Even the most radical conservative can agree with Noam Chomsky on at least one thing.  “No one in their right mind wants Iran to develop nuclear weapons.”  But to Chomsky, nonproliferation requires reciprocal action, rather than international condemnation.  Chomsky’s reputation as a prolific author of books on subjects including linguistics, philosophy, cognitive science, political science, and media might lead one to believe that his views stem from esoteric theoretical arguments, but Chomsky takes a pragmatic view of international relations.  His conclusion is that Iran is developing nuclear weapons out of a rational fear for its national safety because of the systematically threatening posture of the United States and Israel.

“If they’re not developing a nuclear deterrent, they are crazy.” The problem, said Chomsky, is the defiant and hypocritical insistence of the United States on holding the constant threat of military action over Iran as a punishment for its noncompliance with United Nations mandates.  “Hostile actions of the United States and its Israeli client are a major factor in Iran’s decisions of whether or not to develop a nuclear deterrent.”

The escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States is entirely absurd to Chomsky in light of the widespread acceptance of the rights of Iranians to develop civilian nuclear technology.  He sees the cult of American Empire in the government’s condemnations of Iran for refusing to follow the demands of the international community, because the definition of “international community” used in such rhetoric amounts to little more than the opinion in Washington, D.C. and among its allies.  He cited to the hypocrisy of the U.S. position in its historical relationships with the three nations that did not ratify the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty: Israel, India, and Pakistan.  These three nations, said Chomsky, have all received nuclear technology from the United States in violation of security council resolutions, but most Americans would not realize this, given the pro-government bias of the media.

Free Iran:  No matter what the US does, this regime will pursue nuclear weapons – even if America takes all its troops out of the region.  It’s not just because of deterrence but also the ability to project its power that this regime pursues nuclear weapons. But far more importantly, the above comments, as true as some of them may be, highlight a major problem for those who seek democracy in Iran.  The liberals in America are so preoccupied with Vietnam (still), Iraq, neocons and the role of America in world politics that they fail to see the plight of the Iranian people.  Context doesn’t matter to them.  In effect, they have become reactionaries and too often stand against anything the conservatives may advocate.  Precariously, the conservatives and neocons aren’t any better.  Although they advocate siding with the Iranian people, they constantly also threaten to bomb them.   The level of debate and discourse about Iran in America is extremely startling and distressing.