Associated Press reports: “Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard began military exercises Saturday in the country’s south, the latest show of force after threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for tougher Western sanctions. The latest military maneuvers got under way following stern warnings by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, about any possible U.S. or Israeli attacks against Tehran’s nuclear facilities. It also comes after Western forces boosted their naval presence in the Gulf led by the American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.”
This is the result of a foreign policy which amounts to 3 principles, conveyed repeatedly by the United States to the government of Iran: (1) “Please like us”; (2) “We have to do these sanctions, but really, you’re our friend”; and (3) “We know our country is a big racist imperialist and we apologize for that.”
In order to understand the actions of Iran, you have to think like the proverbial school yard bully. The difference is, this bully will at some point have nuclear weapons, and is going to use them. When a bully hears appeasement and apology, he does not believe it, or even care about it. He sneers at it. And he takes it as an indication of two facts. One, the person you’re bullying does not plan on fighting back. And two, the person you’re bullying doesn’t believe, deep down, that he deserves to be safe.
Since Obama came to office, the United States’ foreign policy has been one big apology. As Obama does everything he can to wind down private enterprise and private property at home, he downsizes both the ammunition and morale of our armed forces. At least he’s logically consistent. This presents a perfect opportunity for Iran to become a much more threatening force than it ever would have been. President George W. Bush provided the first gift, by toppling their biggest enemy, Saddam Hussein, and then doing absolutely nothing to harm Iran. Now Obama is finishing the job by telling Iran that we’re so, so sorry for having been # 1 all this time.
Bullies don’t respond to appeasement with peace. They respond with escalation. This is true in the school yard, and it’s true on the world’s nuclear (and economic) stage, where the stakes are much higher.
Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to AP, “in a speech nationally broadcast the other day, staked out a hard line after suggestions by Israel that military strikes are an increasing possibility if sanctions fail to rein in the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. He pledged to aid any nation or group that challenges Israel and said any military strikes would damage U.S. interests in the Middle East ’10 times’ more than they would hurt Iran.”
Supporters of Obama’s foreign policy must be wondering: “Gee, why are these Iranians being so mean? We’ve admitted that we’re wrong. What’s the deal?” They should use this as an opportunity to recognize the mentality underlying any bully. Bullies are not after mutual agreement. They don’t care about compromise. They care about power for power’s sake. Look how the totalitarian dictatorship of Iran treats its own people. They bully and intimidate — even kill them — every day of the week. Why are we surprised when these bullies act no differently in relation to the rest of the world?
Obama’s foreign policy towards Iran is simply one of, “Talk.” Of course, the Iranians won’t talk. They laugh at the idea of talking. But to Obama, the mere act of wanting to talk proves your moral superiority. This will (he thinks) lead to victory. This is about as much a fantasy as the notion that government taxation and wealth redistribution will create new wealth. Like I said, at least Obama is consistent in his idiocy.
Obama keeps claiming that because Iran is not as vast and sophisticated a dictatorship as the Soviet Empire was, it’s not a world threat. This is ridiculous enough to be considered obscene. It’s like saying that a lone gunman, or a terrorizing sniper, isn’t a threat because he doesn’t have a standing army. Would Obama bring his young daughters into Israel if he knew Iran had a nuclear weapon? Of course Iran is a threat. The dictators who run Iran have always shown themselves to be people who mean what they say. Once they have nuclear weapons, they’re going to use them. They might not detonate them on day one, but they will surely use them as blackmail, especially against Israel, to get what they want.
The problem is that our own government isn’t going to believe that Iran has nuclear weapons until they someday detonate them. By then, it will be too late for Israel, or perhaps others.
What will Obama’s stance be then, I wonder?