Resolved: The US would be justified in taking military action against Iran.

Recently, the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran reported if President Bush were to lead a military assault on Iran it would be an impeachable offense. Clearly, the US would not be justified in pursuing military options against Iran. My partner and I urge a con ballot based on our three contentions; the resolution is duplicitous, Iran is not a threat, and Iran would become a threat if we attacked them. Initially, this resolution is duplicitous. The United States currently is promoting democracy. Iran is more democratic than other US allies such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and China. In addition, Other US backed regimes are far more oppressive than Iran. Has the Iranian government ever boil dissidents as the Karimov regime in Uzbekistan, have they seized their nation's riches and restrict political power to a single family, or does the Iranian government attack nonviolent protester like the Mubarak dictatorship in Egypt? The answer to these three questions is yes. Moving on, the US has not been attacked by Iran in recent history and therefore has not been provoked the US. Any strike on Iran would be in direct violation of Chapter I, Article 2 Section 4 of the UN Charter. Finally is it not hypocritical to say only the US, Pakistan, India, Israel, and other members of the UN Security Council can have nuclear weapons whereas other nations cannot. This resolution is duplicitous. Secondly, Iran is not a threat. Firstly, Iran is not a threat to Israel. President Ahmadinejad has never stated the goal of Iranian policy is to destroy Israel. Secondly, if there is concern for Israel due to the Iranian President's statements, I would like to remind the judge that Ahmadinejad does not make Iranian policy. The Khomeini makes policy in Iran. In fact in 2003 Khomeini initiated a diplomatic outreach to the US which included an offer to recognize Israel's right to exist. Even the IAEA has concluded there is no evidence to prove Iran is developing nuclear weapons. Iran did ratify and sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Furthermore, according to Dr. Daniel Byman of Georgetown University writes Iran is highly aware that any major escalations in tensions between the US and Iran will likely break them as a nation. He writes Iran understands they cannot advance with their policies if they do not keep the US at least slightly appeased (CON-9). In another article by Dr. Byman, he writes all attacks against the US by Iranian sponsored militants have stopped. Clearly Iran is not a threat. Finally, Iran will become a bigger threat if we do take military action. According to analysts, the United States would have to take out around 400 targets to dismantle the Iranian nuclear program. The article later reads all salvageable remnants of the strike would become the Iranian nuclear program. Then, it is reported that Iran will most likely make a huge investment in their nuclear program as Iraq did in response to the Osirak incident. According to the San Francisco Chronicle as a result of the Osirak incident, Iraq invested 2500% of what they had been previously investing in their nuclear program. If people are already worried about Iran's nuclear program, think of the panic when Iran invests billions into a nuclear weapons program. Additionally, Iran has a strengthening alliance with China who the US cannot upset. Currently China and Iran are making billion dollar oil deals. If we use military action against Iran we would greatly hurt our relationship with China. Furthermore, a Newsweek article dated 4 December, 2007 quoted an Iranian official stating, "We don't see a strategic need for nuclear weapons right now. That would all change of course if we were attacked." Finally I would like to remind the judge that Iran is a leading member of the Non-Aligned Nations. A strike on Iran could mean a joint action by the Non-Aligned Nations which consists of 118 members and is led by Fidel Castro. Some key members include Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, and China. Therefore Iran would be a threat if we attacked them. In summation my partner and I urge a con ballot for this resolution based on our three contentions; this resolution is duplicitous, Iran is not a threat, and Iran would be a threat if we took military action.