Israel - Going It Alone

For several years we have isolated Iran as the number one threat to US security. We have not ignored Iraq nor Afghanistan, nor Syria nor N Korea but a mullah-run Iran carries the potential to do more harm to more innocents in less time than any other state-sponsored terror organization in the world. Her bellicosity can easily lead to another world war.

Some in the West feel isolated from this risk; others feel directly and immediately threatened. This week in an article in the Times of London we read that Western officials are reportedly offering Israel a deal to support a military strike on Iran, in exchange for Israeli concessions in Palestine - land. In our view, the West figures what the heck, it’s inevitable, so let’s get something out of the deal. Israel has witnessed Obama’s lame approach to this conflict. As most in diplomatic circles realize, she knows now she must go it alone.

There is nothing new under the sun. Most of us recall Hitler’s re-arming after the Treaty of Versailles. England and France held hands together in the dark. We all recall the English PM Chamberlain, his triumphant return on 9/30/38 and speech at the Heston Aerodrome for bringing "peace to Europe" by signing a non-aggression pact with Hitler. "My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour," he said. Hah! Too much.

Liberals have never learned these lessons and as a result all of us must suffer. A friend from the Marin fruitcake left, unburdened of any sense of history, said to me when supporting continued dialogue with Iran, "Hey, it’s worth a try." Now this is constructive, useful input.

So there is no way, at least Israel believes, other than a strike. We know of course there are indeed other ways; our solution - a sanction or blockade of gasoline - although popular in Congress on both sides of the aisle, is opposed by BO as too extreme. The very best solution is of course successful dissent from within - the birth of a genuine consensual government. We may have received a little assist in that direction this week as a big wig mullah by the name of AH Rafsanjani denounced the government crackdown on protests and called for the release the hundreds detained. He reprimanded the leadership for not listening to people's complaints over the election. Who knows; at the very least his tearful sermon highlighted a schism withing the mullah club. Certainly the protestors, emboldened, took once again to the streets.

But back to reality. Obama's policy is a lose/lose proposition that has pleased neither side in Iran and discouraged Israel. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, isn't going to suddenly embrace the U.S. because of Obama's kumbaya approach, much less stop subsidizing terrorists and developing a nuclear arsenal. And what about other pro-democracy dissidents abroad — whether in Cuba, the Arab world or Venezuela? How do these people feel now for goodness sake? Will they still trust that the U.S. supports their efforts to obtain a free society? For the answer, see our recent sketch - A Requiem For World Democracy.

Meanwhile, authoritarians in China, North Korea, Russia, the Middle East and South America have drawn two conclusions. One, the United States doesn't care what they do to their own people. Two, Obama will overlook almost anything in order just to get along.

And that is why Israel will go it alone.

Robert Craven