Sir, – Following January 6th, 2021, many decried the nadir of American democracy. Surely the office of the presidency could not be further soiled and demeaned?
In the past week, the 47th president has not only issued a profane, expletive-ridden statement threatening war crimes against civilian infrastructure, but has followed up by showing textbook intent of genocide, stating that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back“.
Some weeks ago, he called for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian regime and for its citizenry to rise up against it. Now, he claims a victory as he calls the regime’s 10-point plan a “workable basis” for negotiations – a plan that apparently allows Iran to charge about $2 million per tanker for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the removal of all US bases across the Middle East and a recognition of Iran’s right to enrich uranium. All of these are a reversal of terms from the start of the war, which has resolved none of the underlying issues around the murderous yet resilient regime in Tehran, and leaves their nuclear materials in situ.
Under Barack Obama’s imperfect deal, which Trump tore up in 2018, Iran agreed to move 97 per cent of its nuclear material out of the country. If anything less than this emerges from the negotiations, then the thousands of deaths and billions of dollars expended over the past six weeks can be counted as an utter failure.
RM Block
This has been one of the most shameful episodes in American history. The reputation of the US has been ruined. Russia and Putin have been enriched and empowered. Mark Carney’s “rupture” in international relations is laid apparent. The European Union must act swiftly and decisively to build strategic autonomy. The US under the current regime is no longer a reliable, serious or even desirable partner. – Yours, etc,
GERRY ARTHURS,
Lecturer in international relations and politics,
South East Technological University,
Waterford.
