The threat of American military action in Iran is real, according to veteran New York Times correspondent Stephen Kinzer, who spoke to a small audience in Shriver Hall last night.
Hopkins is one of the last stops on a 22-city tour by Kinzer and a panel of other Middle East experts who are promoting a cooperative relationship with Iran.
Speaking before an enthusiastic crowd from the Hopkins community, Kinzer highlighted the reasons for his strong opposition against war on Iran.
"Many people in the U.S. currently assume that the U.S.-Iranian relations began and ended with the hostage crisis of 1979, but the hostage crisis didn't just come out of nowhere. It occurred for a reason," he said.
For Kinzer, the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979 was almost a direct consequence of America's previous intervention and support for the Shah, the Iranian dictator put in power by the United States in 1953.
The consequences of American intervention usually emit a much larger and influence on future politics, Kinzer argued.
The nationwide tour series is a response to President George W. Bush's singling out of Iran for its illegal nuclear proliferation programs in his most recent State of the Union address.
Suspicions about Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program have resurfaced in recent months, as the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted for further sanctions on the Middle Eastern nation this Monday.
At the same time, recent intelligence reports from the CIA and other U.N. member nations question the validity of such allegations.
Kinzer argued that peaceful relations with Iran would contribute to certain American interests, like providing a stabilizing force in the conflicted Middle Eastern region. The United States could work as partners with Iran to cooperatively extract Iran's crude oil and other rich natural resources.
As a last remark, Kinzer encouraged students to become more informed about relations with Iran and to become more informed about relations with Iran and to approach these issues through an objective, rational mentality.
He also encouraged audience members to sign a petition against war on Iran that will be submitted to Congress.
At the end of the seminar, one enthusiastic audience member sparked lively conversation with a question: "What right does the United States have to act on imperial grounds and invade any sovereign nation and to tell others how they should do business?"
The current imperialistic mentality of the United States, Kinzer said in response, is a result of policymakers who tried to fulfill their personal agendas while unconsciously ignoring the real interests of the nation.
Empire-building, Kinzer argued, "sometimes tends to generate a 'feel-good' moment for certain individuals."
"Our first talk with the Iranians will be hard. Negotiations are challenging, but peace can only be won with hard work and consistent efforts," SAIS graduate Peter Parsy said.
Although the attendance of Wednesday night's seminar could barely able fill the seats of Shriver Hall, most audience members listened to the speakers intently.
The tour is also promoting the House of Representatives Bill H.R. 5056, known as the Iran Diplomatic Accountability Act of 2008.
Known for his award-winning book All the Shah's Men, Kinzer was a correspondent for 20 years and has covered more than 50 countries around the world.
