Just thought I would share my meagre effort to work against a US invasion of Iran, and the talk of using "tactical" nuclear weapons.
I honestly didn't do a lot of research on this, so I hope my facts are truthy enough.
See below for my email to Canadian (Conservative) Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Minister of Foreign Affairs (like Sec-State) Peter MacKay and Minister of National Defence (yes, we spell it with a 'c') O'Connor.
Dear Misters Harper, O'Connor and Mackay,
Sirs, as an avid (Canadian) follower of US politics, I am writing to express my concern about the increasingly aggressive rhetoric between the United States and Iran. I strongly urge that Canada not become entangled in any US war with Iran. Further, that Canada, early on, takes a strong position against the necessity of any such war, sooner rather than later. Finally, that Canada condemn the use (and even the threat of use) of so-called "tactical" nuclear weapons as violations of the Geneva Conventions and specifically as "war-crimes."
Some elements of the US government believe that Iran is building Nuclear weapons. Due to the inflammatory and anti-Semitic statements of the current Iranian President, some fear these weapons will be used against Israel. These fears are inflated and currently unfounded.
The Iranian President is not a powerful figure in Iranian foreign policy, and he is not the commander of Iran's military forces, nor would he have control over a nuclear arsenal, even if Iran had one. His holocaust denial and anti-Semitism is certainly despicable, but these are not cause for alarm nor proof that Iran is hell-bent on destroying Israel at its first opportunity. Iran has never invaded any of its neighbours, and though its government is not ideal to our judgement on many accounts (not least treatment of women), they have behaved in a largely rational way on the world stage. Iran's more dangerous impulses can be dealt with peacefully using diplomacy.
Further, the best intelligence of the UN and the IAEA put Iran at least 10 years away from the development of nuclear weapons. That assumes they are working diligently to build them, which is far from clear. In fact, talk of invasion or use of "tactical" nuclear weapons on Iran by US officials can only serve to increase the likelihood Iran will seek to build a nuclear weapon. After all, if they believe the US will invade and nuke them no matter what they do, they may as well. As such, there is no "crisis" point where the US must act now, or soon to prevent a catastrophe. We can monitor the situation in the coming years and reevaluate our course of action in future. War must always be a last resort, and with 10 years of grace - it clearly is not our last option now.
I encourage you, and your government to make public statements clarifying the facts about Iran early and often to ensure that irrational fears do not take hold in Canada. Further, to make an early diplomatic statement (either in the UN, or directly to the US) against any military actions against Iran, particularly nuclear in nature. Making this statement early will have less cost to our invaluable US relations as we would not be "coming out against" the US - since they have taken no formal position as yet (though I fear they will). If we go on record against such a war (doing so without chastising the US, merely stating our position) we certainly make it (a bit) easier for cooler heads to prevail in the US and abroad. Nip it in the bud, as it were.
Last, on the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons. The world, having seen the effects of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Chernobyl and even the awful after-effects of depleted uranium ammunition, cannot afford to allow small-scale battlefield level nuclear devices to be used. Aside from the long-term devastating health and environmental impacts of such weapons, they serve to diminish the nuclear taboo that has kept such devices unused since 1945. However valuable they may be to a battlefield commander in winning a conflict and preserving the lives of his troops (a fact which appeals to this former Army-Reserve Infantry Sergeant) - the cost is simply too high.
As a Conservative government, my hope is that your properly phrased messages will carry more weight in Washington among Republicans, and particularly President Bush. I do not claim we as a nation can make or break plans to invade Iran (if such truly exist, as I fear) but every bit counts. A "wait-and-see" approach is unwarranted, as it is abundantly clear to those looking, that the US Administration was set on war with Iraq regardless of the ultimate weakness of the case for that war. Canada rightly stayed out of that conflict, but did little to prevent it from happening - probably because we (rightly) gave the US President the benefit of the doubt. He regrettably no longer deserves that benefit.
Sincerely,
(Scientician's real name etc etc)
I also copied my MP who is an opposition member of the New Democratic Party. Obviously I'm not concerned about their stance on the war, but if it prompts even so much as a question to the government during question period, my letter will have succeeded beyond my expectations.