|
Marc2b -> RE: Iranian media: Iran downs US 'spy drone' (7/26/2011 1:45:04 PM)
|
quote:
Marc, while spying is quite common, having non-civilian aircraft enter one's airspace without permission is an invasion of sovereignty. Think of how most Americans would react if say, an Iranian drone were to invade the US airspace. You'd have at least a sizable fraction asking for them to be bombed into the Stone Ages. Why is it so difficult to imagine that Iranians too might take umbrage at something similar?
I have no difficulty imagining why the Iranians would take umbrage, that’s human nature. It is also human nature for people to take a “we’re the good guys, they’re the bad guys” double standard in such things. I fail to see why this surprises anybody.
quote:
Now, the US already has a bad reputation for effectively invading Pakistani sovereignty with drone attacks against suspected insurgents. While there is some data to suggest that there was tacit approval for this from the higher echelons of the Pakistani army, a rather common perception among non-Americans is that the US does not feel the need to adhere to international norms. This story of the Iranians shooting down an American drone over their territory simply reinforces that notion.
Of course we don’t feel a need to adhere to international norms. Neither does anyone else. Treaties, conventions, etc, are usually nothing more than something to pay lip service to.
quote:
You can ask why this is relevant. I've discussed previously in another thread why having Iran as an ally makes more sense from the perspective of realpolitik. And, given the state of the economy and the waning influence of the US (see the National Intelligence Council's Global Trends 2025 report), it's probably not a good idea to continue rubbing other nations the wrong way.
You’ll get no argument from me that Iran would make a great ally but it is not going to happen until they have something other than a theocracy for a government.
|
|
|
|
