Late this week, the former Sec. of Defense Robert Gates made a statement concerning a possible strike of the Iranian nuclear facilities. He said: “The results of an American or Israeli military strike on Iran could, in my view, prove catastrophic, haunting us for generations in that part of the world,” but instead called for greater economic sanctions to be imposed on Tehran.
He continues, “That’s our best chance going forward, to ratchet up the economic pressure and diplomatic isolation to the point where the Iranian leadership concludes that it actually hurts Iranian security and, above all, the security of the regime itself, to continue to pursue nuclear weapons.”
With all due respect to the former Secretary … his thinking is flawed approaching this issue. He had the same mindset while he served at the Pentagon … which is a contributing factor to our current situation.
You cannot approach Islamic thinking with a Western mindset. The Iranian regime consists of religious zealots. They believe this is their calling. This is not like the Cold War with the former USSR, who were able to be deterred with MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction). These zealots consider it an honor to die for their god. And sanctions will hurt the people (who generally are pro-West) … but will it hinder the Mullahs from developing a nuclear weapon?
As we say in NYC: NEVA!
They are not concerned with the death of their people. They are ONLY concerned with ushering in their 12th Mahdi. And they believe that will occur when they have brought about chaos on the earth.
And a nuke fits the bill…
There was even a report from Israeli experts this week regarding the archaic state of the Iranian military. That is even MORE incentive to finish the nuclear process.
Mr. Gates is correct that a strike will not completely destroy their nuclear capabilities, BUT it will push them back several years from completion. Mr. Gates is not privy to all the Israeli intelligence available. I know this because the Israelis don’t have loose lips concerning their military strategy.
The bottom line here: The Israelis have no other choice. They are the closest, most prime target. The regime views them as the “Little Satan” and the US as the “Great Satan”. Israel will be hit upon completion of a nuke.
A strike will set their plans back and perhaps, with a new leader of the Free World after November, the US will support the next Iranian Green Movement to overthrow the Mad Mullahs (since Obama refused to support the first one).
I appreciate Mr. Gates concern … but his advice is pernicious and has already aided Ahjad and the Crazed Clerics. Sanctions have not deterred them one iota in achieving their demonic dream … and stronger sanctions will have the same result.
The ancient Military General, Sun Tzu, in his work: The Art of War, said, “If you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss. If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose. If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself.”
Mr. Gates and his ilk still do not know the enemy…
Image: Caricature of Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran; courtesy of Welleman; public domain
Image: Statue of Sayyid Mohammed Abdullah Hassan (the “Mad Mullah”) in Mogadishu, Somalia; public domain