US would not go for war against Iran: Pak analyst
Islamabad, March 22, IRNA
Pakistan-Analyst-Comment
The United States had the capability but lacked courage to go for a military action against Iran, a leading defence analyst in Pakistan said on Wednesday.
In an interview with IRNA here ex-Chief of Army Staff and top defence analyst General (Retd) Mirza Aslam Beg said that the US decision to take the issue of Iran's nuclear programme to the United Nations Security Council reflected its helplessness and inability to resort to any extreme measure on the matter.
Substantiating his viewpoint, the analyst said that the US had been forced to adopt a different policy vis-z-vis Iran, contrary to its military invasion of Afghanistan and then Iraq.
"The US could have done so about the Iran issue, but it fully knew its consequences. Besides other things, Americans knew the strength of Iranian nation, their unity and courage to face any eventuality," he contended.
The US, he maintained, must understand the fact that the world community was no more willing to condone its policy based on threats, pressures and illogical ground.
"The clear example is the China and Russia model: they defied the US and have been engaged in efforts to resolve the issue through talks, he said.
The analyst believed that China and Russia had in a way, accepted the Iran's position on peaceful use of nuclear technology that was why they were quite active for its settlement through negotiations, and might not vote for any US-moved resolution.
To a question, he said that it was not likely for the US to succeed in getting through a resolution from the United Nations Security Council, clamping curbs on the Islamic republic, as besides China and Russia, some European nations were also opposed to America's plan on the issue.
"The US will have to tread carefully keeping in mind these factors. The Americans simply can't afford more embarrassment," he contended.
About the US decision to hold parleys with Iran, he said that,"it was the best way to find out what was a fact and I guess Iran's position is clear on allegations of its involvement in Iraq".
The analyst said that on this particular issue, Iran would succeed in convincing Americans about its indifference to Iraq developments.
"To my mind, Iran will not object to US proposal for deployment of UN observers on Iran-Iraq border, in case, US keeps on leveling charges," he added.
However, he was quick to add that by sealing the borders or deployment of UN observers, the inherent love and closeness between the peoples of Iran and Iraq could not be done away with.
The general lauded the Iranians principled stand and resilience in view of the US and its allies' pressure and hoped they would prove their stance was correct on both nuclear issue and Iraq situation.
US would not go for war against Iran: Pak analyst