Hello all. I hope your work on the final paper is going well. Below is the Press TV clip I showed you guys in class. I would like you to react to the different arguments made in the piece. Do you agree or disagree with the slant of the report?
-Amir
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16 comments:
Of course, this news piece is a direct mouthpiece of the Iranian government, but most of the news outlets these days have shirked their commitment to even a glossy veneer of objectivity. This is a short clip, but even after learning more in class I am sympathetic to the Iranian argument. Whether or not I think it is in the world's interest for any country to have a nuclear bomb, does not change the fact that it is advantageous for Iran to get the bomb, no matter how it might affect the equilibrium of the region. But, I get ahead of myself. This holiday celebrates the acquisition of a peaceful, domestic nuclear power source. I actually side with the Iranians that it is unfair for the West to decide who is trustworthy enough to have the technology. The Chinese and Russians are helping to fund the program, whether simply out of economic interests I don't know, but they definitely aren't pandering to Western demands for sanctions and postponing enriching uranium there, and neither should Iran. Both U.S. presidential candidates talked about how nuclear power fits in to a more independent U.S. energy scheme, but apparently other countries have to do without because we did it first and no one should play with our toys. Unless we sell our old toys to help proxies destroy each other. The thing I worry about is having nuclear testing plants under civilian populations. How safe is that? Has the Iranian government discussed what they would do with nuclear waste when they got that far?
I think the final words of the reporter were both really cheesy and ridiculous. He said that, “Many assumed that might is right. But now the world is waking up to this reality that right is right.” What the hell is that supposed to mean. Is he talking about right in terms of the right or ability to do something or is he using right to mean correct? I don't know, I just think it is really bizarre. I also think that having a holiday to celebrate nuclear power is kind of weird. Of course, I wouldn't mind eating some yellow cake once a year. I wonder if nuclear power is as big of a deal to the average Iranian citizen as I have been lead to believe. I also wonder how much money the government invests in researching nuclear power. So why is the US so afraid of Iran developing nuclear weapons. I think that the United States stated reason is the honest reason. The US wants to prevent a nuclear arms race that would enhance the possibility of conflict. Yes yes the US is being pushy and patronizing but I think the intentions are good – if that matters.
The video was obviously extremely biased since it was produced by the iranian government. I think that Iran has every right to produce nuclear energy but the problem is is that its hard to really know if they will use it for weapons because even though they say its just for energy, the uranium they have enriched can be used for nuclear power. I do agree with the slant of the report however because they simply said they have the right to produce nuclear energy which is true. And as well it is obvious that Iran will never give up there fight for nuclear energy so it is stupid for the rest of the world to be putting sanctions on them when that obviously isn't working. I think that the world should now say its okay for them to have it but to just keep a close eye on them and try and steer the Iranian government in the right direction.
Sure this piece is pro-Iranian. The reporter clearly speaks about April 8th as a holiday and how everyone in the country rejoices. The reports makes arguments towards the west, which is not really clear, but it does show a picture of a representative from the United Kingdom. The report questions the power and ethics of the west which is very typical of a pro-Ahmadinejad report. I believe that this report further puts more pressure on the president of Iran than it should. Perhaps the supreme ruler needs someone to blame and it really seems that the president is always the one to take the blame. Although, when I think about it. I cannot judge this report based on what it states. Nuclear Energy is very important to the Iranian Government and hopefully will become a very liable resource in the future. With regards to the holiday, distinguishing it from others is not necessary, its obviously important to the people so why not celebrate it.
I do not agree or disagree with the slant of the report: it says exactly what Iran has always said in regards to its nuclear program. Its bias is exclusionary--it simply does not present the US/UN viewpoint--not distortionary--the biggest 'bias' of the report is the reporter's ending quip ("right means right). Than said, any real account--even if biased--of the disagreement over Iran's nuclear program would include both the US and the UN as well as Iran using the program as a bargaining chip in negotiations. The issue if of course what precautions the UN requires, what independence Iran wants, and whether negations can move forward. A big issue not addressed here is the type of nuclear plants that Iran wishes to run which could determine the degree of uranium enrichment they would be "allowed" to have. Personally I am hopeful that negotiations can move forward. Although Iran has enough uranium to build a bomb, it isn't weapons grade yet which is an important point I expected this Iranian broadcast to make. Concerns over nuclear weapons aside, as for Iran's celebration of their nuclear program, celebrate away. Given sanctions since 1979 it is an impressive scientific achievement.
I agree as well with some comments. Being raised up in Iran, I fear the Iranian government having nuclear bomb, but I I think it is their right to have a nuclear power plant. Matter of fact, I'm at least proud that they have made a little sceintific and technological improvement. One thing that is being missed in this whole argument is what someone like McNamara says: "sympathize with you enemy." U.S. doesn't see the fact that Iran is not stable enough and people are deeply disappointed with the government and the Aytollahs are using the nuclear power right to rally around the flag and distract the mass crowd from what is actually going on in the country. This trick has been used every year as I remember. If U.S. officials push more, then they enforce the rally around the flag phenomena in Iran
Saying how often the state funded Iranian news network strikes an objective, not “balanced” stance, is difficult to speak on without seeing their coverage as a whole. This coverage of the Iranian nuclear program seems reasoned and well measured, especially in the way it exhibits the Iranian project as a celebration of a peoples right to independence and full sovereignty, since an Iran without control of its future is an Iran who’s future is not in its own hands. Compare this to the movement within America, at least stated, that the country should seek energy independence. Another country saying to the United States that they could not develop nuclear power because it would use the technology to bomb another country when all of the evidence suggests that its intention is peaceful. As far as I can see there needs to be a solution where Iran gets its reactors. This of course needs to be done in a manner that does not get Israel involved in a bombing campaign. Perhaps the Iran will put some positive influence in with Hezbollah and in Iraq and even Afghanistan.
Saying how often the state funded Iranian news network strikes an objective, not “balanced” stance, is difficult to speak on without seeing their coverage as a whole. This coverage of the Iranian nuclear program seems reasoned and well measured, especially in the way it exhibits the Iranian project as a celebration of a peoples right to independence and full sovereignty, since an Iran without control of its future is an Iran who’s future is not in its own hands. Compare this to the movement within America, at least stated, that the country should seek energy independence. Another country saying to the United States that they could not develop nuclear power because it would use the technology to bomb another country when all of the evidence suggests that its intention is peaceful. As far as I can see there needs to be a solution where Iran gets its reactors. This of course needs to be done in a manner that does not get Israel involved in a bombing campaign. Perhaps the Iran will put some positive influence in with Hezbollah and in Iraq and even Afghanistan.
Saying how often the state funded Iranian news network strikes an objective, not “balanced” stance, is difficult to speak on without seeing their coverage as a whole. This coverage of the Iranian nuclear program seems reasoned and well measured, especially in the way it exhibits the Iranian project as a celebration of a peoples right to independence and full sovereignty, since an Iran without control of its future is an Iran who’s future is not in its own hands. Compare this to the movement within America, at least stated, that the country should seek energy independence. Another country saying to the United States that they could not develop nuclear power because it would use the technology to bomb another country when all of the evidence suggests that its intention is peaceful. As far as I can see there needs to be a solution where Iran gets its reactors. This of course needs to be done in a manner that does not get Israel involved in a bombing campaign. Perhaps the Iran will put some positive influence in with Hezbollah and in Iraq and even Afghanistan.
I think I have to agree with the slant of the argument. Reactors and bombs are very different things. I'm not sure the technology is something that can be taken from them even if we wanted to and the construction of reactors looks quite different from the construction of bombs, so the world can see what they're doing. If they really wanted to build a bomb and they had the means to do it, they could probably do it secretly but instead they choose to have a national holiday devoted to nuclear technology. That seems fair enough. Also considering we were the ones to drop the a-bomb, it seems odd that we should have a say in who can develop nuclear technology at all. So it's fine for us to develop and use as weapons but Iran can't have nuclear power for energy? That doesn't seem right.
To add to this redundancy, yes, I believe it is in favor of the Iranian government. Afterall,it begins with a celebration for nuclear power. I agree with the advancements towards nuclear energy/power. However, I remotely question particular motives when Iran feels the need to photo shop pictures relating to their advancements. Ultimately, I think that nuclear weapon advancements is in Iran best interest since they are surrounded by countries who have nuclear weapons. They have the right without any U.S. intervention to further these advancements if other countries can too.
This news clip is very biased by the Iranian government, but even so I still agree with some of the arguments that it made. I do not think the U.S. should have the authority, or assume the authority, to tell which countries are allowed to use nuclear energy. If countries want to change to nuclear energy, they have every right to do so.
That being said, I do understand why the U.S. government might be suspicious. I know that our past relationship with Iran has caused hostility between the two countries, but I feel that if Iran were seriuos about using the new technology they should be completely upfront and detailed with plans to the world community. Every country knows hat nuclear energy could be potentially used for, so that security of being openly honest would do nothing but benefit them in their efforts to go nuclear.
I think its pretty weird that there is a national nuclear energy day in Iran. It seems like it goes up there with the invention of a computer or something, but we don't have a day for that...
Bottom line, Iran has the right to create nuclear energy for peaceful uses and should not have to feel threatened by the U.S. and west. But, I think they should be more open to communicating with the U.S. about it so they don't do anything that could cause harm and create problems with either neighboring countries, the U.S., or both. Having such intense power in a country that is trying to become a superpower within its region needs to be checked on continuously.
The clip presents a slant in favor of the Iranian government. I agree with most of the things that have been said in earlier posts.
I feel that there is no irrefutable evidence that Iran's nuclear program is aimed toward developing nuclear weapons. While I am not an analyst or an expert, my general impression is that Iran is actually much farther from that stage in nuclear technology than so many media sources are suggesting. Iran still does not have any weapons-grade uranium and still lacks ballistic missile technology. Both of these are essential to developing nuclear warheads, and Iran's nuclear program does not seem to have taken these steps.
This is not to say that Iran probably does not intend to acquire nuclear weapons. In fact, I believe that the Iranian government does want to develop them. But I think that any aggressive/restrictive diplomacy should be reserved until there is clear evidence toward such a conclusion.
I also do not think that, should Iran possess nuclear weapons, that it would pose a significant threat to the stability of the region. It seems that most nations with nuclear weapons almost never use them for fear of the near-guaranteed self-destruction that would result. So I am skeptical of the claims that Iran would use nuclear weapons as "leverage" to put pressure on states that it perceives to be a threat.
This TV report is evidence of the fact that the development of nuclear technology has become a part of Iran's national identity. Since the Coup of 1953, Iran has held strong anti-American sentiments that have only fomented over the past 56 years. The idea that America is opposed to Iran developing nuclear technology only serves to incite further nationalistic pride and support for it because it is understood to be resisting American and Western imperialism.
If I lived in Iran, I would feel justified in my actions. The “right is right” comment, while grammatically questionable, reflects that Iranians—or at least the Iranian government that is putting on this newscast—believe that they have the right to develop these technologies. Thus, because they have the right, it is the right thing to do.
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