The Problem of Iran (Were You the President)
Channel: The Philosophical Angle
Date: 2012-01-13

The Problem of Iran (Were You The President)

As everybody knows Iran is developing nuclear weapons, but, of course, many countries throughout the world have nuclear weapons.  However, Iran presents a problem. It combines this development  of  a nuclear arsenal with aggressive, vitriolic statements about Israel, the U.S., and the free world.  Further, it is a totalitarian theocracy.  

The Philosophical Angle will state that demonstrably non-democratic, totalitarian regimes have a greater penchant to generate atrocities both within their societies and without.  

History is full of examples.  Just in the 20th century, there were Stalin, Mao, Hitler, Pol Pot, among others.  Of course, democratic states have also committed cruel acts of aggression but they are minuscule when compared to those of the non-democratic societies. 

Hence, a concern among many nations throughout the world arises in that it would be a dangerous situation to permit Iran to become a nuclear state.

Should we allow it?  Were you the president what would you do? 

The Philosophical Angle advocates the following:

It is an ethical necessity to dismantle Iran's nuclear program, and it is also ethically requisite to help the Iranian people overturn the present regime giving its citizenry a chance to create a democratic republic.  

What?... you say!  How could we say that it is an ethical necessity?

Let's go to our definition of ethics: 

- Ethics is the appropriate dispensation of respect.  For example, when you give your parents their due respect, you are being ethical to your parents. 

We are respectful to others because we consider them important.   If somebody is important, it is because we want to cooperate with them to effect a result; that is, to produce something.  We produce things and actions (that is, products & services) in order to bring ourselves up, away from misery. 

And bringing ourselves up, away from misery is the essence of that which is good. 

Okay, that said, why is it an ethical necessity to cause a cessation of Iran's nuclear program?

Here's why:

- Iran is not a cooperative member with the U.S. nor any of its democratic republic allies.  

- Iran makes vitriolic, imprecatory statements towards the U.S., and its allies which include countries that are neighbors of Iran. 

- Iran exhibits aggressive, insulting actions, such as, the attempted assassination of the Saudi statesman on U.S. soil. 

- Clearly, Iran does not extend the appropriate amount of respect to the international community; it remains unethical outwardly.

But inwardly also, Iran is unethical in its treatment of its citizenry, and this is due to its totalitarian nature which espouses a specific ideology intolerant of other points of view, whether it be from internal or external sources. 

In conclusion, there are no cooperative agreements in place with Iran, and Iran is unethical to its citizenry, as well as to the outside world.  As such, Iran has no legitimate government in place. 

Thus, there are no ethical considerations in place to prohibit the U.S. from causing a cessation to Iran's nuclear program.

As we are free to choose whether to stop the Iran nuclear program, the Philosophical Angle, were we the president, would consult our military leaders and then its allies in the Iran theater.   Then the U.S., along with its allies - should they wish to join us - may use the necessary force to cause a cessation of the Iranian nuclear program.