El Baradei Blasts Threats Of Attacking Iran

By Cernig

Germany's Der Spiegel reports that the head of the UN's atom watchdog, the IAEA, has blasted preventitive attacks as being just as much of a threat to global peace as nuclear weapons proliferation.

Mohamed ElBaradei, the United Nations' chief nuclear inspector, believes there is a growing threat to global peace through the build-up of nuclear arms and the increasing penchant of counties to bomb suspected nuclear facilities. "With unilateral military actions, countries are undermining international agreements, and we are at a historic turning point," ElBaradei told SPIEGEL, referring to the recent Israel bombardment of Syria's Al Kibar complex in September and the threat made by Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz to attack Iran if the country "continues with its program to develop a nuclear bomb."

Nobel Peace Prize winner Elbaradei also attacks Tehran's leadership in the interview. "The readiness on Iran's side to cooperate leaves a lot to be desired," he said. "We have pressing questions." Iran's leadership, he said, is sending "a message to the entire world: We can build a bomb in relatively short time."

I'd agree with el-Baradei that the potential to complete a nuclear weapon is the inevitable "dual-use" component of Iran's civilian nuclear program. I'd agree too with his implication that Iran doesn't intend going further than that - having the potential is a massive lever on its own without the risks of going the whole way. But having the potential to make a bomb is very different from having one in actuality - as Israel does. Claiming that a nation with a potential to weild a big stick is a threat to one that already has a big stick is simply absurd. Going around clubbing others just because they might pick up a stick is quite obviously a bigger threat to peace and stability.