With memories of the invasion of Iraq and its supposed weapons of mass destruction still fresh in Americans' minds, President of the Institute for Science and International Security David Albright came to Dartmouth on Thursday afternoon to discuss how Americans must confront other threats of nuclear proliferation with a post-Iraq mentality.
In introducing Albright, Director of the John Sloan Dickey Center Kenneth Yalowitz, cited Albright's personal experience in dealing with nuclear proliferation as the former ambassador to Georgia from 1998 to 2001.
"Every day we were getting reports of missing materials -- things that could be used in dirty bombs," Yalowitz said. "The end of the Cold War did not mean the end of the threat of nuclear proliferation."
While having lunch with students earlier in the day, Albright highlighted the contrast between an average American's impression of Iraq and the predominant sentiment in Washington. According to Albright, average Americans are still feeling the effects of Iraq and its "horrible stain on our history," whereas in Washington, most people do not want to think about it anymore.
Albright, who served in Iraq in 1996 as its first non-governmental weapons inspector, argued that Americans have to make a clear distinction between Iraq and present nuclear threats. He contrasted the Iraq "fiasco" with the current nuclear program situations in Iran and North Korea, where he believes there are potential grounds for concern.
He also emphasized that Americans must use the lessons of the Iraq war by avoiding similar actions in future cases of nuclear threat.
"It is incumbent upon us to make [war] truly the last option," Albright said.
Although the Bush Administration has claimed that Iran does possess nuclear weapons, Albright said he has not seen evidence proving the country has made a decision to build them. However, he added, Iran has displayed efforts to develop a strong nuclear weapons capability.
Albright informed the audience that Iran has had multiple violations of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, including the 2002 revelation of the existence of the Arak Heavy Water Plant and the Natanz Enrichment Plant. Despite these violations, Albright said, the Bush Administration has not developed a clear policy towards the nation, which has demanded promises that a regime change won't take place.
Unlike Iran, North Korea is already assumed to possess nuclear weapons, with hopes of increasing its capabilities. Although Washington is concerned with a nuclear arms state in North Korea, Albright argued that the Bush administration is unwilling to meet North Korea's dismantling price.
In regards to the previous presidential campaign, Albright pointed out that both candidates declared addressing nuclear proliferation would be a top priority if elected president. He agreed that it should remain a top priority for the government, but he also stressed that the United States government is demanding too much, too quickly and needs to employ confidence-building measures.
"I'm more hopeful that Bush won't have the stomach for more confrontation," he said, affirming that direct action, such as in Iraq, would not be an effective method in dealing with Iran and North Korea.
