anything required by their Safeguards Agreement (beyond even that required
by an Additional Protocol), but also documents (b) numerous serious
violations by the Board itself of Iran's "inalienable" rights, guaranteed
under the IAEA Statute.
According to Bolton:
"This is a real test for the Security Council. There's just no doubt
that for close to 20 years, the Iranians have been pursuing nuclear
weapons through a clandestine program that we've uncovered.
"If the UN Security Council can't deal with the proliferation of
nuclear weapons, can't deal with the greatest threat we have with a
country like Iran that's one of the leading state sponsors of terrorism
if the Security Council can't deal with that, you have a real question
of what it can deal with."
Well, after three weeks of acrimonious debate about it, this week the
Security Council issued a Presidential Statement, which begins as
follows:
"The Security Council reaffirms its commitment to the Treaty on the
Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons and recalls the right of States Party,
in conformity with articles I and II of that Treaty, to develop research,
production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without
discrimination."
Whoops.
Iran even under the mullahs is guaranteed the right to enrich
uranium for peaceful purposes?
Without discrimination?
But what about Condi's questions?
Well, the Council did note "with serious concern" that "the IAEA is
unable to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or
activities in Iran."
Nevertheless, the Council essentially remanded the Iranian dossier to
the IAEA Board.
"The Security Council strongly supports the role of the IAEA Board
of Governors
and underlines the necessity of the IAEA continuing its
work to clarify all outstanding issues relating to Iran's nuclear
program."
And, since the Council thinks the NPT is worth saving, the Presidential
Statement calls on the mullahs to please, please, please go an extra mile
with the IAEA to save it.