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GLOBAL EXCHANGE
With Congress pulling an all-nighter for yet another debate on Iraq, the struggle to stop what feels like an endless war drags on. The lesson: Stop the next war?a war with Iran?before it starts.

Our own intelligence agencies have recently concluded the Iraq war has worsened the terrorist threat, and a war against Iran would add immeasurably more fuel to the fire. The U.S. has both the time and obligation to work with the international community to fashion a diplomatic resolution to the situation. We must not allow the horrors of the Iraq war to be a prelude to a war with Iran.
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For A Little Inspiration: Amid growing tensions between the U.S. and Iranian governments, fourteen Iranian youth cyclists met up with Global Exchange in San Francisco on their U.S. tour to convey a message of peace, friendship, and solidarity. See what just a small group can accomplish

For More Information:
Read the U.K. Guardian's article about Dick Cheney's mounting case for an attack on Iran.

What an Attack on Iran Would Look Like
by Sanaz Meshkinpour

Yet again, the Bush administration is stoking public fear and skewing public perception with a smoke and mirror campaign that aims to pepper the American public for a preemptive strike in the name of international security and regional stability. Yet again, the Bush administration tries to hide its interest in Mid East power dynamics and resources. But focusing pressure on Iran is a naked attempt to control a major geo-political stronghold with rising regional influence and a wealth of indigenous resources.

This time, the Bush administration has traded the worn and faded WMD argument for that of the colossal nuclear weapon threat. In statements, administration representatives have said that an attack is justified the moment Iran attains "knowledge" of nuclear weapons or is responsible for a major attack against US troops in Iraq. Despite the fact that a very similar strategy was used four years ago do justify what has been a massive failure in Iraq.

While Global Exchange completely supports the goals of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and has always advocated for a non-proliferated region free of nuclear weapons, our government's aggressive policies, wrought with double-standards, hardly encourages other countries to remain within the NPT guidelines - in fact, it does the opposite.

If the Administration's threats of attack become a reality, there is no question that it would be catastrophic for Iran, and result in aggressive repercussions for the U.S. Because Iran's nuclear facilities are positioned underground, dispersed throughout the country, and located within a number of urban cities; an attack would most certainly have heavy civilian casualties. In addition, because of Iran's spread out facilities, it's unlikely that the attack would hinder, let alone wipe out, their nuclear abilities. What the Attack would do, however, is provoke Iran to escalate its nuclear program, and allow for Iranian hardliners to consolidate support under their banner of patriotism and crush any dissent among a burgeoning civil society.

Not only would a U.S. attack on Iran be a belligerent move with devastating outcomes for Iranians; it could potentially cause a domino effect, pushing the very seams of stability within the Middle East, and making the U.S. less secure. In response to an attack, a defensive Iran could easily support flare-ups between factions that could de-stabilize entire governments and consume neighboring nations into a regional war.

In Iraq, the Iranian establishment could use its influence with Shi'ite political parties, not the insurgency as the Administration has accused, to destabilize the Iraqi power structure. In addition, Hezbollah, based on its interests, could undermine the teetering sectarian state of Lebanon or draw Israel into another blanket bombing of the country. Shi'ite populations in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States could rebel against their US supported governments. Not to mention any of the unforeseen actions of any number of extremist groups who view Iran as the only anti-imperialist government in the Middle East. Those would be the very real consequences if the Bush administration continues upon its current path.

Presently, there are two cases that Iran has most likely observed in determining their own course of action in response to U.S. posturing: the war in Iraq and the current nuclear deal with North Korea. The take away message for Iran, is that North Korea, after having tested a nuclear bomb off its own coast last year and the subsequent international uproar, garnered a multilaterally brokered peace deal, which allows the North Korean government to keep its nuclear centrifuges. Iran would only have to glance to its right and left - and to our government's past indiscretions with nuclear policy - to conclude that escalation would be the best form of deterrence.

While the idea of a nuclear Iran is a frightening thought for any of us to digest, Iran's current situation, and international isolation, is a frightening threat to their own survival. Not only is Iran faced with two nuclear countries as close enemies, Israel and Pakistan, but over the past few years, Iran has found the US to be an ever-imposing new neighbor. With military alliances with Turkey and the former-Soviet states bordering Iran to the north, long-term military presence in Afghanistan and Iraq, and naval control over the Persian Gulf waterway, the United States has strategically encircled Iran with every step of the "War on Terror." The fear that drives Iran's escalation policy can be considered a very real threat.

Instead of reinforcing a flawed nuclear policy, used by the Bush administration as a tool for regime change and expanding empire, we need to respond to the current situation with viable alternatives that would better promote the principles of non-proliferation. Instead of destroying any chance for democracy in Iran, we need to support Iranian civil society to create the necessary change from within Iran. As a grassroots movement dedicated to ending the war in Iraq, we need to advocate for engagement and dialogue with the Iranian population that is more than willing to open the channels of diplomacy, closed for 27 years. As a population that voted-in a Democratic congress, we need to prod and push our representatives to stand-up to the Administration's belligerent actions, and also engage in diplomacy as a tool to re-introduce Iran into the international community, and allow the government incentives to become accountable to the community.

The only means the Bush administration has to carry on with its plan of attack is if we stay silent and complicit.


Thanks, as always, for your hard work on behalf of peace and justice,
Global Exchange.
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