"The Carrot Trap"

I. Citation

“The Carrot Trap”

Jerusalem Post

March 12, 2008

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1205261315899&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

II. Summary

This article discusses the ongoing problem of nuclear weapons in Iran. Many countries and nations, including the United States have been pleading with Iran to stop the production of nuclear weapons there, giving them incentives for doing so. These incentives mainly have to do with trade, and in accepting these incentives, Iranians would gain increased trading rights, which would benefit them in their economic status. But, there’s one huge problem! Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has declined every offer made to him by several different countries. In attempt to make Iran want to take an offer and stop producing nuclear weapons, nations have cut off their trade (both imports and exports) with the country. This has not been a successful method though, because these nations have filled these restrictions with exceptions, showing that they will probably be willing to cave, and make even better offers to the Iranians than they already have. By doing this, these nations have only been providing Iran with the money to continue their production of nuclear weapons. Why would Iran accept a trade deal, when they know that they will soon receive one that will be even better than the previous? This is actually very smart of the Iranians, if you really think about it. The author of this article indicates that a country, whether or not it be the United States, needs to step up an make an offer that Iran can’t resist, so that the production of nuclear weapons there will stop.

III. Reactions

a) This article relates to the world history theme “impact of interaction among and within major societies”. This is because the article discusses the ongoing struggle between Iran and many other nations, including Russia and the United States, over the fact that outside nations believe that Iran needs to stop its process of production of nuclear weapons.

b) Iran’s producing nuclear weapons has had many nations, including the United States scared for a while now. These nations are trying to make Iran agree to stop the production of nuclear weapons, and in the process protect themselves. A goal of many nations has been to stop the production of nuclear weapons, therefore taking the power away from Iran, in a situation where they might use the nuclear weapons to harm the U.S., as well as any other nation.

c) This article was written by a woman named Evelyn Gordon, who currently is a resident of Jerusalem. Although we cannot say that she is an insider, since she does not live in Iran, Jerusalem is fairly close by, and she probably has a very good insight as to what is going on there, as well as relations of Iran with other nations.

d) This author’s views impact the way this article is presented because she strongly shows how she believes that an undeniable offer must be made, and that nuclear weapons must stop being produced, showing how she agrees with outside nations (nations not of Iran). She does not provide many details on how this ongoing cycle of offers and rejection might be of benefit to Iran, economically speaking.

e) The point of view of an actual person from Iran (not a person in political power, but in common society), is missing. I would want to hear from them to know how they felt about the nuclear weapons that were being produced in their nation, and to know if they even felt safe living there. The opinion of major groups in society like this should affect what decision their president makes on whether or not to continue the production of nuclear weapons.

f) I strongly am against the production of nuclear weapons, and would like to see countries such as the U.S. deal more firmly with Iran. The production of these weapons puts people in our own country at risk of one day being attacked by Iran with use of their weapons. This should make all nations want to stop their production, and protect their people. We need to take away the power from Iran!