[StBernard] Iran

[Westley Annis]

Dear Fellow American,

           As 2009 comes to a close, the greatest threat to the world
remains the Government of Iran's obsession with acquiring nuclear weapons.
In fact, the world's chief state sponsor of terrorism may be just months
away from becoming a nuclear power. 

           On October 6, satellite imagery detected construction activity at
Iran's underground nuclear site near Qom. The public disclosure of the site
last September galvanized international pressure on Iran to desist in its
reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons and negotiate in good faith a peaceful
outcome to the crisis. 

Alert <http://uaninews.net/go.php/621825/18550328/4006899>
Alert <http://uaninews.net/go.php/621825/18550328/4006830>  

           On November 27, the board of the International Atomic Energy
Agency [IAEA] passed a resolution, with the support of Russia and China,
censuring Iran for its continued refusal to open its nuclear program to
international inspection as required under the terms of the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT]. Former IAEA Director - General Mohamed
ElBaradei declared that diplomatic efforts to secure Iran's cooperation had
reached "a dead end." 

           Three days later, the Government of Iran responded to the
international community's unanimous condemnation by threatening to build ten
new uranium enrichment facilities and withdraw from the NPT. 

 <http://uaninews.net/go.php/621825/18550328/4097404> 

           Iran's leaders have become international outlaws whose nuclear
ambitions, violent extremism, support for terrorism and disdain for the
norms of international behavior poses a clear and present danger to the
peace and stability of the world and the security of the United States and
its allies. 

           The Government of Iran routinely and recklessly disregards its
treaty obligations, ignores international law, flouts five UN Security
Council resolutions and snubs world opinion. This shameless defiance comes
despite intensified international efforts to negotiate a solution, the offer
of better relations with the West, broad international support for a United
Nations plan which would allow Iran to ship much of its enriched uranium
abroad, a growing international consensus for economic sanctions on Iran,
and the courageous opposition of the Iranian people to the violent and
tyrannical regime that oppresses them. 

           Yet Iran's leaders persist in defying the world's just demands.
They have become international outlaws whose nuclear ambitions, violent
extremism, support for terrorism and disdain for the norms of international
behavior poses a clear and present danger to the peace and stability of the
world and the security of the United States and its allies.

           If Iran acquires nuclear weapons, the world will face a grim and
uncertain future. Iran will be emboldened to threaten the independence of
its neighbors. Other nations will scramble to acquire their own nuclear
arsenals. Terrorists will be encouraged in their pursuit of weapons of mass
destruction. In short, a nuclear Iran is and must remain unacceptable to the
international community. 

           United Against a Nuclear Iran [UANI] was established to increase
public awareness of Iran's progress toward acquiring nuclear weapons
capability and focus public attention on the grave and mounting threat it
poses. UANI is leading a national campaign to discourage American businesses
from providing commercial assistance to Iran's Government, which could be
construed as support for the legitimacy of the radical regime and tolerance
of its nuclear ambitions. 

Sincerely, 

Jeb Bush
Former Governor of Florida