Israel’s Doomsday Bomb
Filed under: International Reflections, International War, Social Commentary, Terrorism
The most important element in the use of a dooms day bomb as a defensive weapon is to advise your enemy, immediately after its acquisition, that you possess one.
Last week the Palestinian Authority succeeded in becoming a member state in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, known as UNESCO. Immediately after its admission into UNESCO the Obama administration announced that it was ceasing its annual contribution of 80 million dollars towards that organization. But America’s action of withholding this substantial sum of money from one of the most reprehensible of U. N. organizations will have little effect on the Palestinian Authority’s ultimate goal: To further isolate Israel in the eyes of the world but more importantly to begin to create a false construct of a Palestinian state, thereby providing terrorists a home from which to launch attacks against Israelis living in the occupied territory and then ultimately destroying Israel as a Jewish state. With an ersatz Palestinian state, an Islamist Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, a soon to be liberated Syria, Turkey and a nuclearized Iran, Israel will soon be faced with an Arab/Muslim alliance far too formidable to defeat with its Israel Defense Force alone. Moreover, observing how the U.S. has dealt with Iran’s building of a nuclear bomb, it has become apparent to Israel that relying on the U.S. for its ultimate defense is a failed strategy.
Israel is now left with only one strategy: If attacked by the full force of an Arab/Muslim alliance or if terrorist attacks within Israel reach a level which places into question its existence it must announce a policy of mutually assured destruction, otherwise known as a dooms day bomb.
Fixing The Enemy
Filed under: International Reflections, Presidential Watch, Social Commentary, Terrorism, United States at War
With Egypt, Tunisia and Libya having fallen into the hands of radical Islamists and with Yemen and Syria close on the way the argument coming from the Obama Administration is that this is a good thing. Ok. Let’s analyze that.
It is now becoming obvious to anyone observing the various revolts occurring throughout the Middle East that radical Islamists will be taking over the various countries that had their despots overthrown. And there is some truth behind the hate filled venom of these Islamists that the West supported these despots perhaps not for the reasons they claim, namely, to destroy Islam and make the Middle East a garden of freedom and liberty, but rather to keep a lid on its roiling political and violent mayhem so that the oil will keep flowing. George W. Bush was a wishful thinker when he proclaimed that all humanity desires freedom and liberty and attempted to provide the Iraqi and Afghani people the opportunity to grasp that golden bowel.
However depressing the reality of the Middle East which now confronts the West, in particular the United States, since it has paid so much in blood and treasure, there is possibly one good thing that may yet come out of this Islamist takeover. There is a military term called “fixing the enemy” which refers to preventing the enemy’s withdrawal thereby allowing the attacking force to be confident that it will not escape. In our war against the Islamists we have been chasing them from one mountain to the next from one corner of the world to another never quite able to gather them in one spot. Well now we know where they are. Don’t we?
US v. Iran
Filed under: International Reflections, International War, Presidential Watch, Social Commentary, Terrorism, United States at War
Last week the U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder accused Iran of plotting to kill the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Adel al-Jubeir on U.S. soil. If true, Iran has committed an act or war upon the U.S. Now what?
Iran is a revolutionary theocratic Islamic republic governed under a constitution. A supreme leader, who effectively serves as the head of state, is appointed for life by an Islamic religious Assembly of Experts. The supreme leader oversees the military and judiciary. A president, who is elected by the people for a four-year term, serves as the head of the government. Iran has a unicameral legislature whose members are also elected by popular vote. My point in describing this somewhat arcane form of government is to show how difficult it can be, when dealing with Iran as a sovereign nation, to discover the sources of its power and locate those who are responsible for its actions both domestically and abroad.
I sympathize with Attorney General Holder as I do with President Obama in their effort to find invertible evidence proving that the government of Iran was behind the plot to kill Ambassador al-Jubeir. The primary evidence linking the Iranian government to the planned attempt on Ambassador al-Jurbeir’s life are the words of the alleged plotters, who told law enforcement agents after his arrest that he had been recruited and directed by men he understood were senior Quds Force officials, an arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps which takes its orders from the supreme leader. Iran of course denies its involvement, which based on prior denials of other such attacks and assassinations throughout the world, can hardly be believed.
Any act of war upon the U.S. deserves a response which need not be either apportioned or equivalent. In fact if anything such a response must be clear and decisive. But when dealing with Iran, its convoluted sources of power and its nuclear potentiality the U.S. must act carefully and deliberately. But that does not include acting cowardly.
Who’s Next?
Filed under: International Reflections, International War, Presidential Watch, Social Commentary, Terrorism, United States at War
Will this President of the United States ever become a president of the United States? If the American people are asking this question in November of 2012 President Obama will serve only one term.
Let’s start from the top. President Obama doesn’t go to Congress when deliberating about whether the United States should involve itself in the Libyan rebellion, which, constitutionally he doesn’t have to do, but rather seeks UN approval which he seems to believe he is obligated to do.
Then, after the United States obtained UN approval to engage our armed forces, he makes no attempt to come before the American people and explain the basis of his action. This allows his opposition, which ironically comes from his liberal base, to have a field day in attacking the President as just another neo-con in sheep’s clothing.
The Libyan campaign, limited notwithstanding, at least so far, constitutes the sixth American military action involving Muslims in general or the Middle East in particular, over the last 20 years, 3 of which occurred since 9/11. Just to give some clarity to this, the United States has not been militarily involved in any other country or region during the same period. It is obvious therefore that those countries or regions that adhere to the Islamic faith, and especially located near or in the Middle East, have become a cauldron of revolution and rebellion. I don’t point this out as necessarily a bad thing since most of the governments of these Islamic countries which are presently on fire are autocratic and vicious. However every one of them, without exception, to one extent or another, are breeding grounds of America’s number one enemy, al-Qaeda. And many of them produce America’s number one and essential import, oil. So it’s not by accident that the United States finds itself entangled in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya while at the same time warily circling Iran looking for openings for conflict.
Tomorrow night, finally, the President of the United States will be addressing the American people about why we are now fighting in Libya. But he’s got to do more than that. The American people sense that this president lacks a vision when it comes to our role on the world stage. Worse they suspect that he does have a vision and it’s a United States that should take a back seat when it comes to international affairs. Will he actually come to the American people tomorrow and explain that the Libyan campaign is nothing more than a one-off? It’s not. But does he have the courage, or better yet the insight, to come before the American people and explain what as a candidate he denied: America is at war with a resolute enemy which promotes a theocratic, virulent Islamic vision for world governance. Tomorrow if he doesn’t provide for us the big picture Americans, on both sides of the political spectrum, will abandon him in droves.
Will The US Fall Out Of Grace?
Filed under: International Reflections, International War, National Party Politics, Social Commentary, Terrorism, United States at War
It was Winston Churchill who said that God takes care of drunks and the United States of America. Well from my observation of how the American administration is dealing with the current Egyptian uprising, America’s luck may be running out.
This is Roger Madon and this is what I think.
The most unnerving thing about the massive protest on Tahrir or Liberation Square in Cairo going on for more than a week is the lack of anti-American signs or the ubiquitous burning of American flags. What’s going on here? One may conclude that the focus of the protesters, made up of young people from nearly every walk of life, is the removal of Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt for 30 years. Personally I find that hard to absorb. Anyone familiar with the Middle East knows the deep and wide resentment, yes even antipathy for America. It is natural and expected, in that Islam being a theo-political religion, that the United States is viewed as a country which is not only interfering and meddlesome but an obstacle to Islamic expansion.
In every part of the Middle East Israel is considered America’s stalking horse, worse, a javelin stuck in the very center of its heart. Hosni Mubarak holds no less of a position. Ask any Egyptian about the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, which Mubarak has supported for more than 30 years, and he will tell you it was wrong from the day it was entered into. Ask any Egyptian whether the policies United States are the reason for Egypt’s current economic and social problems and the answer will be a resounding “Yes.” So if any of this is true I again ask where are the anti-American signs, the burning of American flags representing these powerful opinions and beliefs. The purpose of their absence is to numb the American viewing public into believing all is well on the Arab street. However I contend that there is a direct relationship between the absence of the anti-American protesters and the strong presence and influence of the theo-political Muslim Brotherhood which represents at least one third of the Egyptian body politic. When you next read that the Muslim Brotherhood, the most radical and violent group in Egypt is entering into negotiations with the forming of a new government you will have your answer. Soon Churchill will be right – only, respect to drunks.
This is Roger Madon and that’s what I think.
The American Muslim Integration Strategy
Filed under: Immigration, International Reflections, Social Commentary
The challenge for the American Muslim is to find the right balance between submission to God as revealed by Mohammed while fully participating in the American experiment. For the Muslim in America we hope it will ultimately be a satisfying journey.
This is Roger Madon and this is what I think.
When the Pilgrims first arrived on this continent they already experienced living in a society that rejected their religious beliefs and behavior. Numerous Christian sects followed bringing with them different religious beliefs and practices. Some religious sects were established on this continent adding to the mix of different religions. But all them, almost without exception had as their foundational principle the belief in Jesus Christ as the son of God.
When the American constitution was drafted this fact was foremost in the mind of our founders and the First Amendment prohibited Congress from establishing a religion and provided for its free exercise. Though non-Christian religions had been established on this continent at the time of the drafting of the constitution our Founders’ greatest concern was that government took no role in the competition between and among Christian religious sects.
However, unlike the vast majority of immigrants that have come to this country throughout these two centuries Muslims have come from countries which are predominantly followers of Mohammed and for the first time in their lives therefore they live in a country as a religious minority. Moreover, Islam is a religion which has as one of its most important tenets, inconsistent with the First Amendment, that a country may establish Islam as its national religion.
This concept is not necessarily unfamiliar to Christianity or Judaism since both religions at some time in their long history endorsed it. In fact today Israel is a Jewish state established by the United Nations as such. But it cannot be denied that the power and glory of our constitution ultimately draws all Americans towards its fundamental universal principles of justice and fairness, American Muslims included.
This is Roger Madon and that’s what I think.
Tony Blair Rightfully Sells Out
Filed under: International Reflections, International War, Social Commentary, Terrorism, United States at War
The American people have a love affair with Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain. The Brits, on the other hand, have been angry with Blair ever since he decided to join America in its quest to challenge Islamist extremism wherever it exists.
This is Roger Madon and this is what I think.
Blair is currently running around the United States promoting his recently published memoir “A Journey.” And he is saying things that many people, especially on the left, have difficulty saying. For example he is a firm believer that using the correct and accurate words to identify something is the beginning of recognizing the true nature of an object or an ideology. In a recent interview he criticizes Western intellectuals who become apoplectic when some unknown Christian cleric who lives in Florida announces a date and time when he will be burning Korans. But if some cleric in some remote part of Pakistan announces he will be burning Holy Bibles, if of course he can find any, this same group of sacrosanct intellectuals remains silent. He believes that Muslims must be held to the same standard as that of the West and criticizes the West in not having sufficient confidence in its liberal ideology of equality and liberty to face up to an Islam that doesn’t share these beliefs. He doesn’t mince words when it comes to facing the possibility of a nuclear Iran. When asked whether the military option of destroying Iran’s nuclear capability is something that he supports he responds with a simple “I mean it.” He also is quite mindful of Iran’s direct responsibility for the killing and maiming of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Blair also demands that the Palestinians start addressing their own internal conflict especially the terrorist state of Gaza. And he is highly critical of the West, especially the European countries, in making Israel a pariah among nations in its legitimate attempt to protect itself from the terrorist acts of its Palestinian neighbors.
It was these statements and expressed positions that got him into trouble with his own Labor party when he was Prime Minister. Americans have to begin to realize that Britain is not the same country it was when we were fighting side by side against the Nazis or facing up to the Soviet Union. Though Great Britain still stands with us in Afghanistan and Iraq the British people today no longer have the same commitment to world leadership and are far more willing to let Uncle Sam bleed and die for their liberty than their own sons and daughters. They hear Tony Blair’s statements of truth and frankness from across the Great Pond and it makes them uncomfortable. And for America without Britain standing by our side, as it has for over the last 150 years, we are in deep trouble. Is there any wonder we love this guy.
This is Roger Madon and that’s what I think.
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