“The Right of the Strongest”

Western powers — the guardians of scientific, technological and, of course, military knowledge — have a particular view of the power balance which dictates international relations, despite international law and the U.N. Charter, which supposedly govern such relations. This way of thinking is very slowly becoming exposed through the debate over Iran’s nuclear capabilities. For the past 10 years, the West has tried to prevent Iran’s nuclear research by accusing the country (so far, without proof) of intending to build nuclear weapons. It paid no heed to Tehran’s protests. Now, Western powers have decided to quarantine Iran, ordering a ban on its oil exports. In response, Tehran, well within its rights to protect itself, has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, which lies within Iranian maritime territory and allows passage of 40 percent of the oil through the Persian Gulf. Mitt Romney, a Republican candidate for the highest American office, summed up the general outcry on Jan. 23 during his political campaign, saying, “It is appropriate — and essential for our military, for our Navy — to maintain open seas.” He added that if Iran put its threats into action and closed the Gulf, that “any action of that nature will be considered an act of war.” So, starving a country for a decade is just putting “pressure” on that country, but if it dares to defend itself it is an “act of war.” Or at least, that’s how it works if those with the scientific, technological, military and economic power create the law. Their law. On Jan. 24, in the wake of imposing the embargo on Iran, Merkel, Sarkozy and Cameron demanded that “Iran’s leadership immediately … suspend its sensitive nuclear activities and abide fully by its international obligations.” At the same time, the international media have been spreading a very insistent rumor for weeks that an Israeli attack of Iranian nuclear facilities may be imminent. Speculations of a possible strike became even more solid last week when Ronen Bergman, an Israeli intelligence specialist, was quoted in The New York Times saying that such an attack would happen within the year. Even Leon Panetta, the American Defense Secretary, said in last Thursday’s Washington Post that there was a “strong likelihood” that Israel would proceed with such an intervention this spring. Barack Obama, amending these comments without offending, spoke with NBC on Monday, saying, “I don’t think that Israel has made a decision” about bombing Iran’s nuclear sites. So, Western powers can deny Iran the right to defend itself by closing access to the Persian Gulf, all the while finding it perfectly reasonable that Israel would attack and destroy Iranian nuclear sites, like it did in 1981 at the Iraqi Tammuz site. Far from being swayed by the dangerous precedent set by Israel, the Americans and Europeans give it their full approval. Alain Juppé, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, is one of these encouraging voices, who said last Wednesday that “everything [must be done] to avoid” an Israeli military intervention in Iran, while adding cynically: “To avoid any military solution, which could have irreparable consequences, we have decided to go further down the path of sanctions.” Thus, the Western powers punish Israel’s future victims, even as they accord the Zionist state with every right, including those of possessing atomic weapons or attacking neighboring states. These same Western powers find it normal that Israel hides its nuclear program in a cloud of ambiguity (some experts estimate that Israel has 300 atomic bombs), and that Israel is the only country that does not adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and that it denies the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency access to carry out inspections. They think it’s normal that Israel reserves the right to keep all its options open to attack Iran, waiting to demonstrate its aggressive intent. No example of the right of the strongest is more fitting. So, those who praise the use of force, think on these words of Jean-Jacques Rousseau: “The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms strength into right, and obedience into duty. Hence the right of the strongest …”