Time to get tough with Iran
September 29, 2009 | By Amanda Reinecker
On Sunday, Iran began a series of ballistic missile tests, including the successful launch of long-range missiles capable of striking Israel, U.S. military bases in the Middle East, and parts of Europe.
Iran's test launches come just two weeks after President Obama decided to unilaterally cancel American plans for missile defenses in Europe.
And they come just days after President Obama's address before the Group of 20 summit last Friday, in which he revealed Iran's "secret" construction of a nuclear facility and called for tougher international sanctions against the rogue regime.
The President's remarks -- which reflect a much tougher stance against Iran than his previous "soft diplomacy" approach -- drew strong support from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. French President Nicholas Sarkozy, who has for months urged a firmer stance, was also pleased with the call for more serious action.
"Obama's [nuclear] announcement shows Iran cannot be trusted to follow legal obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty," Heritage Middle East expert Jim Phillips said in an interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune. This means we need to seek harsher alternatives.
Iran has rejected every international effort to curb its uranium enrichment program. Its noncompliance demonstrates that the rogue state will not "stop developing weapons of mass destruction without serious action by the international community," writes Heritage fellow and former Senator Jim Talent. Additionally, Iran's provocations further expose the many weaknesses and vulnerabilities of "soft diplomacy."
In Geneva on Thursday, international negotiators will present Iran with a "'critical opportunity' to demonstrate willingness to address concern about its nuclear program," explains Talent. It is important that the Obama administration work with the other nations to obtain clear answers about the direction of Iran's nuclear program and uncover any clandestine efforts to design a nuclear warhead.
Despite its disregard for the international community and defiant behavior, Iran has faced only minor repercussions. But mere finger-pointing is unhelpful, Talent explains, reminding us that Iran is "a regime with no qualms about arming terrorists to kill Americans, Iraqis and Israelis." Iran is not a nation the "world can allow to become a nuclear power." It is time to get tough.
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Other Heritage work of note
- "The preamble of the Constitution stipulates that the federal government must provide for the common defense for a reason: It is job one for Washington," writes Heritage national security expert James Carafano in the Washington Examiner. But Washington is now reneging on its responsibility by reducing the defense budget to unsustainable levels. National defense -- "job one" -- now ranks fourth among the government's spending priorities, and spending on big-government welfare programs is set to increase.
What do you think about the defense cutbacks? Post your comments on the Examiner site.
- The term "co-op" traditionally refers to "private associations organized by private people, and are jointly and privately owned and controlled," writes Heritage Vice President Stuart Butler. But this word assumes an entirely different meaning in the health care proposal from Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT). This is just another name for a "public option" government-run health plan. These so-called "co-ops" would receive federal start-up funds and, although chartered by the state, would be subject to federal rules. Butler favors true, privately owned co-ops as a viable solution to health care reform. "That's what we need to improve choice and competition. Not a public plan."
- The Obama administration announced last week that it will not seek a new legal framework to deal with the terrorist detainees at Guantanamo Bay. "This decision not only weakens U.S. detention policy," writes Heritage Senior Legal Fellow Cully Stimson, "it will regrettably serve as an invitation to the courts to expand their role in national-security affairs -- an area that is properly the province of the executive and legislative branches." This approach, he explains, will allow the administration to close Guantanamo without facing the political consequences for releasing the detainees.
- The Wall Street Journal reports on a Heritage innovation on national security thinking: "The conservative think tank Heritage Foundation today kicks off a week-long 'Homeland Security University' to examine a broad spectrum of homeland security challenges including natural disasters and terrorist and cyber attacks. Frances Fragos Townsend, former Bush administration aide on homeland security, delivered the keynote address."
- Due to its overwhelming popularity and relevance to current debates, ConUNdrum, a new book by Heritage United Nations expert Brett Schaefer, has sold out on Amazon.com. The book contains a series of essays detailing the limits of the United Nations and what America's approach should be. To ensure you get your copy with the new printing, order a copy of ConUNdrum now.
- If you are a federal or military employee, you can contribute to Heritage through the 2009 Combined Federal Campaign. Mark CFC #10155 to support The Heritage Foundation's work.
In other news
- As if there weren't already enough controversy about health care reform proposals, Congressional liberals are now pushing to grant illegal immigrants access to government-subsidized health.
- Social Security is expected to run deficits for the next two years due to this year's big job losses and a spike in early retirement claims from laid-off seniors. These shortfalls will add to the overall federal deficit -- and are a glimpse of the endless deficits the program will face after the Baby Boomers retire.
- The dominance of the U.S. dollar in the global economy is at stake as foreign powers rise on the economic world stage, warns World Bank President Robert Zoellick. This dominance has enabled Americans to borrow cheaply and consume more than they produce.
- Abortion opponents in Congress are lobbying hard to remove taxpayer-funded abortions from the health care bills. This effort has drawn support from moderates on both sides of the aisle.
Coming up at Heritage
To attend these or any other events at Heritage please RSVP at Heritage's website. Or you can view these events live online. All times are Eastern.
- On Wednesday, September 30, at 9:30 a.m., Professor Richard Pipes joins a panel of experts to discuss the "year of miracles" and the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
- On Thursday, October 8 at noon, a panel of experts discusses the threat of judicial activism.
Amanda Reinecker is a writer for MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation. Nathaniel Ward, the Editor of MyHeritage.org, contributed to this report.
