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New Approaches to Halt Iran's Nuclear Program

[Jerusalem Post] Bennett Ramberg - The West cannot buy the mullahs off. The time has come to explore another approach, one that challenges the values that sustain Iran's atomic ambitions. For the mullahs, one value dominates - preservation of the theocratic regime. In this view a nuclear Iran provides security, international influence, and prestige while buttressing popular support. Iran's values, however, can become the West's sword. Consider a kaleidoscope of alternatives, including sowing nuclear fear. Use public diplomacy to cultivate popular fear that nuclear plants are radiological hostages to terrorist malevolence, military attacks and accidents. In addition, promote national security foreboding. The mullahs appear to believe that nuclear weapons, or the breakout capacity to develop them, advance national security. Impress upon them that the tack will make the regime less secure. Iran will become an American and Israeli nuclear bulls-eye in this era of preemption. Reinforce this point with a U.S./NATO security guarantee to Israel: A nuclear attack on the Jewish state will result in Iran's extinction. The writer served in the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs in the State Department in the George H.W. Bush administration.
2008-10-29 01:00:00
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