A Tale of Three Leaders

Was anyone really surprised when the talks recently broke down regarding an Iran nuclear pact.

It comes as no surprise to Israel’s Prime Minister Bebe Netanyahu. The Iranians have been playing the international community for years. And though they appear to be willing to sit and talk doesn’t necessarily mean they’re willing to negotiate and allow international inspectors to determine for themselves independently how far along they are in their pursuit of nuclear power.

Many were encouraged with the election this year of a new president, Hassan Rouhani. Considered  much more moderate than his predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad --Attila the Hun would have been considered more moderate—there was reason for optimism.

President Obama ever the progressive sought a face-to-face with the new leader in September when he was in New York to address the United Nations but was denied by the Iranians, citing complications such a meeting would invoke in Iran. That might have been an omen as to the success any talks might produce. Instead they chatted on the phone.

It was a nice gesture for both. But  we are still at the crossroads of a potentially dangerous situation. The recently completed talks have accomplished nothing except, of course, the stalling of time which is  an advantage for the Iranians who have refused to put a halt to its nuclear program for up to six months in exchange for modulating the sanctions now in place.

But also important, they have refused to put a stop to the construction of a heavy-water reactor near the city of Arak which would be capable of producing plutonium, which like enriched uranium, can be used for bomb making materials. Once this facility is operational a military mission to destroy it would have grave environmental consequences.

Again time is of the essence and the bickering back and forth gives Iran more time to develop weapons and Israel less time to secure its long-term safety. Netanyahu can see the endgame. Once Iran has a nuclear weapon  Israel’s security would be non-existent. The Middle East would be even more de-stabilized than it is now – hard to imagine.

Netanyahu has said repeatedly that Rouhani, unlike Ahmadinejad, who was a wolf in wolf’s clothing, is a lamb in wolf’s clothing. Hopefully, President Obama will abandon any efforts to ease the harsh sanctions until Iran negotiates in good faith. And that’s unlikely.