I hope everyone caught New Mexico Governor, and Democratic Presidential candidate Bill Richardson's op-ed on Iran in Saturday's Washington Post. Richardson, a former UN Ambassador under President Clinton and foreign policy expert, suggests that President Bush uses a diplomatic strategy in dealing with Iran. He cites North Korea as a perfect example of where diplomacy worked to end their nuclear weapon testing where endless threats and polarization did not.
He writes, "Rather than directly engaging the Iranians about their nuclear program, President Bush refuses to talk, except to make threats. He has moved ships to the Persian Gulf region and claims, with scant evidence, that Iran is helping Iraqi insurgents kill Americans. This is not a strategy for peace."
Governor Richardson is alluding to an important point. President Bush has, in the past, used excuses to carry out a forceful agenda rather than seeking a peaceful solution. It is time to call for peace and diplomacy to halt Iran's nuclear capabilities (whatever those may be). All President Bush's strategy with Iran is doing, is giving extra attention to the Iranian leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which is what he desires. In the upcoming weeks, many groups will be sponsoring an Iran awareness week. It is important that we, as College Democrats, participate by insisting on a peaceful and diplomatic solution to ending Iran's nuclear capabilities, rather than force.
This is not an endorsement of Bill Richardson for President.
Click to read Governor Richardson's Op-Ed
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