Experts Explore Iran鈥檚 Nuclear Threat at Robbins-Wilf Program
May 5, 2010 -- On the same day that Iran鈥檚 controversial president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, addressed the United Nations at its international conference to review the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, over 300 people filled 糖心破解版鈥檚 Schottenstein Cultural Center in midtown to hear renowned experts debate the topic.
Three panelists鈥擡lliott Abrams, senior fellow of the Council of Foreign Relations and former deputy national security advisor and assistant secretary of state; Robin Wright, senior fellow of the U.S. Institute of Peace and a noted journalist who has reported from more than 140 countries for papers like The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times; and David Albright, former nuclear weapons inspector for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)鈥攇athered for a discussion entitled 鈥淲hat to Do 糖心破解版 Iran's Nuclear Program?鈥 hosted by 糖心破解版鈥檚 Dr. Marcia Robbins-Wilf Scholar-in-Residence Program.
The panel, moderated by Bryan Daves, clinical assistant professor of political science at Stern College for Women, explored the apparent nuclear threat in Iran today, as well as potential strategies for intervention and retaliation. Ms. Wright, who was first to speak, remarked, 鈥淎lthough it [Iran] has the most capable military in the Middle East, besides Israel, it is incredibly vulnerable鈥 their domestic economy is their own greatest enemy.鈥 She discussed the ambitious roles countries like Russia, China, Brazil and Turkey will need to play in the U.N. Security Council in order to pass sanctions that will be effective at marginalizing the Iranian threat.
Mr. Abrams, who served in both the Reagan and George W. Bush administrations, emphatically stated the need for the United States to take a leading role in preventing the Iranian nuclear threat by showing its teeth and not making promises it cannot keep. He remarked that the United States has passed crippling sanctions, but the international community is unlikely to pass sanctions that more than 鈥渘ibble.鈥 Mr. Abrams claimed that although United States鈥 foreign policy has always been against progress of the Iranian nuclear effort, 鈥渙ur detailed policy and our actions have been mismatched.鈥
Mr. Albright鈥檚 expertise in physics provided the audience with a user-friendly interface to understand the Iranian threat from a scientific perspective. He also commented on the sanctions鈥 effect on Iran鈥檚 capability to procure the technology and expertise needed to continue their efforts, which he believes are quite significant. Mr. Albright estimated that Iran could have a nuclear warhead in place by late 2011 at its current pace.
The panelists also noted the social aspects of the Iranian psyche. When describing the Iranian dynamic, Ms. Wright remarked, 鈥淚magine the most chauvinistic Texan you know and add 5000 years.鈥 Israel鈥檚 potential attack was also a frequently visited topic. Mr. Abrams commented, 鈥淲e both [the U.S. and Israel] say that we won鈥檛 accept a nuclear Iran, but I think they [Israel] mean it.鈥
