You know, 30 minutes is not a lot of time to convince the world that you’re right, but that’s what Benjamin Netanyahu did in his United Nations address.
Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, spoke eloquently and forcefully on the subject of Iran and nuclear weapons, using every second on the podium to his advantage.
During his speech, Netanyahu made his distaste and disgust for Iran more obvious and spoke of a “red line” that the world must set in order to stop Iran from building a supposed nuclear weapon.
Using a crude drawing that split a bomb into three parts, Netanyahu told the General Assembly of how once Iran reaches a critical point of enriching uranium, there will be no turning back.
Netanyahu’s decision to speak boldly on such a pressing issue should inspire the otherwise passive rest of the world to help prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon.
I’m not opposed to responsible countries developing more nuclear weapons, like France, India and Russia.
I am opposed to countries like Iran though, where separation of church and state does not exist, from obtaining such devices.
Like Netanyahu, I acknowledge that the UN’s decision to put economic sanctions on Iran some months ago was brilliant.
Iran’s economy has been drastically weakened. Yet, its nuclear program still survives.
There will come a time in the not-too-distant future when the United States and the rest of the world will have to give Iran an ultimatum: give up on nuclear weapons or risk war.
The thought of having to forcefully stop Iran from developing nuclear technologies is not a positive one.
Iran, a country whose leader believes the Holocaust never occurred, would not likely react well to a group of nations putting a proverbial gun to its head.
In agreement with Netanyahu, I believe that action should start now to avoid a confrontation with a nuclear-armed Iran later.
What to do then with Iran?
There exist only a limited number of options.
Like Netanyahu so eloquently spoke about, I hope this issue can be resolved through diplomacy.
Netanyahu, an outspoken critic of Iran’s government and its religious leaders, is someone whom I have trust in.
Netanyahu’s decision to not let Israel be bullied around by other nations in the Middle East is one that I truly respect.
Until the conflict is resolved, there is something that the United States can learn from Netanyahu and Israel.
If you are passionate about something, come out in the open and say it, even if it offends the rest of the world.
Shane Newell is a sophomore journalism major and an assistant city editor for the Daily 49er.