Though you wouldn't know it from most media accounts, the U.S. achieved an important victory against nuclear-weapons-acquiring rogue states on March 13, when the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency resolved to criticize Iran for not fully disclosing the extent of its nuclear program

National Review, April 5, 2004

* Though you wouldn't know it from most media accounts, the U.S. achieved an important victory against nuclear-weapons-acquiring rogue states on March 13, when the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolved to criticize Iran for not fully disclosing the extent of its nuclear program.

The resolution came as a response to mounting evidence of concealed nuclear activity in Iran. Over the initial resistance of Tehran's allies and Europeans, Washington lobbied for a strongly worded condemnation and managed, with a few compromises, to get just that. After the resolution passed, Iran declared a halt to U.N. inspections, only to change its mind--or wise up--and agree to let inspectors return at the end of the month. Not only did the American-led effort unite members of the IAEA against Iranian deception (according to an American official, not even Iran's allies stood by its side in the end), but it just might have scared Iran into submission, too. At a time when critics of the Bush administration like to carp about American "unilateralism," victories like this remind us that the Bush people have worked, and continue to work, with other nations to make the world a safer place. If Iran goes the way of Libya, we'll know whom to thank.