Iranian Duplicity Shouldn't Be Surprising

Iran is publicly professing its support for Iraq's stalemated political process while its military and intelligence services back outlawed militias and insurgent groups, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said Thursday.

At some point the world is going to have to recognize that Iran under the present leadership is not interested in coming to an understanding, at least not one that does not support their view. The Iranians know from recent world history the neither the UN or the EU has the stomach to take decisive action. The two bodies are so committed to diplomacy that they have abandoned consideration of any alternative. Even sanctions are loathsome to them, unfortunately not for the right reason.

The modern Moslem state is duplicitous by nature. A quick survey of 20th Century history reveals plenty of examples. The Saudis while financing Madras schools and Terrorist families has cultivated an reputation as a Western Ally. The Arab world in general paying lip service to the UN on numerous peace initiatives regarding Israel has never stopped calling for that state's destruction including several invasions. More recently there is the whole song and dance with Saddam Hussein and the UN inspections. Let's not forget Afghanistan and its convoluted religious liberty laws that have resulted in a trial of a convert who faces the death penalty.

So how is anyone going to expect otherwise with Iran. Their nuclear ambitions and support of insurgency in Iraq are clearly in their best interest so long as they can hold off their adversaries. With the record of the UN and EU this won't be difficult. They could develop a weapon and carve out a piece of Iraq and the two organizations would still be shaking treaties at them. The only option is the one the UN and EU fear more than any, regime change.