U.S. decides other countries' energy needs

In a press briefing yesterday:

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I would say that these reports that we are seeing of Iran enriching uranium and possessing more advanced centrifuge designs raise serious concerns. We have always stated our belief that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon program under the cover of pursuing nuclear power for peaceful reasons. A country with the vast oil and gas resources of Iran has no legitimate need for nuclear energy. And full confidence about Iran's nuclear program requires Iran to abandon uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities.

Regardless of the issue of whether Iran is building nuclear weapons, that arrogance that we can decide what their "legitimate" energy needs are is indicative of the attitude that the U.S. can determine and interfere in every aspect of any other sovereign nation's affairs.

Maybe Iran doesn't want to follow the myopic and destructive energy program that we have pursued for decades and continue to pursue. Maybe Iran would like to be less dependent upon oil as their major source of energy. Maybe Iran would like to export their oil to oil-dependent countries and use another form of energy in their own - maybe that's more profitable. Whatever. As I've said before, I am certainly not in favor of nuclear powered energy as it exists now, but it is an alternative to oil, and one in which we ourselves have invested heavily. To categorically state that another country has no "legitimate" reason for exploring nuclear energy is simply elite imperial megolomania. The U.S. in spades.

I don't know why they hate us.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.