Obama’s dream of a nuclear-free world has failed to inspire most members of the nuclear club, and certainly not Iran and its ambition to acquire such armaments, writes Amitai Etzioni in the National Interest.
Iran seeks a nuclear weapon to deter attacks by the United States and its allies, as a source of prestige and possibly as the means needed to wipe out Israel. North Korea claims to need nuclear weapons to deter the United States, Japan and South Korea from what it sees as their aggressive tendencies—and views them as a major source of prestige as well. None of these reasons are much affected by whatever deals Moscow and Washington are making.
Nuclear weapon reductions must be part of strategic analysis
Writing in the Washington Post, Henry Kissinger and Brent Scowcroft outline their formula for a successful and safe reduction in nuclear weapons.
[I]n assessing the level of unacceptable damage, the United States cannot assume that a potential enemy will adhere to values or calculations identical to our own. We need a sufficient number of weapons to pose a threat to what potential aggressors value under every conceivable circumstance. We should avoid strategic analysis by mirror-imaging.
Interview: The PLO’s Ahmad Quray
The former Palestinian prime minister tells Asharq Al-Awsat that the PA has never agreed to a land swap, and that the US is clearly disengaging from the Mideast.
The condition of halting the settlement activities is right and correct. However, it is important to say that I will not under any circumstances recognize any settlement bloc that has been built on the 1967 territories, and I will never accept it. Syria has not said stop the settlement activities, but it said no settlements after the agreement. Egypt did not say, for instance, stop the building activities in Yamit [settlement in Sinai], but when the situation was resolved the settlement was demolished. In Gaza, have they [the Israelis] not left it? Therefore, our stance ought to be clear, but without making it understood that the required amendments are in exchange for the settlements.
My $100k Offer to J Street & Peter Beinart
Ronn Torossian of Algemeiner offers members of the left-wing pro-Israel camp a six-figure to extend their same message to the Jewish community in the Arab world.
For the challenge, they must pick three Middle Eastern Arab countries as well as Gaza, and speak in open advertised forums including Mosques and Universities. They must also travel without security as they do in Israel and Jewish communities. Upon completion of this tour I will sign the check, which I am prepared to place in escrow today with attorneys. J Street President Mr. Jeremy Ben Ami and Mr. Peter Beinart simply need to preach their message of co-existence in the Arab world.
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