All Opinions my own.
(Source Graphic: Andy Blumenthal adapted from here with attribution to International Campaign To Abolish Nuclear Weapons)
Showing posts with label Nukes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nukes. Show all posts
January 6, 2016
Tears & Fears
(Source Graphic: Andy Blumenthal adapted from here with attribution to International Campaign To Abolish Nuclear Weapons)
January 5, 2016
Warning 613
This morning, on the Washington, D.C. Metro, see the time showing (above upper right).
The whole family is seeing this, as I got a note from my daughter just a few minutes ago looking at online classes at Lynda.com and one of the classes had 613 views.
Even to me (normally a critical thinker and healthy skeptic), it seems beyond regular explanations for the frequency and locations that we are seeing these signs.
Also, last night I had a scary dream about what seemed like the end of times--it was almost like The Walking Dead, with people running to the countryside amidst chaos and destruction all around them.
As tensions heat up between major Sunni and Shiite rivals, Saudi Arabia and Iran, and "Axis of Evil" Iran unveils a 2nd underground depot with missiles capable of carrying nukes, and ISIS continues their jihadi rampage leaving 80% of Ramadi in Iraq destroyed at a cost of $10 billion, a new Jihadi John replacement is executing British hostages in Syria, and there are escalating superpower tussles with Russia and China--it is not hard to see just some of the potential dangers in our times in terms of escalating conflict, terrorism, and war.
What is the future for us all, I do not know for certain, but all I can tell you is there appears to be warnings all about, and the question is will we heed them or not and then what is the outcome--it should be with mercy and for blessings. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
January 1, 2016
What Do Red Lines Mean Anyway?
These are weapons of mass destruction we are talking about!
What message do we send our dangerous adversaries, when we say we are going to do something and then we hesitate or don't follow through?
Respect is earned and without that we are as good as roadkill.
When we say something is crossing our red lines we ought to "say what we mean and mean what we say."
Our national security is important, and so are our red lines and follow through actions. ;-)
(Source Graphic: Andy Blumenthal adapted from here with attribution to hobvias sudoneighm)
November 23, 2015
Silence In the Face of Ongoing Terror And Murder
- 21 Murdered
- 184 Wounded (20 critically)
Through:
- 74 Stabbings
- 10 Shootings
- 11 Car Rammings
The murdered include Ezra Schwartz, an 18-year old American citizen from Massachusetts.
Despite the terrorism and the death of an American citizen along with so many other innocent Jews, the superpower country of the world is silent--not calling it reprehensible or deplorable or condemning it or demanding the terrorism stop immediately.
- Silence, despite about the murder of Jews and even its own U.S. citizen in Israel on November 19.
- Silence, yet signing nuke deals with "Axis Of Evil" Iran--the #1 state sponsor of terrorism (undiminished in 2015) and top abuser of human rights.
- Silence in the face of terror attacks against Jews elsewhere abroad, like the Jewish teacher stabbed and killed in Paris last week by three assailants shouting anti-Semitic insults?
- Silence through a "no-show" at the Solidarity Rally in Paris with 40 other heads of state in January to denounce the terror attack on Charlie Hebdo and on the Jewish grocery store that killed 17 innocent people.
- Continuing settlements for an expanding Israeli population who are surrounded by hostile neighbors that want to throw them into the Mediterranean Sea.
- For a peace deal with the Palestinians that didn't materialize without a peace parter that would recognize the Jews States' right to even exist.
- For Netanyahu's objection to the Iranian nuke deal that put's Israel in the crosshairs of a sprouting nuclear regime that threatens annihilation against it.
Regardless of why, it is abundantly clear that the killing of Jews in Israel and abroad is tacitly being given the green light to continue--and so it's an open field day for terror and murder of Jews!
Even the generally harsh critic of Israel, Amnesty International, has come out calling the terror against Israel "reprehensible and unjustified" and "a clear contempt for human life."
The appalling indifference to the murder of Jews by top administration officials, just 70-years after the Holocaust, is being heard loud and clear around the world.
- It is a sanctioning of terrorism and murder, period.
- It is reprehensible, period.
- It is cementing a legacy of blind hatred and blatant discrimination and anti-Semitism that will go down in history, period.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
October 17, 2015
Living In The Dark Ages--Of Hate, Violence, and Endless Excuses
Unbelievable terror and killings have become routine and yet we have become deaf and desensitized to it.
- Using chemical weapons...what red line?
- Dropping barrel bombs...heck, at least it's not more chemical weapons.
- Besieging of cities...how about a short truce to let in some much needed humanitarian aid?
- Beheadings on YouTube...already so cliche.
- Burning people alive in cages or crucifying them...grotesque, but what were they doing there anyway?
- Stoning women for being victims of rape or simply for some trumped up charges...sluts, they must've deserved it!
- Mass abductions, selling, enslavement, and gang rape of women and children...nice photo op for Bring Our Daughters Home.
- Raining missiles down on cities and digging terror tunnels under borders...well their aim isn't so good and the tunnels took them a lot of hard work.
- Bombing and shooting up pizzerias, cafes, clubs, hotels, stores, buses, weddings, funerals, and houses of worship...what can you do--it's a cycle of violence!
- Hacking off limbs, axing and stabbing attacks... of course, a legitimate airing of grievances.
- Flying airplanes into skyscrapers...it was a plot for the Crusaders to invade our lands.
- Building nukes and other weapons of mass destruction along with ballistic missiles, drones, and suitcase bombs to deliver the payload...well, you can't put the knowledge back in the bottle!
More excuses from the political peanut gallery:
Are we just war-weary, being lazy, fearful, hiding out and putting our heads in the sand for a while, focused on other pressing domestic issues, pivoting east, in need of a better strategy, rooting for and helping the other (wrong/evil) side, a little delusional as to our own national and homeland security here, or perhaps, have some seriously gone off the (rational) deep end?
Appeasement, disengagement, and withdrawal...vice leadership.
How do we explain this type of insane, immoral world to our children and is this really the type of sick and treacherous world we want to leave to them?
Oh yes, it's so comfortable and cushy where we are--there is nothing for us to worry about--or is there? ;-)
(Source Photo: Facebook)
October 12, 2015
Terrorism Knows No Boundaries
So far 18 terror stabbings in Israel in less than 10 days.
You never know when it's coming until the blade sears through the air and into the head, neck, chest, or back of the victim.
In an apartment, at a shopping center, riding a bus, on the way to prayer--no one is safe!
Today, one 13-year old boy is in critical condition after being stabbed nearly a dozen times while riding his bicycle in Jerusalem.
The stabbing attacks are coming on top of shootings, stonings, bombings, molotov cocktails, and vehicular hit and runs.
The call for a third Intifada to terrorize and kill Jews in Israel is underway.
This on top of last year's Gaza War when thousands of rockets where fired targeting Israeli cities and critical infrastructure as well as terror tunnels coming under the border to murder and abduct Israelis.
But Israel is not alone in fighting a wave of global terror--it is engulfing the Middle East and farther--from Libya to Syria, Yemen to Turkey, Iraq to Afghanistan--and hundreds of thousands of refugees are streaming to Europe.
Bombing of markets, weddings, funerals, houses of worship, and even peace rallies.
Chemical weapons, beheadings, hacking off limbs, crucifixions, burning victims alive, abductions of women and children, slavery, and gang rape, are now virtually accepted items in the International news, and on a daily basis.
Next in the mix--maybe some suitcase or missile-tipped nukes delivered by impassioned Jihadists?
For now, we are watching from our perch of safety and security here and in Europe, but what when what we witness happening "over there" eventually comes over here...
Have we become so used to and callous to all the terrorism that we barely even blink an eye anymore when we read, hear, or see it?
While terrorism knows no physical boundaries, perhaps with an ever-increasing tempo of sickeningly outrageous and barbaric terrorist acts, it knows no boundaries to our soul anymore either. ;-)
(Source Photo: Facebook via Documenting Anti-Semitism)
October 11, 2015
Imagining The Unimaginable
What if extremists in Iran stopped hating Israel and the United States, and instead liked or even loved us?
Not because of the recent agreement on nukes and lifting of sanctions, but actually in spite of it--because as the Ayatollah has said, he prohibits any further negotiations and often refers to the U.S. as it's enemy (the only thing missing is the usual Iranian chants of "Death to America!").
But today, I saw the Iranian family again the I referred to in a Sept. 27 blog post, where the father had a stroke and the son comes on the weekends from Texas to help his father with physical and occupational therapy to recuperate.
Well today, I saw the daughter too, and both she and the son where in the pool trying to help the father in every way to move and walk again. They swarmed around him in such loving-kindness, I couldn't believe the amazing display of love and devotion to any parent or disabled person. They were all there for him!
And my heart opened up, and I couldn't help thinking what if the Iranian leadership could be moderated by average normal people who just want to care for their families, earn a living, and worship and live in freedom?
What if the Iranian leadership could learn to forgive and love again those who they have hated for so long and so much--the USA and Israel?
If the U.S. can forgive Iran for the hostage crisis that took 52 American diplomats and citizens hostage for 444 long days and the bombing of the Beirut barracks that killed 241 marines, and Israel can forgive the endless Hezbollah terror attacks, the bombing of the Argentinian Jewish Center that killed 29 and wounded 250, the Holocaust denial, and threats of maniacal genocide...then surely, Iran can forgive the U.S.'s role in the 1953 coup that brought the Shah to power and can forgive Israel for merely existing!
As a son of Holocaust survivors, I am a die-hard for the defense and security of the Jewish people, so maybe today I am just being naive, foolish, or letting my imagination run wild.
But I feel that Hashem is putting the words on the screen through my fingertips...what if Esau can stop hating Jacob? What if Iran can stop hating the USA and Israel and there can be peace and not war?
This is a fantasy, but perhaps it can become a reality.
Instead of the cycle of hate, the sponsorship of terror, the secret building of nukes, and aggression escalating until ultimately major devastating military strikes...instead imagine abandoning the old hateful and belligerent ways...imagine forgiveness for the past transgressions and affronts...imagine peace!
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
October 3, 2015
Russia Seems To Have A Strategy, Why Don't We?
Russia is leapfrogging us to pursue their goals of keeping dictator Bashar Al Assad, tightening up on a renewed cozy relationship with Iran and Iraq--in what is the prime oil basin of the world--and reestablishing their place on the world stage as a superpower (apparently, Crimea wasn't the end, but just the beginning), and at the same time killing U.S.-backed Syrian rebels.
But what about our efforts...
Well, we've had "dismal results" after dilly dallying around in Syria for the better part of its 4 1/2 year civil war that's killed over 250,000 people and created 5 million refuges streaming across the Middle East and Europe, and we keep having to "rethink" our strategy there.
At the same time, as to our war to defeat the terrorist ISIS caliphate--who vows to smuggle nukes into America and plans a "religious cleansing" of hundreds of millions--uh, they continue to grow!
What about our more than 10 year investment in Iraq--where we spent over $2 trillion and in which almost 37,000 of our service members were either killed or wounded? --Iraq is now cooperating with...Russia!
How about Iran--for whom we went to the mat with a controversial deal to relieve their sanctions and provide them hundreds of billions of dollars to funnel into their economy as well as global terror? --Iran is allying themselves with Russia (and Hezbollah), deepening their foray into Syria, and continue their threats to annihilate Israel and chants of death to America!
Then to hear yesterday that not only don't we have a strategy as has been the reframe for months, but that we are not going to play chess or get into a proxy war in the Middle East with Russia...well gee, the world game of strategy and brinksmanship is not going to stop for us.
Just because we don't have a (good) strategy and don't want to play global chess anymore doesn't mean Russia, Iran, China, and others aren't going to forge ahead with their dangerous strategies and gains.
We are a wealthy, mighty, and innovative nation--surely, we have a strategy in this country of over 319,000,000 people, somewhere. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 27, 2015
Evil Cannot Be In Charge
Hating and liking.
For example Iran, led by dictators and extremists, is perhaps the epitome of the "Axis of Evil" and the arch enemy of America and Israel
Iran suppresses the freedom and human rights of its people, is the leading sponsor of world terrorism, denies the Holocaust, and threatens brutal attacks on America and to annihilate Israel.
Yet, on a personal level I have had the opportunity to meet a number of Iranians that I really like and respect.
These include amazing colleagues at work, and wonderful members of my synagogue as well as neighbors.
One Iranian family I met just this morning was simply amazing.
The father had a horrible stroke earlier in the year.
Today, I saw the father wheeled to the swimming pool by his son.
The son took his father lovingly into the water and worked with him therapeutically to help him on regaining as much mobility as possible.
I stopped to speak with them, and the man's wife told me that the son, who was a PhD in mechanical engineering from Texas came every week to Washington, D.C. to work with his stricken father.
The son told me that although he was not a therapist worked hard with his father on physical and occupational therapy, and I even saw his father laugh a little with his son in the water.
The son held the father by a safety belt and his father put his hand on his son's shoulder as they walked forward and backwards in the water, and even did a little swim while his son held the belt tight.
I was really impressed by this family and especially the love, caring, and devotion the son showed his father.
Despite their troubles, the wife asked me how I was recuperating and smiled when I told her I was doing better.
It's amazing to me how hate truly is blind.
On one hand, what Iran stands for today led by extremists who seek religious domination, suppression and destruction of others, and a return of the Caliphate is a danger to its people and the world.
On the other hand, many of the people from the streets of Iran are surely some very good people.
We need to see the bad apples and separate them from the good ones.
As a country, we need to support the freedom of the Iranian people and help those that believe in peace and fellowship.
When evil is in a leadership position, then good does not follow, but rather is smothered until it is set free. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 18, 2015
Lights, Camera, Inaction
ACTION!
The show starts...actors spring into action, and the plot takes shape--we have a positive influence and impact on our fellow man and the world we live in.
But there is a sorry alternative storyline.
Where after the lights and camera...nothing happens.
There is a eery silence and a weird INACTION!
Like the actors are asleep at the wheel, went off to play golf or to comedy night, or perhaps went home to momma, and are cowering, and hiding under their beds.
Is this the unfortunate state of our country today?
The world is our stage.
As the sole superpower, the United States is the prime actor today.
We have our calling to go do good--to help, to save, and to bring peace and freedom.
But lo and behold, what happens when we have a policy of inaction?
Where we want peace, but are not willing to do to much of anything for it or perhaps in spite of it.
So how is our world faring today:
- In Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan, and more, millions are dying and injured, while tens of millions are fleeing, displaced, or are in refugee camps, and chemical WMD are in use by Syria and ISIS, while our red lines were drawn and then withdrawn, and we don't know if we are training the opposition or throwing in the towel on the ground.
- ISIS, Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Boko Haram, etc. are rampant and overrunning the Middle East and North Africa, killing, torturing, raping, destroying, and plummeting, as well as recruiting back in Europe and here in the States, amidst calls for attacks against us and our allies.
- Russia takes Crimea and is resurgent in Eastern Ukraine and the Arctic, and antagonizing all around Europe with ever encroaching warplanes and warships, and militarizing and modernizing their formidable nuclear arsenal, and we stand up a new NATO rapid reaction force, while we are again surprised by Russia, now in Syria.
- China is expanding into the South China Sea, flexing it's economic and military muscle, and cyber attacking and stealing our vital government and economic information assets with relative impunity, while we trade with our partner and pivot this way and that.
- North Korea restarts it's nuclear plant, readies for another banned missile launch, sinks South Korean ships, plants deadly landmines on the South's side of the demilitarized zone, and provokes toward a military confrontation, while we lick our wounds from the last broken agreements with them.
- Iran has stymied the people's freedom movement, executed the opposition and homosexuals, builds toward a deadly nuclear and ballistic missile future, seeks the destruction of America ("The Great Satan") and Israel, is massively funding and arming their terrorist proxies to the tune of billions of dollars, and has gotten a get out of jail free card and sanctions lifting.
So what can we do?
Well in the past, we were a meaningful deterrent to countries and people doing bad things.
We stood proudly and tall for human rights, freedom, equality, democracy, anti-proliferation, and sustainability.
We didn't have to fight everywhere to make our point--but just knowing that we were willing to stand for righteousness and justice often meant those with evil intentions stepping back and rethinking it.
Occasionally, we did have to put our blood and treasure where our mouths were, and perhaps we often did this too rashly and imprudently (when diplomacy or some saber rattling might have done the trick).
However, the world cannot afford for us to be war weary or chase empty legacies of peace built on blind hope or a running away from our responsibilities.
While the world burns, we can't be looking for Nobel Prizes instead of seeking out the fire extinguishers and medical kits to save and to heal.
As it is so wisely stated: "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
Peace is not born of inaction, but of brave actors willing to do what is necessary to achieve all that is good and all that can be done. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 8, 2015
August 4, 2015
July 26, 2015
What's So Funny About Non-Proliferation?
Here's what they are saying online in some satire on the Iranian Nuke WMD Deal.
The Spanish comedian is talking about something else (I don't know what), but the subtitles were dubbed to make the points about the issues with this deal.
No disrespect intended to anyone, but the points illustrated are well made.
Is this how we want the world to view us?
We are hoping and praying for a real and verifiable peace.
July 25, 2015
July 24, 2015
Actions Speak Louder Than Deals
Similar to the Movie, "The Stoning of Soraya M."--only this is real life footage.
Highly graphic...beware.
A 17-year old girl ambushed by crowd of men, savagely kicked and beaten, and stoned to death with a large cinderblock finally slammed onto her head.
All the while, the men are taking photos and videos with their smartphones.
And playing with her skirt up and down in some perverted way while the blood is gushing out of her skull.
Supposedly for loving the "wrong" boy.
Who does something like this?
Can some people be so religiously brainwashed as to think this can be "right"?
Where are people's inner conscience and moral compass?
As ISIS beheads and burns alive their opponents, Boko Haram hacks off people's limbs and takes young girls as sex slaves, Al Qaeda conducts countless suicide bombings, Syria gases their own people, and Iran outmaneuvers the West toward a nuclear bomb to annihilate their enemies...we had better take very seriously what we are dealing with.
Shouldn't any deal we make seek to genuinely change these behaviors rather than make a deal for deal's sake?
We need to wake up before the warnings that we are witnessing from afar become lessons here at home.
We need a genuine and verifiable peace--oh G-d let it be!
July 19, 2015
Come Back In A Month!
In a nutshell:
"Can I check your suspected site for dangerous nuclear WMD?"
"No!"
"Ok, I'll come back in 24 days."
"Great, thank you--have a nice day."
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Chaim Haberfeld, Facebook)
July 18, 2015
The "Real" Reason Behind The Iran Deal
Why would the United States make a bad deal with Iran?
- Where Iran gets to keep their nuke infrastructure.
- Where they get restrictions for a mere 10-15 years and then presumably get the coveted BOMB.
- Where "managed access" for inspections has a ridiculous 24 days waiting time.
- Where the arms and ballistic missile embargo is lifted.
- Where Iran gets a windfall of $150 billion released to them for which they acknowledge they will tap for use to support terror worldwide.
- Where Iran's leadership continues to chant "Death To America," burn our flag and President in effigy, hold Americans hostage, threaten us, and insist that their hatred and fight against us will go on.
Are we going crazy?
No, there is actually a rational reason for all this.
So what's the reason--let me explain from my simple-minded thinking about all this (follow carefully)?
Iran is a Shiite nation.
Shiite's make up only a small percentage of the Islamic world around 15% (or 200 million).
However, the Sunnis make up the other 1 billion Muslims.
The Sunnis are moving through terrorist movements such as ISIS, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, Hamas and more to create a Sunni Caliphate throughout the Middle East and North Africa (and maybe beyond).
The Western world fears the terror and destruction that can come about from a Sunni Caliphate.
Also, on 9/11, The U.S. was attacked by Al Qaeda (Sunnis) and where 15 of the 19 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia (a Sunni Country).
The answer is the enemy of my enemy is my friend...Iran.
Iran is the largest Shiite Country with it's own ambitions for a Shiite Caliphate.
Arming and funding Iran is a bulwark against the predominant Sunnis and their ambitions for power and hegemony.
Notably, guess what? Iraq is another country with a large Shiite population, like Iran.
Hence, this is why the U.S. went into Iraq to dethrone Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, who was holding power over the Shiite population--now the Shiites there are in power.
Voila, Shiites in Iran and neighboring Iraq empowered to fight Sunnis.
They mostly terrorize and murder each other instead of seriously battling the West.
Since 9/11, there has not been a major terrorist attack on the U.S.
And if Iran is on the road to the Bomb, and this sparks a nuclear arms race in the Middle East with Saudi Arabia etc., perhaps the thinking...maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.
Unfortunately, Israel who is threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran who explicitly wants to "annihilate" them is caught in the middle of all this.
But the West is more concerned with the Sunnis and Shiites battling it out, then with the fate of Israel, who we figure can be placated with some "compensation" armaments to protect themselves.
But is that enough for a country where one nuclear missile hit can mean a second Holocaust?
I am not a conspiracy theorist and never have been.
But this seems too easy. ;-)
(All Opinions My Own)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 15, 2015
The World's Most Dangerous Game Of Chicken
Bret Stephens of the Wall Street Journal does a nice job explaining in simple terms why Iran can't be allowed to get the bomb--not now and not in 10-15 years.
Iran is not playing by the same rules as the West!
And like when playing chicken, the one who is the chicken and tries to simply avoid confrontation through appeasement and concessions--they end up driving off the road and are the losers.
And one who is the hawk--willing to not only keep on pursuing their goals, but also to actually either use it or to stop it's use by any and all means--chances to be the winner.
However, the problem with nukes is that when someone is crazy enough to actually use them, then millions of decent, peaceful-loving people are the real losers.
And like with Hitler (may his name be cursed) who made known in "Mein Kampf" his crazed ambitions for world domination and blatantly murdered millions...
Iran, the world's leading state-sponsor of terrorism and human rights offender today, continues to boldly chant "Death to America" and threatens to "annihilate" the State of Israel, while pursuing nukes, ballistic missiles, and a Shiite Caliphate.
This is perhaps the world's most dangerous "game" of chicken, and the cost of being wrong, never higher.
July 11, 2015
Dancing With The Devil
- No more answering questions about their past nuclear WMD activities.
- No more gradual sanctions relief.
- No more giving up all their spinning centrifuges.
- No more anywhere, anytime inspections of suspicious military sites.
Actually, this is all quite amazing!
And at the same time as Iran doesn't give a real inch toward what the West wants, their negotiators are now throwing in yet more of what they want and that includes doubling their oil sales immediately and the removal of the arms and ballistic missile embargo.
Hey, if you are the Iranians in the negotiations--ask and ye shall receive.
But what about what we should be asking for, but are not:
1) Iran needs to give up and dismantle their infrastructure for producing nuclear weapons--ALL of it, period. Isn't it obvious that Iran having nukes is inevitable if they are allowed to continue to be permitted to have some nuke capability in plain sight and the rest conducted in hiding out of our limited inspections purview?
2) Iran must cease being the leading state sponsor of terrorism world-wide or for that matter any sponsor of terrorism--that is not how civilized nations behave! How can Iran be trusted on any nuke agreement as long as they continue to murder and terrorize innocents just as part of what they do. Just as an example, does anyone remember the 242 U.S. Marines killed in the Beirut barracks bombing. What happened to "We don't negotiate with terrorists"?
3) Iran cannot continue their overt hatred of the West, while pretending to negotiate an end to sanctions. Chanting "Death to America" (and Israel), burning our flag and our President in effigy, calling us their worst enemy, and threatening to attack and annihilate them is not in spirit of negotiating an agreement, is it? Again, where is foundation for trust here to even make an agreement?
4) Iran can't deny the truth of the Holocaust and the murder of six million innocent Jewish people in the most cruel ways just 70 years ago and simultaneously sit at the table today with world leaders in suits and ties and smiles, pretending to make a verifiable agreement that means anything.
While we all want true world peace, this leopard has not at all changed its stripes.
The words "Never Again" are not just an empty saying, but rather they are a commitment that all good and decent people must take upon themselves to ensure that hatred, terror, and evil are no longer permitted in the league of civilized nations.
The devil always presents himself in an appealing way, but as history has shown over and over again, he never fails to hurt those who try to appease him.
May G-d guide the leaders of this great nation with wisdom and to see those with whom they negotiate for who they really are--and may a true peace reign in our times.
(All opinions my own.)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 7, 2015
A Deal Of Dread
I would imagine that very soon there will be ATA-boys, pats on the back and high-fives, photo ops, more gushing smiles, and of course the coveted Noble Peace Prize.
But as we move ever closer to a deal with Iran on Nuclear Weapons Of Mass Destruction all I feel is complete dread.
I wish I could be happy--really I do--because we had a strong and verifiable deal that protected us all, but instead...
I am afraid for the State of Israel--holy to Jews, Christians, and Muslims around the world--as a nuclear capable Iran and their terrorist proxies renew vows to annihilate Israel--only 70 years after the Holocaust that erased 6 million Jewish lives, their souls rising in the billowing smoke of the furnaces of the Nazi crematoria.
Further, I am afraid for the dimming prospects of true world peace based on the tacit acceptance of an eventual nuclear-armed Iranian regime, still the leading state sponsor of world-wide terrorism.
Every day, we are bombarded by a cacophony of what seems an unending litany of concessions to Iran:
2) Yesterday, it was that Iran wants an immediate doubling of oil exports.
3) Last week, it was that rather than gradual sanctions relief for compliance, instead now Iran would get a $150 billion signing bonus - that is 25 times the annual budget of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard and could be used to finance and carry out yet more global terrorism.
4) And that for vital inspections for nuke compliance, "anytime, anywhere, unimpeded" of suspicious military sites would now only be a highly watered down "managed access" of inspections.
5) Three weeks ago, the U.S. said that Iran no longer needs to account for the past nuclear weapons research that world representatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), had been trying to pry out of them for than a decade.
6) In March, as part of the framework deal, we learned that Iran's freeze on sensitive nuclear activities would only be 10 years, and even that Iran was calling "unaceptable."
7) Moreover in March, we learned that despite any agreement, Iran was continuing to pursue banned items for nukes and the missiles to deliver them.
In April, we were reminded of the dangers of failed nuclear agreements when China warned about North Korea's ever expanding nuke arsenal, which critics have pointed out mimics that of the deal with Iran.
Aside from the dangerous weaknesses in the emerging deal, Iran's hatred for the United States is unmitigated as a general in Iran said just last week that the U.S. remains "our worst, most vicious enemy."
Moreover, as Iran's Parlimant bans access to its military sites, they continue unabated their generational old chant of "death to America."
In these fateful times, when our decisions now will affect the lives of untold millions in the future, let us pray for G-d's mercy.
May the L-rd above bestow the strength of good character, wisdom of our ancestors, and the fortitude of our great heros to ensure a good deal--or no deal at all--with our avowed and undetered enemy--and may he bring a true peace to us all.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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