The agenda of the G8 Summit 2007 in Germany made no mention of Iran.
But angry words fired by Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the summit in warning the United States against placing anti-missile defence system in Europe has much to do with Iran’s drive to become a nuclear weapon state.
For several years Iran’s shadow has loomed over G8 meetings. European members of the G8—Britain, France and Germany—took upon themselves the responsibility of diplomatically negotiating an end to Iran’s open quest for acquiring technologies in support of its nuclear and missile programs, but yet to no avail.
THREE MORE YEARS
The latest 60-day report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran as required by the Security Council indicates Tehran remains in non-compliance of measures demanded by the international community. The report suggests that Iran might be only three to eight years away from building its own nuclear bomb.
The Security Council has made several resolutions demanding Iran’s compliance with its obligations as signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. In July 2006 the Security Council adopted Resolution 1696, then in December 2006 it adopted Resolution 1737 followed by Resolution 1747 adopted in March 2007.
These resolutions are under Chapter VII heading of the UN Charter, meaning Iran is at odds not with any one member of the UN, but with the international body as a whole. Iran’s continuing refusal to abide by the Security Council resolutions would require the UN to enforce its resolutions under the collective agreement or be shown as an empty windbag.
There is little doubt as to Iran’s intentions to be armed with nuclear weapons. These have been publicly announced by Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad—intentions of dominating the Middle East and of incinerating the Jewish state of Israel.
Ahmadinejad’s threats might be the ranting of a madman. But can the democratically elected leaders of the G7 (G8 minus the Russian leader) together give assurance that Iran’s madman, or his surrogates, will not be allowed to acquire weapons of mass destruction and hold the civilized world for ransom?
The answer is likely not. European leaders have shown how weak-kneed and ill-equipped they are to deal with madmen on their continent to expect any resolve on their part in dealing with the nasty leadership in Tehran.
Once again confronting regional and global instability arising from the rogue ambition of Iranian leadership falls by default on the United States. Once again the probable irresoluteness of the Security Council to enforce its resolutions will require American leadership.
The squeamish and the sophisticated in the West will balk.
The left will again do the Michael Moore routine of Iran under the clerics is a land of laughter and joy.
Ironically the lesson of Iraq war has unburdened those who recognize the perils of Iran with nuclear weapons is unacceptable.
THANKLESS
The American experience in Iraq of assisting in nation-building shows how thankless is such an engagement and, perhaps, for a long time none will venture in that direction.
Hence, failure of the UN to stop Iran going nuclear will make it probable for a Republican in the White House—present or future—to demolish Tehran’s nuclear ambition without assuming responsibility for the thankless task of regime change and nation-building.
He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Islamic Pluralism based in Washington, D.C., a Senior Fellow with the Canadian Coalition for Democracies, and an academic-consultant with the Center for Security Policy in Washington, D.C. He has been a consultant with CIDA on development issues and has published widely in academic journals on foreign policy matters and area studies of the Middle East and South Asia.
Mansur is featured on the documentary Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West produced by the David Horowitz Freedom Center. He also unsuccessfully ran for the Canadian Alliance party in 2000.
Mansur has been accused by Canadian Islamic Congress of using "provocative, self-serving rhetoric", and for "promoting an anti-Arab and anti-Muslim agenda".
He is an Ismaili Muslim.
At a press conference on October 2, 2008, Mansur stated that "Islam is my private life, my conscience...[but] my faith does not take precedence over my duties...to Canada and its constitution, which I embrace freely;" "I am first and most importantly a Canadian;" "only in a free society will you find Islam as a faith and not a political religion." Mansur also criticized New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton, whom Mansur said "has gone to bed with Islamists", because he is running candidates in Ontario and Quebec who are closely identified with the push for Sharia law.
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