Posted on 07/18/2005 7:37:31 AM PDT by humint
U.S. Policy Options for Iran: Sham Elections, Disinformation Campaign, Human Rights Abuses, and Regime Change
Excerpt from Executive Summary
While the Bush administration has been reluctant to adopt an unambiguous policy of regime change for Iran, the outcome of the Iranian electoral process, disinformation campaign, and violations of human rights require adoption of an explicit regime change policy for Iran. An ambiguous American policy was somewhat effective prior to the June 2005 Iranian elections. That policy allowed Washington to support the European diplomatic initiative toward Iran without fear of being blamed for sabotaging negotiations by threatening the regime’s existence. Because Iran has not agreed to give up the capacity for uranium enrichment in exchange for a package of financial incentives, however, European nuclear diplomacy is running out of steam.
When nuclear diplomacy seemed somewhat promising, the Iran Policy Committee (IPC) issued a White Paper in February 2005. That paper discusses Iran’s nuclear weapons programs, its state sponsorship of international terrorism, and U.S. options to meet these challenges. Although skeptical that Iran would fulfill its obligations in the talks, the Paper supports European nuclear negotiations with the Government of Iran. Because of doubts about Iran, the military option has to remain on the table in the event diplomacy fails to arrest Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. But given the lack of intelligence on Iran’s nuclear sites, their location in areas of high civilian density, and dispersal around the country, military action is not a promising alternative. Hence, the IPC White Paper of February favors support for Iranian people in their quest for regime change. In this respect, Washington’s approach of enabling the Iranian people to determine their own future is a step in the right direction. But without a powerful, externally-based opposition group operating within Iran, the Iranian population is not in a position to determine its own future.
Download the full report by clicking here…
Send Jimmy Carter over there to make sense to them, and problem solved.
It was Jimmah's fault that we're dealing with Iran like this to begin with...........
That's what I meant.... problem is solved... The problem of Jimmy Carter, that is. I can't imagine that the Iranians will let the peanut farmer out, once they get their hands on him.
"I believe that a major thrust of U.S. policy regarding ALL Mideastern countries should be the 'fast track' development of the production and distribution of hydrogen energy."
Interesting point... energy may play a big role in our problems in the ME but it is not the only problem. Besides, if we Americans seriously started the transition toward an H2 economy today we might get there in 50-100 years. Asia, Africa and Europe would have to be in lock step with us or the idea is virtually pointless. That's why we didn't sign the Kyoto Protocol...
Have you studied the H2 scenario?
A policy decision to offer large tax breaks for the production of vegetable oil producing crops and operations to process vegetable oil into bio-diesel would be an immediate, viable, short term solution to a large part of the mid-east oil dependance problem.
If we were giving taxc breaks to farmers to produce those crops instead of paying them to not produce anything, we could get the cost of vegetable oil down to at least as low as petrolium oil...
I agree, but depriving them of the primary source of terrorist funding would be a positive thing.
Have you studied the H2 scenario?
I have a rudimentary understanding. I believe thermal water splitting shows tremendous potential. I believe the cost advantage of hydrogen over oil would be the driving force behind its adoption by China, etc.
I agree. I'm not surprised that congress is slow to react because they are influenced (bought off) by oil interests, etc. But with oil selling at over fifty dollars a barrel I am surprised that private business has not seized upon the alternative energy opportunity.
Absolutely right!!! Bio-Diesel is a perfect transition fuel that fits into our economy like a glove... I think you’re on to something here. A simple policy shake up on the energy front could take a bite out of our fossil-fuel consumption. Is anyone that you know of working energy policy the way the Iran Policy Committee (IPC) is working U.S. foreign policy toward Iran? IPC's report is the most detailed and thought provoking future oriented document out on U.S. Iran relations today...
I know I'm talking apples and oranges here but details and quality analysis work for energy policy as well as Iran policy.
As for cutting off petrol-funding of terrorism, the U.S. only buys about 20% of OPEC’s production today. The rest is bought by Europe and Asia. If we stopped buying OPEC oil completely, other countries would quickly pick up our slack. My guess is that black market cash goes for terrorism more so than legit petrol sales. I think we could do more to stop terrorism funding if we stopped the black market crude trade which always explodes when prices are high, like now!
If you’re interested in renewable energy take a look at these. They make the most sense to me. I think we should be building power towers like these to insulate our energy driven economy from petrol pricing which is heavily influenced by the ME. We have perfect conditions for these things in Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico and we could/should be building them like crazy!
UBL gets funding from selling heroin. Think "drug dealer" with wealthy relatives when you think Osama. Sometimes I'm amazed the Arabs don't off him - - Arabs don't believe in drug addictions, they don't want to be the joke of the world, and most would like to live in peace and dignity. Osama and AQ are taking the ME over the cliff.
One of the main points of my suggestion is that we could produce bio-diesel cheaper than we get crude oil from opec if we turned the farming might of the American "bread basket" to the task. If we then exported our excess to europe, we not only become a producer instead of a consumer, but we also dramatically reduce the consumption of opec oil by europe since we are selling them a better product cheaper... Same could go for east asia...
a lot of mid and smaller businesses have. the problem is that the big producers need to be motivated to change. Since no one wants to change, especially when they're making a profit, I suggested tax incentives. Those would be short term to offset the cost of changing over machinery etc., not long term since I'm against Gov't intervention in most cases...
Appendix E: Representative List of Iranian Security and Intelligence Assassination & Terrorist Operations Abroad: 1979-2005
And the list goes on!!! This regime is out of control...
This was very well put... Another excerpt from the IPC's report:
"The tradition of liberal democracies, and especially of the United States, is an open and free one in which beliefs and ideas of all persuasions are spoken aloud and debated with unfettered conviction. If liberal democracy is to have a future anywhere in the world, however, its people must learn to recognize that powerful and amoral men exist who would take our liberties from us and deny them to all within reach of their voracious drive to control others. Because America is strong, the forces of evil cannot prevail over us by military means; instead, they turn to the insidious means of infiltration, propaganda and psychological warfare.
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