L.A. Times: No to warmongering on Iran
In an editorial Thursday, the L.A. Times argues against U.S. acquiescence to an Israeli attack on Iran. The editorialists write:
There are a dozen reasons why "If you want to whack them, we've got your back" is the wrong message for the U.S. to send Israel, publicly or privately.One is the increase in oil prices as a result of the war talk, which only enriches Iran. But here are two better ones: The consequences of an Israeli war with Iran are unpredictable, and it is nearly impossible to assess Iran's ability to make good on its threats to retaliate against the United States, presumably through its terrorist proxy, Hezbollah. The last thing the U.S. needs now is more instability, as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael G. Mullen said Wednesday. And while the odds may be low that diplomacy will solve the problem, we can't know for sure because we haven't tried it. Only the Europeans have. If bilateral talks with nuclear North Korea were acceptable to Bush, then why is it still anathema to talk with Iran?
The consequences of an Israeli war with Iran may be unpredictable, but the consequences for Israel of a nuclear-armed Iran are less unpredictable.
Sure, Iran might go nuclear and not attack the Jewish state, but is that a risk Israel can afford to take? Even if Iran held off from attacking Israel – which may be the likelier scenario, were Iran to go nuclear – the Islamic Republic would be able to brandish its nuclear threat over Israel like a mobster with a baseball bat. Is that something with which Israel would be able to live?
As for the oil reason, what's worse: Expensive gas, or a nuclear-armed Iran? The warmongering serves the free world well, because it's one more method to get Iran to quit its nuclear program that doesn't involve actually bombing the place. Thus, regardless of whether or not President Bush actually would give Israel the green light to bomb Iran, it's helpful that it appears as if he would.
For more on the degree to which rising oil prices are related to Iran-Israel tension, stay tuned for Ron Kampeas' piece on the subject in JTA (coming out later today).
Meanwhile, Ha'aretz's Avi Shavit writes that the scenario of Israel attacking Iran in the sunset of Bush's presidency (which our Ron Kampeas wrote about here), may be far-fetched, but there's so much at stake that Israel needs to get its ducks in a row just in case. The conclusion: Israel needs new elections now.
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Nor does anyone think that if the US were (in the range of Iranian missiles) Iran would be fool enough to attack an America with the world’s largest nuclear arsenal.
Give to Israel cruise missiles, F-22 fighters and several old nuclear submarines that can be armed with nuclear weapons in intent to give Israel ability to second stick and by so establishment of deterrent ability that deter her foes and secure her existence. It MUST be the responsibility of US and the West to prevent SECOND HOLOCAUST.
To De Marlo and caimant to be US Citizen: Is your hang over still hanging over your brains? Are not Iranian schisofrenical fanatics call America Big Satan and Israel a small Satan? Did you hear anything about 9/11 done by similar fanatics? Or USS Cole, US marines in Lebanon, other threads on Western way of life? I saw fanatical, looking like a starving begger Ahmadinijad calling for Israel destraction, wiping her from the map. Do not recall anything like this from China or India governments that are leading their people to the greatness and freedom of Western way of life.
Hope now you did understand the reason in USA different attitude?
Guys, please, don’t hell all muslims.
I’ve grown in muslim republic in former USSR. I had muslims to be my friends from a kindergarden. Honest, openharted and devoted. I still respect and love this people as my brothers. And I’m 100% askenazy, related by blood to some of Jewish authorities.
I’m very bloodthirsty toward arab/iranian fanatics. I believe that Israel long ago should answer on their “Grad"(Heil) and Hasams with a heavy lightening, hang families of yeshiva killer/last buldoserist and burry all of them in pig wastyard.
Not all muslims are created equal. Thanks God.
Arkady
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US Citizen (with An American Bias)
07/04/08 08:19 PM
The beauty and genius of America was always that people would leave behind the conflicts and prejudices of the “old country” and gain a new identity as Americans. The United States flourished because people of diverse backgrounds let go any grudges carried by their respective ethnicities as they began a new life on American shores. Unfortunately, this innocent era of American new beginnings is over.
Now the United States has allowed itself to get dragged into petty tribal/ethnocentric rivalries from the other side of the world. Instead of being a neutral arbiter trying to calm down discordant parties, the US has allowed itself to become a party to the conflict.
The United States must ask itself: Why should it feel threatened by an nuclear Iran when it does not feel similarly threatened by a nuclear China, a nuclear India, or a nuclear Israel. The United States is not even in the range of any Iranian missile, nor does anyone think that if it were Iran would be fool enough to an America with the world’s largest nuclear arsenal. All Iran wants to do is to protect its sovereignty. Israel, on the other hand, has a legitimate fear of an Iranian bomb. It is small enough that a nuclear strike might hurt it, and close enough that Iran might be able to pull off a successful attack. It seems rather hypocritical of the United States though to takes sides with Iran on this issue while it ignores Israel’s possession of the exact same nuclear weapons. Israel has never signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and has not been a good enough citizen of the International Community to openly admit to its possession of said weapons.
The questions we should be asking are these: Why should America be so biased in favor of Israel? Is it possible that US bias has actually intensified the problems in the Middle East and prevented them from playing out naturally? Was 9/11 a stark reminder that the US should not get involved in other people’s conflicts?
It seems clear that America needs to steer clear of ethnocentric/tribal/sectarian strife from the old world. Instead the US should keep its eyes clearly focused a building a future where old tribal identities are set aside in favor of a new identity as citizens of a post-ethnic world.