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A nuclear Iran

American assurances to Israel that it can contain a nuclear Iran are confusing to me.

This is coming from the same America that said that it could contain North Korea’s program, which is since up and running. This is the same America that said that is aimed to forge new relations with Russia, which is now fueling the nuclear plant under a somewhat suspicious promise that it will keep the Iranians from using the fuel for weapons. This is coming from the same America that published an intelligence estimate saying that the Iranian nuclear weapons Ppogram ended years ago, and argument that this assurance clearly negates. If we as a nation can protect the region from a nuclear Iran, it is a fair conclusion that Iran intends to make nuclear weapons. Sometimes, 1 plus 2 does actually equal 3.

The fact is the military option is still of the table. The only thing truly standing in Israel’s way is the ability to refuel, which is not difficult for them to solve. In the early 1990s, Operation Desert Shield started when Saudi Arabia was terrified of a non-nuclear (thanks to Israel, by the way) Iraq, so imagine how they’ll fold over the threat to a nuclear Iran, a country they already have long fought with. Part of American assurances also must include some support for military action at a later stage, partially due to the fact that no matter what Israel does, America will get blamed for it in the Muslim world anyway.

President Obama also feels as if this nation can live with a nuclear Iran. But a nuclear Iran is not just a nuclear Iran, its a nuclear-backed Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas. Now, regardless of whether President Obama cares about the destruction of the State of Israel, I’m pretty sure those nations are listed as State sponsors of terror and as terrorist groups respectively.

It is a tough situation, but the fact remains that an Nuclear Iran is in nobody’s interest, and at this point there is no doubting that Iran’s intentions are to build a nuclear arsenal. And unless they have nowhere they can sell oil, they are not going to stop anytime soon. Then the question becomes, is President Obama willing to drop his so-called “gains in confidence” in the Muslim world to protect American interests. But, even those questions are not relevant. Saudi Arabia and the small nations in the Persian Gulf around it are terrified of Iran’s Nuclear potential. So, there is no loss in confidence, even potentially a gain in confidence, by going through with military action.

So, I’m finding it very difficult to find another solution to the Iranian nuclear problem. Now may not be the time, but when it is the time, is America ready to support Israel?

August 24, 2010 at 9:00 am

--Daniel Livingston

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