11 Apr 2006

Will the US Strike Against Iran?
Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai, India
Supplied note: "The latest paper of the Institute For Topical Studies, A-2/3, Bharathi Dasan Colony, K.K.Nagar, Chennai---600078, India, on the above subject is now available at the web site of the South Asia Analysis Group (SAAG), New Delhi, at [the URL below] - br."
Extract: "The strongest possibility is that the US might make a conventional strike against [the uranium enrichment plant at - ed] Natanz, even if it won't destroy the facility. It would definitely cause considerable damage, delay the operationalisation of the plant by many years and convey a clear message to Teheran of the US determination to prevent its operationalisation. [...] QUESTION NO. 13: What would be the implications for India? A nuclear Iran should be of serious concern to India too. It could upset our assessments relating to our minimum credible nuclear deterrence and the required delivery capabilities. [...] At the same time, India cannot remain unaffected by the emergence and spread of international Shia terrorism, if that is one of the products of an American air strike. [...] India's national interests demand that it should not be seen as conniving at US plans for a regime change in Iran or for the destruction of Iran's enrichment capability. It is a very ticklish task for Indian diplomacy. - b. raman."
[The writer is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai - ed.]
URL http://www.saag.org/papers18/paper1765.html
Internet Archive (www.archive.org) [the paper was not archived at the time of this abstract. However, in a few weeks time it will be available at web.archive.org/web/*/www.saag.org]
Link reported by: B. Raman (corde--at--vsnl.com)
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