By Eric Margolis
After all the gnashing of
teeth, beating of breasts and tearing of hair coming from Israel
and its American supporters, you’d think last week’s nuclear
deal in Geneva has opened the way for Iran to become a mighty
nuclear weapons power. Nonsense. Coolly examined, Tehran came off with the short end of the stick
at the so-called P5 + 1 big power talks in Geneva.
Here’s why:
Bowing to
intolerable sanctions and economic warfare from the US, Tehran
agreed to limit uranium enrichment to only 5% (over 80% is
needed to make a nuclear weapon). This low level is sufficient
only for power generation. Iran is to stop enriching to 20%, the
level needed for medical isotopes.
... In short,
Iran freezes its modest nuclear program to the point where it
can only be used for civilian energy purposes.
For these
major concessions, Iran will be paid $7 billion – of its own
money, which has been frozen abroad by US-led sanctions. Some
sanctions will be slightly eased. Iran will regain access to
some of its gold and cash held abroad. But most of its $ 100
billion in assets frozen abroad will remain blocked. Tehran will
be able to sell modest amounts of oil at current restricted
levels, and fund some Iranian students abroad. Big deal.
Iran will
be finally allowed to buy some parts for its dilapidated
civilian airliners that have become flying coffins because of
sanctions. But, apparently, not new western aircraft.
The Geneva
accord will last for 6 months, then be reviewed.
Given all the American and Israeli talk of war against Iran, it represents something of a triumph for US, Russian, EU and Chinese diplomacy.
... But that has not quieted the wailing and threats coming
from Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, who has some 200 nuclear
weapons tucked away in his basement. Or from America’s
pro-Israel lobby and its captive Republican Party.
...The US media has also been very biased against the
Geneva deal.
Yet in spite of this, a recent Pew poll found 44%
of Americans supported the Geneva accords while only a small
number opposed them.
While Iran
has not benefitted from this deal, it has at least lessened the
threat of attack.
The Geneva accord may pave the way to a
warming of relations with the west and America’s final
acceptance of the Islamic Republic as a legitimate Mideast
presence. This prospect that has driven the Israelis and the
Saudis into a towering rage.
The
campaign to block the Geneva accords has thrust into the
daylight the long-covert alliance between Saudi Arabia and the
Gulf emirates on one hand, and Israel. Egypt and Jordan are also
members of this anti-Iranian camp. The possible emergence of
Iran from US-imposed isolation is already throwing the Mideast
into convulsions.
We also
witnessed at Geneva another example of the consummate,
unblushing hypocrisy that makes France often less than loved.
France, which has been selling arms to the Gulf Emirates and has
a base in Abu Dhabi, held up the Iran deal claiming it would
promote “nuclear proliferation.” This is the same France that
originally sold nuclear technology, weapons and missiles to
Israel in the mid-1950’s. Quel nerve!
...Polls show
Americans certainly don’t want to fight yet another war for
Israel’s benefit. PM Netanyahu has gone too far in trying to
throw his weight around in America and in humiliating President
Barack Obama.
His
heavy-handed actions will remind many that the US Congress has
been totally corrupted by big money and big media – and needs to
be reformed.
As Ben
Franklin said, “there is no bad peace; and no good war.” So
Geneva, however imperfect, is a step forward. Now, we will watch
its foes move heaven and earth to sabotage these accords.
Eric S.
Margolis is an award-winning, internationally syndicated
columnist. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, the
International Herald Tribune the Los Angeles Times, Times of
London, the Gulf Times, the Khaleej Times, Nation – Pakistan,
Hurriyet, – Turkey, Sun Times Malaysia and other news sites in
Asia.
No comments:
Post a Comment