ra-
heran is
e leading sponsor of inter-
national terrorism. Even President
Khatemi, a self-described moder-
ate, has endorsed'theers of Death
to America!' and referred to Israel
as a 'racist, terrorist regime," Baer
wrote.
He said the project is in viola-
tion of the 1996 Iran-Libya Sanc
tions Act. The U.S. waiver "sends
the wrong signal to Teheran and
even to our allies," Baer wrote.
In his letter, Baer pointed out
that the Argentine government
recently uncovered new evidence
that Iranian diplomats master-
minded the bombings of the Jew-
ish community center in 1994
and the Israeli Embassy in 1992
that killed 115 people.
"Madame Secretary, the U.S.
must not modify its position until.
Iran makes tan *ble changes in its
Nuclear Chill
India's nuclear tests may affect U.S. policy
on Iraq and Iran.
NECHEMIA MEYERS
Israel Correspondent
ehovot, Israel — "The Unit-
ed States reaction to the
Indian nuclear tests shows
that it has once again tried to
lock the barn door after the horses had
escaped," says Bar-Ilan University arms
control expert Gerald Steinberg.
However, Prof. Steinberg thinks that
the U.S. failure to act in time where
India is concerned may prompt the
United States to make more forceful
moves elsewhere — and perhaps help
mold the Middle East peace process.
The Bar-Ilan researcher, affiliated
with the university's Begin-Sadat Center
for Strategic Studies, takes a rather dim
view of the efforts so far made by the
United States to restrain the prolifera-
tion of weapons of mass destruction in
the Middle East.
"This is not only an Israeli percep-
tion, but is widely held in the United
States as well," he points out. He cites a
recent report of the Senate Subcommit-
tee on International Security, Prolifera-
tion and Federal Services, which con-
cludes with the following statement: "By
speaking loudly while carrying a small
stick, the Clinton Administration risks
its nonproliferation credibility and
America's security."
Steinberg uses Iraq as an example of
America's missteps in this arena. "Wash-
ington has inevitably prevaricated and
delayed, wasting time while weapons of
mass destruction programs went from
early research to advanced development
and testing," he says. "And in con-
fronting Iraq, the U.S. has consistently
sought the backing of an international
coalition — a strategy that has distinct
advantages, but with costs that are gen-
erally underestimated on the banks of
the Potomac.
"It is clear that whatever the U.S.
proposes, its policies will be strongly
resisted by France and Russia," he adds.
"And while this predictable ritual takes
place at every stage in the confrontation,
the rate of proliferation accelerates."
Steinberg does acknowledge that the
United States has demonstrated an abili-
ty to act powerfully against Iraq. "How-
ever," he adds, "it has not shown the
staying power necessary to deal with the
persistent threats posed by countries,
like Iraq, with a well entrenched
weapons of mass destruction infrastruc-
ture."
American policy can become more
pointed concerning Iran, Steinberg says.
What is needed is "massive pressure on
its Russian patron, which, since Pri-
makov became foreign minister, has
promoted the transfer of technology and
missiles, nuclear infrastructure and also
biological weapons to the Iranians," he
suggests.
"Perhaps," he speculates, "if the Rus-
sians are threatened with sanctions that
will effect their space program and their
access to U.S. markets and knowhow,
they will become more responsible in
this sphere."
Overall, in Steinberg's view, there is
clear link between what he terms
"Washington's weak response" to the
Iraqi and Iranian threats on the one
hand, and the Middle East peace
process on the other. Should Israel see
that the U.S. is doing more to coun-
teract these threats, "this would lessen
its regional security concerns and
thereby create more room for compro-
mise with respect to security issues and
the Palestinians," Prof. Steinberg con-
cludes. ❑
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