by Elizabeth M Young

Created on: August 14, 2009   Last Updated: October 01, 2009

We do not do any good for our international reputation or our role as the leading Democracy in the world by establishing any diplomatic relations with countries that have a history of hostile intent toward our nation.

With Iran, we are reminded of a host of hostile and deadly actions toward us by a government system that is as far from a Democracy as can be. Violent suppression of the will of the people, voting irregularities, human rights abuses, and major interference with our goals in the Middle East are sufficient reasons for forgetting about establishing diplomatic relations with Iran.

The recent revelations that Iran has been secretly and illegally building militarized nuclear weapons facilities further bolsters support for actions that are quite the opposite of attempts to establish friendly relations.

Iran's suspected support of Hezbollah and other entities which have gained disruptive and hostile footholds in Gaza, Lebanon, and other hot spots has created even more hostility within and outside of America.

As a theocracy, Iran is ruled by an elected religious authority (Ali Khamenei) who has ultimate and supreme power over all affairs of state, be they secular or religious. Although the Iranian constitution names him "leader", he is, in actuality the Supreme Leader. Ali Khamenei serves at the will of the "Assembly of Experts" which is the only authority that may elect or dismiss him. While the form of Iran's government might seem bizarre to us, this has not always been the sole reason for denying diplomatic relations. The human rights performance of a country, however, is a far more compelling force in ceasing diplomatic ties. And the exercise of ultimate religious authority is too often the cause of horrific human rights abuses.

We have not even begun to enter an age of civility that will allow diplomatic discussions of the future of relationships between our two countries. Iran has supported, trained and funded anti-occupation militias in Iraq. Iran has provided rocket propelled grenades and Katyusha rockets. Iran has sent intelligence operatives disguised as religious students and scholars to the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.

These are not the actions of a nation which deserves more than entry level talks to establish communications. The Coalition forces death toll from Iranian meddling in Iraq is impossible to add up, and this makes Iran a hostile diplomatic entity which is clearly in the territory of being an enemy.

It is said that power corrupts, and that absolute power corrupts absolutely. The corruption of power , religious and secular, overwhelms and extends to all aspects of life in Iran. We cannot make friends with that if we are to insist that our way of governing is the best way.

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth M Young.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.