In 1981, Israel launched Operation Opera and directly saved millions
of Israeli and Middle Eastern lives, while also making conditions far
safer for Americans and for the western world. The task was clear and
simple. Israel bombed Iraq's Osirak Nuclear Reactor and prevented
Saddam Hussein from wreaking havoc in the Middle East.
In 2006,
those who opposed then President Bush yelled that he should have gone
to war against Iran instead of Iraq. It is true that these chorus cries
had little to do with military strategy and everything to do with
politically inspired baseless hatred, but the idea brought forth in
liberal circles was that Saddam was harmless and that President Bush had
averted his eye from the real danger, that being Iran.
(This
was completely wrongheaded. The primary danger that Saddam posed, after
Israel knocked out his nuclear plant - quite possibly with the help of
one Jonathan Pollard and the intel he provided - was always about taking
dangerous pot shots that could have knocked out thousands. He was a
lunatic who had tried to assassinate a former US President, with
complete disregard to the consequences for himself and for his country.
He was already sponsoring suicide bombings in other parts of the world
and American prowess did not serve to deter him. Iran, by contrast,
would do nothing until it could do so. This was before it too became
thirsty for immediate war.) See http://mythdebunker.blogspot.com/2006/12/necessity-of-war-in-iraq-unfortunate.html written at the time.
They were wrong about Iran then. Diplomacy was being tried. It failed. Therefore, what they said then is 100% correct now.
Today, on the one hand we have the usual wishful thinkers. Wish all
you want, but when you're entrusted with the task of securing the lives
of millions of people, your wishful thinking becomes dangerous, callous,
babyish and shameful.
If you are a member of any body whose
decisions affect the lives of millions, such as a member of US Congress,
the Knesset or any other such body, and instead of performing your
potentially lifesaving task, you instead choose to engage in hippie-like
absentminded neglect, then for the sake of the world please resign your
seat. Play your role. Open up a psychic hotline instead.
Then
we have the other side. The "mature and responsible side." The side
made up of,.... apparently made up of people who've been smoking that
which is not quite legal in most jurisdictions.
And they
propose a "resolution." Now, of course a resolution is warranted. Of
course a deal that gives Iran 24 days minimal notice prior to
inspections and allows Iran to "inspect" itself is ridiculous and must
be rejected. But the answer does not lie in passing a resolution and
then washing one's hands of a situation that does not go away by itself.
Unfortunately, saying "bad bad bad Ayatollah" won't cut it, unless your
strategy is for said Ayatollah to die of laughter . And it's high time
that people in decision making positions to realize their task, do
their job and stop pretending that they're characters on Sesame Street.
The Only Strategy
The only conceivable, responsible and
adult strategy is the one that will totally avert war. Yes, the hippies
should love it. The Iranian people would love it in the long run. And
the western world has nothing to lose. It would save countless lives
and avert further crises.
But it ain't politikally korect. It gonna be looked at funnie...
Yet it is the only hope and the only reasonable solution.
That is to simply, without hurting or targeting civilians, bomb and take out Iran's nuclear sites.
Simple, not painless, but nothing compared to all out war. It's
responsible, reasoned and would serve to protect lives on an
unimaginable scale.
In any reasonable period throughout
history, this would long ago have been done. During the Age of
Buffoonery, neither side can bring it to their lips.
"אמר רבי יהושע בן לוי: כל שהוא רחמן על אכזרים לסוף נעשה אכזר על רחמנים"
(ילקוט שמעוני, טו:קכא).
It says in Yalkut Shimoni (15), "Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi says, anyone
who is merciful upon cruel people will in the end be made cruel toward
merciful people." This has proven itself throughout history.
The good news is that it also says:
"שומר פתאים ה'"
(תהלים קטז)
"G-D protects fools" (Psalms 116).
This equation, however, is not supposed to factor into military or national defense planning.
It says that in the time directly before G-D Almighty perfects the
world through the advent of the Messianic Era, after Hashem has given us
ample time, throughout all generations, to partner in perfecting the
world, and completes the job (as is promised), that the footsteps of
this great and eternal era will be heralded by birth pangs that cannot
be believed. Our Sages describe the prelude to this era at the end of
the Talmudic Tractate of Sotah.
According to all of these signs, we
are well on the way and the Redemption, a central tenant in Judaism (and
in most religions), without which the purpose of the world's creation
cannot make sense, is imminent. For the first time ever, all Torah
leaders seem to agree on this point today.
It also says that
during the final era of darkness we can rely on Our Father in Heaven and
that every little bit of good, of connecting with G-D Almighty and of
doing something to partner with G-D in making a better world brings
salvation to the world in its entirety.
Friday, September 11, 2015
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