Thursday December 21, 2006

I've Been Thinking:

Iran is torquing up the tensions with the United States and with the West.
Iran just came out with a savvy new maneuver in the nuclear game.

Yesterday while on tour of a western province in Iran Ahmadinejad declared that "Iran is now a nuclear power."
He was quoted by IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency)

He said: "Iranian young scientists reached the zenith of science and technology and gained access to the nuclear fuel cycle without the help of big powers."
He said: "the powerful Iranian nation resists bullying powers and will defend its rights, including the right to pursue peaceful nuclear technology."

What is Ahmadinejad trying to achieve with these statements?
Iran has been a nuclear nation for forty years. The first Iranian nuclear facility, a small 5 megawatt system located in Teheran, opened in 1967.

Ahmadinejad has two goals in mind:
To rile up local Iranians in their confrontation with the West
To rile the West into confrontation with Iran

My advice: Don't take the bait.