Mid-Missouri Peaceworks supports
the Iran Nuclear Agreement. We see it as a step away from the path to war; one
that furthers the cause of nuclear non-proliferation. It even hints at the possibility
of eventual normalization of relations. We encourage our members and supporters
to learn more and to share your thoughts and concerns with your elected
officials, especially with Sen. Claire McCaskill who has not made public her
position. (Click HERE to contact Sen. McCaskill).
We are troubled by the fact
that both Rep. Vicky Hartzler and Sen. Roy Blunt have already been outspoken in
opposition to the accord. They, too, need to hear from constituents.
For a set of links to excellent background resources on the Iran Nuclear Agreement, please click HERE
Some key items in the accord
include: shutting down most of Iran’s enrichment capabilities, eliminating 98
percent of their enriched uranium, keeping them from making weapons-grade
plutonium, and enacting the most rigorous inspection regimen in history. These
provisions and others mean that our government and the other members of the
P5+1 have achieved a very strong non-proliferation agreement.
Opponents have offered no
alternative to this agreement, and, it seems, their prescription is effectively
to join Netanyahu in traveling the path to war. This would be a tragic mistake likely
leading to enormous loss of life, limb and treasure. We’ve seen the
consequences of a war of aggression launched ostensibly to counter a supposed
threat of WMD. Millions of lives were torn asunder by the U.S. invasion of
Iraq. Launching a war against Iran, a nation approximately three times the size
and population of Iraq, would be a tragedy of much greater proportions.
We find it hypocritical that
opponents of the agreement are attempting to put the kibosh on an accord that
dramatically reduces Iran’s ability to acquire nuclear capabilities, should
they wish to. Yet keeping Iran from getting such weapons is the opponents’
ostensible goal. If one accepts their premise that Iran is seeking such
weapons, putting this agreement into effect is a very real and effective hedge
against them doing this.
Peaceworks is not in favor or
Iran, or any other nation, acquiring nuclear weapons capabilities. This
agreement is a serious step forward in assuring that they’ll not be able to.
This said, we should note that there is a great deal of bipartisan hubris and
hypocrisy involved in insisting that Iran eschew nuclear weapons.
The United States and the eight
other nuclear weapons states, including Israel, maintain large arsenals and
have no intention of eliminating them. This is in direct violation of binding obligations
under Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. In 1968 the U.S. and the
other nuclear states agreed to “undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith
on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an
early date and to nuclear disarmament . . . "
In the long-run, the only way
to ensure that Iran and other non-nuclear states do not acquire such weapons is
to negotiate mutual, verifiable and universal nuclear disarmament, and to
establish the means of keeping all weapons-usable nuclear materials out of the
hands of any state that might seek them for weapons purposes. In the meantime,
we must move forward with this accord, supporting effective diplomacy rather
than war. Engaged grassroots activism is needed now to assure that the
agreement is not rejected. The alternative is likely war, so action is clearly
needed and needed now.
