Iran as North Korea

Alot has been made, quite logically, about the similarities in actions and rhetoric between US potential actions in Iran and the previous actions in Iraq. But I thought I'd point out another abscessing failure that might offer a different type of parallel, North Korea.

With recent reports that the US is rejecting all negotiations with Iran, I find myself thinking halfway across the globe to the continued bizarre rejection of bilateral talks with North Korea, only accepting meetings within the framework of the 6-party talks.

The parallels are there, North Korea enjoys the backing and protection of the Chinese.(with Iran it's Russia.) They have the capability to strike America's allies and protectorates in the region, S. Korea and Japan. (with Iran it's Israel) The other parties involved, Japan, S. Korea, the UN, even the EU are engaging in almost constant negotiation with North Korea, and yet the US refuses to even sit at the table.

North Korea is still building weapons. The refusal to negotiate has not produced any result except to heighten tensions making military conflict more likely, not less so. And, quite frankly, the North Korean nuclear program is now mainly one of defense.

The main conditional requirement of the North Koreans for any type of openness and disarmament is a security guarantee from the US that it will not take agressive action against them. But the US will not even accept that as a negotiation point.

Amidst all the Iran hype that is going on right now, have you heard anyone, ANYONE, in a position of prominence mention the possibility that the US might offer some sort of a security guarantee to the Iranians in exchange for them scaling back their nuclear efforts?

Have we come this far?

It frightens me that this country finds itself so deeply trapped in the cage of empire that no one seems to even conceptualize the possibility that the US might not have the right to launch military attacks on any country, anytime.

Truly this is the success of the Bush preventative war doctrine. They have shifted the rhetorical landscape to a position where such questions are no longer asked.

After all, the "no negotiations" strategy has worked so well in North Korea.

Also: A little of the Bomb Iran drumbeat from the choir. Condi Rice menacingly mentions "Strong Steps" in dealing with Iran through the Security Council.

And, even better, Stephen Rademaker, a junior warhawk, offers the possibility that IRAN COULD PRODUCE A NUCLEAR WEAPON IN 16 DAYS!!!! Pretty scary until you read down the article where he states with current capabilities it would take 13 years. If we lived in a sane world, warmongering would be a crime.

And: We've still got people dying in your last ill conceived war.