Turn Up the Heat on Terror Central
January 23, 2004
Forbes
Steve Forbes
Despite the seeming post-earthquake thaw in relations with Iran, a new day between our countries is not a-dawning. Iran's hard-liners are still in charge, and they are expert at playing the good cop (moderate)/bad cop (hard-line) routine to win advantages. Make no mistake, this clerical dictatorship is a principal source of terrorism around the world today.
In Iran terrorists receive training as well as funding, and the country is a prime sanctuary for these agents of evil. Iran also is working rapidly to develop nuclear weapons and is far along in the process of creating missiles to deliver these and other weapons of mass destruction to Europe and, eventually, the U.S.
In short, the Bush Administration should ratchet up pressure to bring about a regime change. Invading Iran à la Iraq is out of the question--for now. But instead of trying to work with Teheran's corrupt clerics, we should openly extend aid to various Iranian opposition groups, substantially beef up Radio Free Europe-like broadcasts to this critical country and start putting real pressure on Russia to stop providing Iran with all-important assistance for its military programs.
Iran's malicious mullahs' ploy is to buy time. Nothing in Iran's past behavior suggests it is about to turn over a new leaf. Its supposedly moderate President Mohammad Khatami--elected by the people--is a toothless tiger who has not opened up Iran during six years in power. The regime still cracks down hard on democratic dissent.
Our pusillanimous State Department says that ultimately the Iranian people must take their country back from its oppressors. Maybe, but that doesn't mean we can't take a more proactive approach in helping them do so. Ronald Reagan pursued such a course with regard to the U.S.S.R.'s European satellites. He was not content with containment; he wanted to actively undermine the Evil Empire. His Administration did all it could to clandestinely help Poland's Solidarity movement. Other dissidents were also aided, especially with communications equipment. Broadcasts of Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty and the Voice of America were all strengthened. And, of course, Reagan engaged America in its biggest peacetime military buildup, including the much-criticized Star Wars missile defense program. Result: The Berlin Wall fell soon after Reagan left office.
The sooner we revive this Reaganesque spirit vis-à-vis Teheran, the faster we'll win this war against terrorism.
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2004/0202/023.html