The Definition of Hypocrisy

Having surfed to the Guardian Unlimited site just minutes ago, I was struck with the placement of two articles. The first entitled "Iran Mocks EU Nuclear Offer" was followed by one called "Blair Presses the Nuclear Button". The latter outlined British Prime Minister Tony Blair's plan to embrace nuclear power as his country's primary replacement for hydrocarbons in a peak oil world. The former outlines the Iranian response to an EU offer to build a light water reactor for Iran so Iran could have a nuclear program but not have access to enriched nuclear materials.

What a joke? How do the British even think that they have a leg to stand on with Iran? And just referring to the Iranians as evil and hoping that covers it isn't good enough. If the British can have nuclear power (and lots of it according to Mr. Blair's plans), then justifiably so can the Iranians; are they not facing the same energy constraints as the British? At the risk of sounding like a broken record, let's not forget that of the nine known nuclear states on earth, Britain is one. They have nuclear weapons right now! Iran may get them some day but the British have them on alert as I type, ready to launch on order.

As an alternative, why not embrace conservation, simplicity and renewable energy instead of massive, expensive nuclear power stations? At the same time, Mr. Blair could announce that he's scrapping his nuclear warheads and not planning to update the Trident system; a full nuclear disarmament as Britain is pledged to undertake under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That would give Britain the leg they need to stand on when talking with Iran. For now, don't waste my time.