The US has called off a major international conference on establishing a nuclear weapons-free zone (NWFZ) in the Middle East, claiming turmoil in the region prevents action on the issue.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement released Friday that the US supports the goal of banning nuclear weapons in the Middle East, but that conflict in Israel-Palestine and, ironically, Iran’s supposed defiance on the nuclear issue, required it be canceled.
The real reason, of course, that the US canceled the conference is because Israel – the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons – refuses to give up its regional monopoly on nukes.
A diplomat involved in the conference told the Associated Press that “Israel had decided not to attend,” and, “Key sponsors had said that the meeting was possible only if all countries, especially Israel, would participate.”
While Iran is a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, has publicly pledged its opposition to nuclear weapons development, has subjected itself to thorough international inspections, and in fact has exactly zero nuclear weapons, Israel has done none of the above and has approximately 200 nuclear warheads. Iran is being severely punished and threatened with attack, Israel is supported with unparalleled economic, military, and diplomatic support.
If Israel agreed to dismantling its vast stockpiles of nuclear weapons and to a deal enforcing a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East – a deal Iran and Israel’sArab neighbors have repeatedly proposed – the supposed threats Israel faces in the region would disappear.
But Israel refuses to give up its nuclear monopoly, insistent on maintaining its excuse to build up its military and distract from the Palestinian issue.
As former CIA Middle East analyst Paul Pillar has written, “the Iran issue” provides a “distraction” from international “attention to the Palestinians’ lack of popular sovereignty.”
Perhaps if Glaser just does more whining, then Israel will capitulate to this proposal of dismantling its nuclear weapons???
What does any, and everyone, think the odds that this perpetual whining plan will actually be successful, in "reality", actually are???
Anyone???
Just wondering…
You can call it whining if you want, but I for one am grateful for Johns work. Over the last 5 years the dialog regarding Israel /Palestine has shifted markedly. It is no longer taboo to speak of this conflict or or the hypocrisy of both the US and Israel.
People are getting wise to this and their views are changing. This is due in no small part to the efforts of proper like John who work to inform the public.
As long as it makes you "feel better", I guess that's the "important" thing…but that wasn't my question…
Will Israel finally dismantle it's nuclear weapons because of Glaser's incessant whining…which is not new or original…nor unknown to anyone–particularly the nation of Israel???
Also, it does nothing to address AW.C's own hypocracy…but I guess that's a separate issue….
Ben, I could say the same of your whining about someones supposed whining. What's good for the goose and all that.
Just wondering what the expectation is MoT….
Same as any article posted here …to inform!
If a lie repeated enough times can become the truth, why not repeat the truth for a change.
As a comparisan with our own history, I believe that the NAACP was founded back in 1909 or so. Fifty some years of whining about an obvious injustice did not get them much. But in 1964, Watts got torched and within months the first Civil Rights Act came into being. My point is that it is good and necessary to continue to point out injustice, but don't count on any guaranteed results. Established evil forces can and will "tune out" appeals to justice and they will come up with "good reasons" to continue the injustice. And if they do, sometimes only violence will bring things to a head.
The old apartheid state of Union of South Africa also was immune to cries of injustice until the blacks in the townships rose up. They got slaughtered but they prevailed as the World had to finally acknowledge what was going on.
It would be nice if the USA Government would respond to the injustice of the Occupation of Palestine, but I don't count on it. Probably, Israel will need to get a bloody nose before they act right. It will be terrible for everyone but institutionalized evil is not easily talked away.
I'm not entirely sure what Israel's Nuclear Weapons has to do with the "occupation" directly; however, perhaps it would be wise to start a Nuclear War over the "occupation"? Blow everything up…problem solved…right??? "Intervention" to an exponential degree…
Israel would be unable to blackmail the world with their Samson Option doctrine if they either give up their nuclear arsenal or if they allow another nuclear player in the Middle East. That is why there will never be nuclear free Middle East.
It is the 'Israel issue' that is the real concern. The 'Iran issue' is another of Israel's interminable scams to divert attention from their actions.
Does anyone really think that the Chosen Ones are going to give up the option of destroying themselves and the rest of the world if they are ever backed into a corner they cannot lie, cheat or steal thmeselves out of..
Mentioning Israel's nuclear weapons program to a US or Western politician is like hitting them with kryptonite….see the video below on what happens when they are asked about it!
So Israel throws a temper tantrum and Momma Sam gives in to coddle this spoiled child.