Letter to the editor

Every time the United States and other concerned nations have advocated to the United Nations that sanctions be leveled at Iran to stop its acquistion of componets that could lead to the production of nuclear weapons, the Russians, along with the Chinese have balked. Only in recent months have they reluctently gone along with watered down slaps on the wrist that had little or no effect on Iranian intentions. The Iranians continue to insist that they are only trying to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but hardly anyone is buying that. Now, all of a sudden, Russia has made a complete about face and has joined the United States and others in turning up the heat and demanding heavier sanctions be leveled at the Iranians if they don't cease their activity. The question we need to ask is, why now? Do the Russians know something we don't know? After all, they have closer relations with Iran than we do and have been working side by side with them for months. It would seem that they too have become convinced that Iranian claims are bogus and that they are truly developing weapons grade materials that can be used in the manufacturing of nuclear bombs. A nuclear war in the middleast can mean horrible consequences to Russia as well as every other country in the area. This all may be conjecture on my part, but if the Russians are
suddenly so worried as to jump aboard the sanction train with us, we need to rev up our attention span to high alert.
George Morin
Auburn, Ga.