Events are conspiring to precipitate a cataclysmic confrontation with Iran. Time has nearly expired for international sanctions — even the so-called tough and crippling ones — to keep Iran from acquiring deliverable nuclear weapons. The U.S. soon will not be able to avoid making a choice: Will it meet the challenge of the coming confrontation or shrink from it? Either way, there will be consequences for U.S. interests abroad and at home.
During last Friday’s prayers in Tehran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would continue its nuclear program. His remarks were broadcast on Iranian state television. In these remarks to worshippers, Khamenei reiterated Iran’s threat to wipe Israel — “a cancerous tumor that should be cut and will be cut” — off the map, and averred that Iran will aid any nation or group that attacks Israel. The Associated Press reports that he explicitly acknowledged that Iran has supported and will support Hezbollah and Hamas attacks.
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The gravity of the supreme leader’s remarks is underlined by Iran’s inexorable progress toward acquiring nuclear weapons and the means of delivering them. Iran already has missiles that could deliver a nuclear weapon throughout the Middle East and parts of Europe. It also has made great progress on technology for long-range missiles that could carry nuclear weapons and that could reach North America, as evidenced by three successful launches of orbiting satellites, the most recent last week.
Also last week, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and high-level Israeli officials said what many have been predicting — that Israel is going to attack Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities unless Iran verifiably eliminates its nuclear-weapons program immediately. Mr. Panetta even gave a time frame. He predicted that the Israeli attack will be launched sometime in the April-to-June period.
For Israel, the risk of waiting is immense. As has been said, Israel cannot take a 10 percent chance of 100 percent annihilation. In addition, Iran is fortifying the defenses of its nuclear sites, and they may soon be nearly impossible to destroy. It will have reached an “immunity zone,” as Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has described it.
The supreme leader’s vitriol at last Friday’s prayers was not restricted to Israel. It was targeted at the U.S. as well. This should be no surprise. Iran since 1980 has declared the U.S. to be its enemy. It has attacked the U.S. through proxies repeatedly — e.g. the 1983 attack on the Marines barracks in Lebanon that killed 241 American servicemen, the 1996 Khobar Towers attack in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 U.S. Air Force personnel, continuing Iranian support for attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003, and last October’s foiled plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the U.S. on U.S. soil.
A nuclear-armed Iran with the hegemonic ambitions Supreme Leader Khamenei also acknowledged in his Friday prayer remarks would view itself as free to step up its aggression against American personnel and assets. It would also step up aggressive action and intimidation of the U.S.’s Arab allies in the Middle East. And, of course, it might well try to make good on its threat to wipe Israel off the map.
A failure on America’s part to support an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities would have serious consequences for the U.S. at home and abroad. The inevitable Iranian counterattack would doubtless include attacks on American citizens and property, just as if the U.S. had participated in the attack directly. American blood would be spilled and American treasure expended. A failure to support Israel would have additional consequences that may be less obvious but also are grave. If the U.S. failed to support Israel in its hour of need, America’s position of influence in the world would take a crippling blow.
"A failure to support Israel would have dire consequences"
Too late - Obama and Billary have already failed to support Israel in ANY of it's endeavors with the Palestinians, or against Hamas, or against Hezbollah.
But they have shown a disconcerting habit to support terror - first with Bashar Assad in Syria and the murdering mullahs in Iran.
"Too late - Obama and Billary have already failed to support Israel in ANY of it's endeavors."
I'm sorry, but such a patently false statement cannot go un-replied ;) How many UN resolutions have been passed against Israel under the Obama administration? ZERO. Why? Because Obama has told the UN rep. to veto anything that Israel does not want passed. The craziest example, of course, is when the US vetoed a resolution that simply reaffirmed America's own, stated language (under Bush) about halting settlements. US was the ONLY veto, even among Western European countries (Britain, Germany, etc.... all under conservative leaders).
So, please. Don't keep passing this ridiculous bs around, okay?
I do not believe that the US will participate in the destruction of Iran's nuclear facilities. Israel has no choice because the existence of these weapons and a delivery sytem is a threat to their national existence. No nation can ignore such a threat. When Europe ignored Hitler's threats they learned the reality of that decision. No decision is a decision that permits a reality that all of us can not live with.
Our national and historical persistence of putting our collective heads in a hole in the ground does not change the inevitable. Iran has spoken and their eventual objective is the destruction of Israel, Europe and the United States. Ignore that and you invite a repeat of our mistake with Herr Hitler and Tojo.
Equating Iran with Hitler's Germany, which spanned all of Europe and was deeply into Russia when we intervened, is simply absurd. You, dear author, are a warmonger - you are actively lobbying for more war after a decade of misbegotten wars - God forbid our credibility is damaged in the Middle East, after our WMD-snipe hunt.
The author states "A failure to support Israel would also affect our allies and friends beyond the Middle East. Just as American resolve to help friends and allies has helped deter would-be aggressors in the past, the perception that the U.S.’s support of its allies may not match its promises will have the opposite effect." Support for allies, particularly in the face of pseudothreats, can backfire - see WWI where interlocking alliances resulted in a global suicide fest, lit by an entirely local and entirely "tempest in a teapot" fuse. Why don't you write about the current actual and debilitating effects of the ongoing sanctions against the super-scary Iranians?
The government of Iran (land of the Aryans, so renamed to curry favor with the Nazis) has made it clear taht they wish to destroy Israel at all costs. The true lead of Iran, the Ayatollah Khamanei called for the premptive murder of Jews worldwide. External Link
The analogy is applicable. And they don't just want to destroy Israel. "Death to America" is a government chant, and every leader since teh Ayatollah Khomeni has called for the destruction of "The Great Satan".
Today, they are openly developing ICBMs and are refining uraium past the 20% needed for energy. They are also producing plutonium and every few months we find new militarized nuclear facilities. 1+1=2 regardless of the ideological blinders of isolationists.
You really think China will lend us another few trillion to attack their strategic ally? We just need to accept that the US is just another country now. Let's not totally destroy the economy. We import 90% of our oil from Canada and Mexico. That's quite an enviable position. Why are we so worried about Asia? Besides, after all the false claims regarding the threat from Iraq, aren't you the least bit curious regarding the reliability of our intelligence?
Conserve says "I don't trust US intelligence that much, but I would put Mossad's intel in the bank."
The Mossad weighed greatly in our belief that Iraq had WMD. If you put such great stock in them now, perhaps you suggest their Iraq Intel was a deliberate lie?
an excerpt;
SADDAM AND WMDS
When American tanks smashed into Baghdad, Saddam had already completed construction of an anthrax production facility, which was a week away from going live. If it had been permitted to go into production, this one facility could have produced ten tons of weaponized anthrax a year.
That means we're in even less of a position to start another multi-trillion dollar war. For a bunch of "conservatives" you guys advocate some seriously risky behavior.
America's standing in the world was drastically weakened the day we elected Barack Obama, a man who does not understand the power of fear in international relations. Our enemies laugh at his weakness. Unlike him, they at least recognize that the only people who fear Barack Obama are Americans.
I don't see any real explanation in your article of why our other middle east allies would see lack of support of an Israeli attack as a reason to believe that the US is a strong ally of theirs... To me US involvement in an attack would be the worst-case scenario for our allies there as we'd likely draw them into the attack as well (using their bases/etc..). As well they'd likely see huge disruptions in their ability to bring oil to market (and thus hurt their economy)..
Also, its great to talk bluster, but how would you suggest the US pay for the support they'd provide to an Israeli attack? (ie how would it be deficity neutral?)
I don't think our pro-Islamist regime will support Israel. All we have done is surround it with raving fanatics via our support of the Islamist Spring. It's obvious who's side the Obama regime is on.
The points made in this article are very clear and must be heeded. If we fail on our biggest, most long-lasting ally in this reagion, the best democracy in this region, and the ones who are quite clearly in the right on this issue, we fail to show any ally that we are serious, can be depended on, and that we have the resolve and fortitude to defend our own interests, those of our friends, and the side of justice.
What is more (much more) is we would fail to support and "bless" the nation that the scriptures clearly teach has a very special place in God's plan. Those who bless Isreal will be blessed, and those who abandon, will themselves be abandoned.
From a politically strategic point of view, the Obama administration sees that we the people support Isreal, and that we know it is the right thing to do. Even his State of the Union attempted to play up our partnership and lasting alliance with Isreal. I at least took that as a sign that the Administration sees the resolve of the vast majorty of Americans toward Isreal and their protection.
God's plan aside, we must continue to support Israel financially and with carrier fleets in the region. However, I would oppose any pre-emptive strike by the U.S. against Iran without wider support. Our measures should be defensive. If Israel launches a strike, so be it. The dust might settle without our having to commit troops yet again. Let the Iranian people rise up while we support them on the periphery but not inside it.
Sir,
Usually a silent reader, I was deeply touched by both the topic and your comment, and therefore decided to risk intruding upon a topic, which perhaps is not mine to comment on.
I do so as a concerned Israeli citizen, a front line combat officer and a physician. My skills in all three endeavors were already called upon during the 2006 summer border clash. It is hard to evade the feeling that they will be called upon again, probably sooner, rather than later. Should the situation so require I will step forward willingly, as I have before, and so will many of my friends, relatives and fellow Israelis in military age. We are very familiar with the price of Liberty. And we wish you to enjoy yours to the fullest extent possible, under law and God.
I am sure no Israeli would like to think himself a liability, rather than an asset, to the most steadfast ally our coutry ever had since Independence. You should know we admire the American resilience, freedom and fortitude, and respect the sacrifices that were required to uphold them over the years. We wish such mature destiny to ourselves, as well.
Israel will always look upon your country with utmost regard and deep gratitude. I am sure your decisions will be met with understanding here as they always were. God bless, and godspeed - on whichever path you eventually decide to take.
