On Iran's Nuclear Program

The world, at least some people including myself, is watching in a very deep concern about the proceeds of issues with regard to the Nuclear Program that Iran is pursuing. On particular concerns are on how USA and UN would deal with it, in an equal importance on how that Iran would "cooperate". We could no longer afford seeing a war in middle east. More even a "war based on assumptions" as the world is realizing on what's happening in Iraq now.

While the rethroric ways that President Amhadinejad deliver speeches were perceived as threatening by the west, we need to see resolving the issues thru constructive dialogues, more on "substances" rather than "styles".

We glad to hear about IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and NIE(US National Intelligence Estimate) that indicate a 'negative' on Iran's pursuance to nuclear weaponry (military purposes). Yet, we still see that President George Bush seems to be still after Iran. Even during the press conference with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, on his visit to Israel a few weeks ago, Mr. Bush seemed to be 'dismissing' the report from both IAEA and NIE.

Mr. Olmert is also keeping on saying that Israel sure Iran seeking nuclear arm. In response to this, a spokeperson of the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Jakarta, Mr. Hamid Soltan Soleki wrote to Jakarta Post daily, yesterday Feb 16, 2008:

"It is very strange that representatives of a regime, which obtains hundreds of nuclear warheads and has been source of unrest, instability, crisis by resorting to agression, usurpation and killing of innocent men and women of Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, is judging Iran's nuclear program".

It's quite a strong statement, amidst a naked fact that some people might see as what's really happening in middle east. So it would absoulutely need extra energy to make both sides sit down together in a round table -- peace, justice, mutual respects, no double standards. -- seems to be quite a utopia:)

Above all, what are the (moral) grounds that some could have nuclear weapon while others could not ? People even now are worry about nuclear weapon in a relatively unstable Pakistan in the events following Bhutto's death. India has also got it just sometime ago without any issue. I just recalled on what President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, cleverly stated quite a while ago that he very much agreed that middle east should be free from nuclear warheads - no exception. Yap, all parties have to be back to the table on reducing and eliminating this WMD in more time certainty.

An Israeli friend of mine (a businessman), that often comes to visit Jakarta, once said that we make friends by doing business and partnering - across nations that may have different political views or adversaries -- and contribute, whatever small it might be -- to mutual understanding among people in every part of the world on a peaceful earth.

Agreed. But was it true, Erez, that business contacts give also pathways to Camp David and Oslo Accords ?