Iran as a nuclear power ?

IRAN seems to be on the road to causing a serious confrontation over Nuclear proliferation. I am very seriously mixed on this issue. If, and I stress IF, Iran only wants nuclear material generation capacity for power generation alone then they have a serious beef with the limitation being placed on them by the UN. On the other hand if the claims they only want to use power generation as a mask for nuclear weapons development are legitimate then the UN may very well have a reason for its meddling in Iran's affairs.

This is the ultimate example of the problem of the UN. Iran is challenging the limitations placed on it as a secondary member of the world power structure. The UN is rightly viewed as largely a rubber stamp for the security council's desires... The US in particular. I think it is time that the UN either be dissolved, or it needs to be revamped into a true world governing system. And if we are so interested in promoting democracies to the world then we need to create a true democratic world governing body. Rather than the farce of the UN system. Sure the UN 'leader' is elected. But the over ride veto of the super power nations makes it a joke. The UN general assembly is largely a dog and pony show that takes a back seat to the security council.

That said I certainly don't see the major powers abdicating their sovereignty to the UN any time soon. However I think Iran has a legitimate beef. France has the right to pursue greater and greater use of nuclear power generation... why not Iran? Obviously because we don't trust them. But here comes that wonderful old saw about innocent until proven guilty. We went around and around this debate before finally striking first against Iraq in a move largely predicated on the idea of do unto Saddam before Saddam could do unto us. Only that backfired and we found that Saddam was most likely not anywhere near ready to do anything unto us.

Is Iran different? Is the Sky REALLY falling this time? Is a wolf REALLY after the sheep? Is it just me or is anyone else feeling that this threat of a random Islamic fundamentalist created mushroom cloud story is starting to sound an awful lot like the Boogey man stories our parents scared us with as little kids? Have we gone from conversion to Christianity by the sword in the crusades... To political power transition at gun point? I don't know. There are strong arguments to be made against allowing Iran to develop into a nuclear power. Considering some of the commentary by its leadership it isn't all that crazy to have serious doubts about just what exactly it hopes to gain out of a more comprehensive nuclear infrastructure. And close examination of their fundamental beliefs can raise serious questions about how constrained they would feel in deploying nuclear weapons. But at the same time they are a sovereign nation. And just like we believe in 'We the People' and equal rights. Nations have certain inalienable rights with regards to decisions about what they will do. And if the UN wishes to pass sanctions against certain technologies and ban their use.... it would be best if such a ban were equally enforced on all nations. Else we find ourselves in a prejudiced system that is not interested in equality or democracy.. but one which is interested in dictating what works best and is most convenient for those already in power.