So Iran has been caught with a secret nuclear lab under a mountain. We are shocked, shocked that they would do such a thing. Imagine any country having nuclear power, shocking!
For the record, let me say I don't like nuclear weapons. I understand why they were developed, but it was all based on a very cynical and fatalistic view of the world. And now Iran has a not so secret nuclear lab. Not so secret because the US has known about it for months. Only now we feel this renewed sense of outrage. Now I will not say anything in favor of the current regime in Iran, but all the same I feel inclined to take a contrary position to the whining of the west.
The US has had an openly hostile relationship with Iran for many years. After the shah was kicked out the first time, the CIA orchestrated a coup to oust the elected prime minister Mossadegh, so the shah could be reinstalled. Jimmy Carter made the serious error of lionizing the shah in spite of the popular discontent in Iran with the shah. When the shah was kicked out the second time, Jimmy Carter invited him here. Was the Iranian reaction really such a surprise?
More recently, the US invaded and overthrew governments in both Iraq, Iran's neighbor to the west, and in Afghanistan, Iran's neighbor to the east. So the US military is facing Iran on two fronts.
The US is the only country in the world to have used nuclear weapons against another country. The US is hostile toward Iran. The US has interfered in Iran's politics. The US takes out governments on both sides of Iran. The US is outraged that Iran is doing anything with nuclear power, even though Iran says it is for peaceful purposes. Yes, it might well be a lie, but it might not be. And who else is outraged? The nuclear armed UK. The nuclear armed France. The nuclear armed Israel, who bombed a nuclear plant in Iraq and has said all options are on the table regarding Iran.
The US has invaded other countries, numerous times. When has Iran invaded another country? Is it possible Iran feels threatened by nuclear armed bullies who claim it is fine for them to have nuclear weapons but Iran must not be allowed to have an effective deterrent against countries with hostile intentions? The last time Iran fought a war was against an invader from the west, Iraq. Saddam Hussein is no longer there, but the US is. For Iran, which is more of a threat?
Once again, I don't like nuclear weapons. I wish no one had them. But the arrogance and hypocrisy of the west and Israel toward Iran is absurd. Under the circumstances, if any country is entitled to have a nuclear weapon it is Iran. To suggest that Iran would ever proactively use such a weapon against another country is not so plausible. They know a multinational response would be fast on its way. But the danger for Iran of being invaded again is probably very real for them. They lost many thousands of people to Iraq. Should they be denied a deterrent?
