Turbulent times may lie ahead for the world

By Jan Dolcater

    The recent speech by Benjamin Netanyahu places a very definitive focus on one of the most serious problems that our country and the free world face today. It is my fervent hope that the American people are awakened to the danger that confronts us, if Iran now, or in a few years, has nuclear bomb capability.

    Our leadership must not be allowed to weaken its resolve by allowing any concessions to this primary source of terrorism.
    However, it appears that the current negotiations by Secretary of State Kerry and the Obama administration are being far too conciliatory with the Iranian leadership by not demanding the reduction in the number of centrifuges, or any reduction of their enriched uranium and a policy that in a period of 10 short years which would give this rogue nation a unrestricted basis for becoming nuclear.
    The rationale for this approach by the Obama administration has been that unless we take this avenue, either one of two things would occur. Without a conciliatory approach the mullahs would simply walk away from the talks and we would have few, if any options, or that the only other course would be armed conflict between our countries.
    When negotiating with an opponent and you are negotiating from a position of strength, it is absurd to proceed with a conciliatory manner.
    You instead should deal with a firm and unyielding stance. It is widely believed that the only reason that Iran was willing to come to the negotiating table was that our sanctions were causing them significant economic stress. Iran, like Russia and Venezuela and other countries that depend heavily on oil revenues are all under significant strain due to the decline in oil prices and they need revenue to meet the needs of their citizens and their economies as a whole.
    I believe, as do members of Congress on both sides of the political aisle, that the most effective action for our country to do should be to state, that unless they agree to meet our demands for the reduction of centrifuges, reductions of enriched uranium and no time line for unrestrained restrictions on nuclear expansion and also definitive restraints placed on their export of terrorism, that still more stringent sanctions should be put into place.        It should also made crystal clear that any long-term delay in not agreeing to the terms we demand are not met, that all options, including military ones will be on the table.
    It may well be that the initial response by Iran will be to break off talks in a hostile manner, but I believe they will return, when their economy goes over the cliff. The primary reason that could change their mind about our resolve is for Kerry and Obama to continue to demonstrate a lack of strength and commitment in any of the negotiations. Peace through strength is attainable, but this requires commitment and not a perception of weakness.
    Obama clings to the naïve belief, that you can negotiate in good faith with those that hate us. Do not forget the chants that have come from their orchestrated mobs of Death to America and calling us the great Satan.
    Netanyahu was correct when he stated that his country would be faced with a question of survival, if Iran became nuclear. Our country, however, needs to be aware that Iran in addition to their quest for nuclear capability also possesses long-range ballistic missiles, which could reach our shores.
    It should also be clearly understood that this Islamic republic wants to expand their theology not just throughout the Middle East, but throughout the world.
    There is no doubt, that unless this aggressor nation is not throttled now with a firm hand by our leadership and dealt with in unyielding terms, that the consequences may well be the foundation for World War III or perhaps even worse.
    Jan Dolcater of Rockport is a member of a group of concerned Midcoast citizens who meet to discuss issues of public interest.