Did Obama Just Play His Iran Card?

World News
By Dallas Darling
10/24/2012

“Wars can be prevented just as surely as they can be provoked… and we who fail to prevent them, must share the guilt for the dead.” – General Omar Bradley, General of the U.S. Army (1893-1981)

By the time President Richard Nixon told his Chinese hosts during a banquet toast, “Let us start a long march together, not in lockstep, but on different roads leading to the same goal, the goal of building a world structure of peace and justice,” U.S. colonialism and militarism had caused the deaths of six million people. Still, it took foresight (even if it was for ulterior motives) to initiate secret talks with China and thus undercut Chinese support for the North Vietnamese war effort. Determined to withdraw all U.S. troops from Indochina and hoping to improve relations with both Communist China and Communist Russia, it also took great courage to accept an invitation by Chinese leaders. In 1972, President Nixon played his China Card and visited China. A historic handshake occurred between Chinese Leader Mao Zedong and President Nixon.

When it was reported that that Iranian and U.S. negotiators have reached an agreement that calls for Iran to halt part of its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of many of the U.S. sanctions against Iran’s Republic, did President Obama just play his Iran Card? A high ranking anonymous source in Iran’s government also claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expects a letter from President Obama in a few days guaranteeing the detail of the agreement, which occurred during secret negotiations in Doha, Qatar. Once Iran receives America‘s guarantees, it will authorize an announcement on a solution to the nuclear crisis before U.S. presidential elections.(1) The agreement calls for Iran to halt partial uranium enrichment after the U.S. removes many of its sanctions, ones that have not only caused mass inflation but civilian suffering, even death.

Regarding America’s brutal wars in Indochina and attempted conquests of Asia, President Nixon recognized the world had shifted from a bipolar to a multi-polar framework, let alone a unilateral one where it was attempting to militarily enforce its will. He also understood that the nation’s decades-long anti-communist crusades were very costly and had created a foreign policy that was too rigid, often working against the nation’s interests. By secretly engaging and then visiting China, President Nixon forged a new path of negotiating with Communists. This diplomacy of detente helped bring an end to the U.S.-Vietnam War. It also averted a future war, the U.S./Taiwan-China War. While lifting trade and travel sanctions against China, the U.S. withdrew its Seventh Fleet and military installations from defending Taiwan, announcing a more reconciliatory solution.

If President Obama did just play his Iran Card, there are other cards that the U.S. could play to promote peace and prevent wars. One is removing its Fifth Naval Fleet from Bahrain while closing dozens of military installations throughout the Persian Gulf region. Another is withdrawing all security personnel from Iraq and Afghanistan, which clearly threaten Iran. Military incursions and using deadly drones in Pakistan, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, and other parts of North Africa, should cease. Eliminating the funding and training of terrorist organizations and assassination rings, that have led to dozens of deaths in Iran, would be a conciliatory move. Another important card, one that must be played in the U.S., would deal with a broader foreign policy agenda and accepting a multi-polar view of the world, specifically as it relates to Islamic democracies and republics.

Eventually, the U.S. will also have to apologize for its crusades against Iran’s Islamic Republic, including its lengthy military occupations of Iran after World War II, its funding of Saddam Hussein‘s armies during the Iran-Iraq War, and, of course, the downing of Iranian Flight 655 that killed 300 innocent civilians. By utilizing engagement and diplomacy instead of punitive economic sanctions and military aggressions, the U.S. will have a more significant and legitimate role in bringing Iran and Israel to the negotiating table. At the same time, just imagine what would happen if President Obama played the ultimate Iran Card and announced during a banquet in Iran, “Let us start a long multilateral revolution together, not in lockstep, but on different roads leading to the same goal, the goal of building a world structure of peace and justice.”?

One only has to look at what happened when President Nixon played his China Card, when he shook hands with Chinese leader Mao Zedong, and how U.S.-Chinese relations have developed and blossomed since then. Iran is a major player in the eastern Mediterranean and Persian Gulf regions, including Asia. Iran’s influence could be used to help restore peace and stability in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, even in parts of Africa. Trade and disarmament and demilitarization agreements between the U.S. and Iran would be extremely beneficial for each nation, and the nations of the world. By working together, their shared goals in combating terrorism and drug cartels would have a more positive impact. And regarding upcoming presidential elections, can one really envision Republican candidate Mitt Romney playing his Iran Card?

Dallas Darling ([email protected])

Dallas Darling is the author of Politics 501: An A-Z Reading on Conscientious Political Thought and Action, Some Nations Above God: 52 Weekly Reflections On Modern-Day Imperialism, Militarism, And Consumerism in the Context of John‘s Apocalyptic Vision, and The Other Side Of Christianity: Reflections on Faith, Politics, Spirituality, History, and Peace. He is a correspondent for www.worldnews.com. You can read more of Dallas’ writings at www.beverlydarling.com and wn.com//dallasdarling.

(1) http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/obama-cuts-deal-with-iran-over-nukes. (Reza Kahlili)

2012-10-27 00:20:17

Source: http://www.freepeoples5thestate.com/2012/10/did-obama-just-play-his-iran-card.html