August 6, 2008
So now it’s Israel’s fault that gas prices are rising. Reports are increasing that the summer’s soaring cost of petroleum for the inefficient U.S. auto fleet is due in large part to speculation of a rumored pending Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sights. (Sure, the price for a gallon has dropped in the past few days. But people, it’s still over $3.70 in most places, or some $1.50 more than the cost not so long ago.)
As the narrative goes, for starters a preemptive Israeli strike may not succeed. After all, it’s a near-impossible task of hitting at least 10 reinforced and underground nuclear installations over hostile territory, a mission that will take several days and at least 100 planes.
And the potential response is horrifying: Hezbollah unleashing its 15,000 plus rockets on northern Israel, weapons supplied by Iran. Hamas reignites its missile barrages against southwestern Israel. Syria gives the green light for terror attacks on Israel’s northern border – albeit from Lebanon so that Damascus can claim neutrality. Iran targets U.S., British and other oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. The regimes in Egypt and Jordan could be toppled by street demonstrations if their governments do not break peace treaties with Israel. And one can imagine what happens to world financial markets.
All in all, it’s a nightmare scenario that seems far from impossible.
But you have to wonder, why isn’t the world instead focusing on what a nuclear-armed Iran will mean? An even bolder Tehran will permanently threaten Saudi, Kuwaiti, Iraqi and other regional oil fields. It will give the ruling mullahs even more leverage and stronger ability to project bravado in exporting their militant brand of Islamic radicalism. Meanwhile, the even higher oil prices will given Iran even more money. That country already threatens the world by arming Hezbollah – which has struck in Israel, Lebanon, Argentina and elsewhere – and has ties with Hamas.
Iran claims that its drive for nuclear power is meant for peaceful purposes. If so, why does it refuse to welcome U.N. inspectors? It’s not as if the world body is in the hip pocket of the U.S. and Israel.
Oh yes, Iran and its supporters claim that Israel already has nuclear bombs so there’s a double standard at work here. Not really. Israel has never threatened Iran with nuclear weapons, despite the heinous things Tehran’s leaders continues to say about and do to the world’s only Jewish state. Meanwhile, Israel keeps negotiating to get out of the lives of the Palestinians—and we all know what Iran has been up to during that period.
Posted by on 08/06/08 at 03:29 PM | Comments (0)
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