Just two days after Western leaders revealed that Iran has a secret nuclear facility, the Holocaust-denying nutcase who presides over Iran has started staging missile tests. The missiles tested Sunday were short-range, but apparently Iran plans on Monday to test missiles capable of reaching Israel (not to mention American bases in the region).
It has become hard to imagine a peaceful ending to the Iranian nuclear problem. I’ve gone back and forth on this, but it seems highly likely that Israel, which twice before has launched pre-emptive attacks on nuclear facilities in hostile countries, will do so again. I wish I could be confident that our President would then stand behind one of our staunchest allies, but after Obama’s call at the UN for a “Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967,” I cannot.
Not very cheery thoughts on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. I wish my Jewish friends an easy fast.
I seem to recall Ahmadinejad was asked about the risk to his fellow Iranians, and he answered that he didn't have any problem sacrificing everyone in Iran. That it would be a "divine sacrifice", or something to that effect. It's one thing to have a death wish, but to have one for the entire population of your country? It makes a peaceful solution difficult.
Of course, the only good Death Wish to have is the DVD version box set.
He knows the West is weak. He is only afraid of Israel.
Power-hungry little mite, isn't he? It's how it starts, from my perspective. They make these bold, brazen attempts to flex political muscles, the direct challenge to the UN, and damn if a war doesn't start. Did they figure the entire world would just back down?
I favor the economic sanctions to start, and war as a last resort. War should always be a last resort, IMHO. We can't afford any more involvement in countries whose people hate us and don't want us there. Our foreign policy has been so detrimental in the past that we've now pissed off quite a number of people. I don't have faith that ANYONE could untangle this without very careful planning.
I'm not so sure it's a death wish, as much as it is that he doesn't fear this US president. Maybe he's seen enough of Obama's policy so far to know that he's not likely to be a threat to him.
I agree that Ahmadinejad is not afraid of this president, and needn't be. But even if Bush were still in office, I don't think there's much chance he would have attacked Iran, short of some massive provocation. The unpopularity of the Iraq war would have led to a firestorm if he had attacked Iran pre-emptively.
My "death wish" headline was a reference to the fact that Israel has a proven record of taking action to protect its people. The threat from Iran now is much more immediate than the threat from Iraq was when the Israelis bombed Osirak.
Lori, I suppose we have to do sanctions just to check the box before taking stronger action, but I can't imagine sanctions would be any more effective against Iran than they were against Iraq (remember the Oil-for-Palaces program?) I agree that military action should rarely be the first resort, but I have a visceral dislike of the term "last resort." Too often it's a euphemism for "never." There is always some alternative, however unwise, to fighting — passivity, appeasement and surrender come to mind.
Chris, you're right, it's hard to defeat an enemy who yearns for martyrdom.
Thanks to all for the comments.