Chomsky, Kissinger, Iran, and Hypocrisy

The policies that Washington now condemns are the very same policies that the U.S. supported before the 1979 overthrow of the Shah. That’s the tyrant who was imposed by the United States and Britain in a military coup in 1953 that destroyed parliamentary democracy in Iran. Overthrown in 1979. So today, the standard claim is that Iran has no need for nuclear power, so it must be pursuing a secret weapons program. To quote Henry Kissinger:

“For an oil producer such as Iran nuclear energy is a wasteful use of resources.”

That’s Henry Kissinger today. When the Shah was in charge, and Henry Kissinger was secretary of state, he declared that:

“Introduction of nuclear power will both provide for the growing needs of Iran’s economy and free remaining oil reserves for export or conversion to petrochemicals.”

And the U.S. acted to accelerate those efforts, with Cheney, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld and others, playing a significant role. U.S. universities were arranging to train Iranian nuclear engineers, doubtless with Washington’s approval, probably with Washington’s direct initiative. That included my own university, MIT, where the policies went through despite overwhelming student opposition, about 80 percent. A big crisis on campus. Well, asked about his reversal, Kissinger responded with his usual engaging frankness. He said, well, then they were an allied country, and therefore, they had a genuine need for nuclear energy, pre 1979, but now they have no such need, because they’re an enemy. …Washington’s charges about an Iranian nuclear program may for once be accurate. As many analysts have observed, it would be remarkable if they were not. It was predicted by strategic analysts that the U.S./U.K. invasion of Iraq would increase not only terror, but also nuclear proliferation, as indeed happened….

Noam Chomsky, “Stark, Dreadful, Inescapable: The Question of Survival,” remarks at University College, Dublin, 1/19/06.

McCain: “We've got to get quickly on a track to energy independence from foreign oil, and that means, among other things, going back to nuclear power.”

… Wallace: So are you saying that a nuclear capability in Iran is unacceptable?

McCain: I'm saying a nuclear capability in Iran is unacceptable.

Wallace: And how long would you wait before you would exercise the military option?

McCain: I think you would have to exhaust every other option. And I don't know...

Wallace: It's gotten pretty exhausted already, hasn't it, Senator?

McCain: Listen, it's very tough. And you also have to worry — there was something right on FOX just a few minutes ago about the Israeli defense minister and his concerns. Look, put yourself in the position of the Israeli government. Your first obligation is defend your people, and here's a country whose president calls for the eradication of your country from the map. This is the most serious crisis we have faced outside of the entire war on terror since the end of the Cold War.

Sen. John McCain (R-Az).

“Fox News Sunday,” Chris Wallace interviews with Sen. John McCain, 1/22/06.

The first essential step toward greater energy independence is to apply technology to increase domestic production from existing energy resources. And one of the most promising sources of energy is nuclear power. (Applause.) Today's technology has made nuclear power safer, cleaner, and more efficient than ever before. Nuclear power is now providing about 20 percent of America's electricity, with no air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions. Nuclear power is one of the safest, cleanest sources of power in the world, and we need more of it here in America.

Unfortunately, America has not ordered a new nuclear power plant since the 1970s. France, by contrast, has built 58 plants in the same period. And today, France gets more than 78 percent of its electricity from safe, clean nuclear power.

It's time for America to start building again. That's why, three years ago, my administration launched the Nuclear Power 2010 Initiative. This is a seven-year, $1.1 billion effort by government and industry to start building new nuclear power plants by the end of this decade. One of the greatest obstacles we face to building new plants is regulatory uncertainty which discourages new plant construction. Since the 1970s, more than 35 plants were stopped at various stages of planning and construction because of bureaucratic obstacles. No wonder -- no wonder -- the industry is hesitant to start building again. We must provide greater certainty to those who risk capital if we want to expand a safe, clean source of energy that will make us less dependent on foreign sources of energy.

To do so, I've asked the Department of Energy to work on changes to existing law that will reduce uncertainty in the nuclear plant licensing process, and also provide federal risk insurance that will protect those building the first four new nuclear plants against delays that are beyond their control. A secure energy future for America must include more nuclear power.

George W. Bush.

“President Discusses Energy at National Small Business Conference,” Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, DC, 4/27/05.