The Grave Threat of Iran
Joseph McHugh
November 07, 2005
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent declaration that Israel ought be “Wiped off the map of the world,” at once reminds us of present realities, past failures and future crises. More to the point, it is a sobering reminder of why Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
There is no surprise in Ahmadinejad’s remarks. The mullahs who control Iran and fostered the candidacy of the radical Ahmadinejad have made clear for years their hatred for Western Civilization, Israel in particular. They have initiated and carried out a jihad mission against the values of Western countries, reason, secularism and liberty. They are today among the top sponsors of terrorism in the world and are prolonging the conflict in Iraq.
While the diplomatic wrangling with the United States over Iran’s intention to go nuclear has been going on only since 2002 (with no appreciable halt in Iran’s march towards nuclear brotherhood) the Iranian regime has been at war with the United States for twenty-five years. Starting with the 1979 seizing of our embassy, Iran has repeatedly attacked and killed Americans with impunity. Remember the marine barracks bombing in 1983? How about Khobar Towers in 1996? The U.S.S Cole in 2000? Terrorist soldiers walk about freely in Tehran. Is there any doubt that Iran would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons?
When the history of the war on terrorism is written, perhaps it will be said that one of the great failures of American leaders was the ignoring of Iran. President Bush, for example, promised Americans a zero tolerance policy towards regimes that harbor or sponsor terrorists, and yet he has done little or nothing to eliminate the Iranian threat. Indeed after September 11, middle class Iranians, were begging for U.S support for their student rebellion, which could have toppled the regime with very few American casualties. Little help was forthcoming, however, and now it’s unclear what support there would be for a U.S invasion. Bush has, instead, focused all his fire in Iraq. Saddam Hussein was a supporter of terrorism, yet his efforts paled in comparison to his fanatical neighbor.
And what of the future? It is clear that if Iran continues on its present path, Israel or the Unites States will need to take military action. With the U.S bogged down in Iraq, it may well come down to Israel initiating it. And with 50 different nuclear sites buried deep in the ground, we are talking about a major military strike. This may well provoke a nuclear response from Iran, and with tiny Israel it won’t take a lot of missiles to destroy her. The United States likely will be dragged into the conflict. Doubtless Israel will be condemned by the world, just as it was in 1981 (including by the U.S) when it did the world the great favor of eliminating Iraq’s nuclear program.
The only hope of averting such a disaster, ironically, considering their feeble record, is the United Nations. With the breakdown of the recent European nuclear negotiations with Iran, it appears as though there is some momentum for international sanctions. Iran’s oil industry is desperately dependent on Western Technology, and such a move would hurt.
For the sake of the future let’s hope it helps.
There is no surprise in Ahmadinejad’s remarks. The mullahs who control Iran and fostered the candidacy of the radical Ahmadinejad have made clear for years their hatred for Western Civilization, Israel in particular. They have initiated and carried out a jihad mission against the values of Western countries, reason, secularism and liberty. They are today among the top sponsors of terrorism in the world and are prolonging the conflict in Iraq.
While the diplomatic wrangling with the United States over Iran’s intention to go nuclear has been going on only since 2002 (with no appreciable halt in Iran’s march towards nuclear brotherhood) the Iranian regime has been at war with the United States for twenty-five years. Starting with the 1979 seizing of our embassy, Iran has repeatedly attacked and killed Americans with impunity. Remember the marine barracks bombing in 1983? How about Khobar Towers in 1996? The U.S.S Cole in 2000? Terrorist soldiers walk about freely in Tehran. Is there any doubt that Iran would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons?
When the history of the war on terrorism is written, perhaps it will be said that one of the great failures of American leaders was the ignoring of Iran. President Bush, for example, promised Americans a zero tolerance policy towards regimes that harbor or sponsor terrorists, and yet he has done little or nothing to eliminate the Iranian threat. Indeed after September 11, middle class Iranians, were begging for U.S support for their student rebellion, which could have toppled the regime with very few American casualties. Little help was forthcoming, however, and now it’s unclear what support there would be for a U.S invasion. Bush has, instead, focused all his fire in Iraq. Saddam Hussein was a supporter of terrorism, yet his efforts paled in comparison to his fanatical neighbor.
And what of the future? It is clear that if Iran continues on its present path, Israel or the Unites States will need to take military action. With the U.S bogged down in Iraq, it may well come down to Israel initiating it. And with 50 different nuclear sites buried deep in the ground, we are talking about a major military strike. This may well provoke a nuclear response from Iran, and with tiny Israel it won’t take a lot of missiles to destroy her. The United States likely will be dragged into the conflict. Doubtless Israel will be condemned by the world, just as it was in 1981 (including by the U.S) when it did the world the great favor of eliminating Iraq’s nuclear program.
The only hope of averting such a disaster, ironically, considering their feeble record, is the United Nations. With the breakdown of the recent European nuclear negotiations with Iran, it appears as though there is some momentum for international sanctions. Iran’s oil industry is desperately dependent on Western Technology, and such a move would hurt.
For the sake of the future let’s hope it helps.
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