Iran Launches Test Missiles

The Iranian government this week proved that it can be just a pigheaded, jingoistic and foolish as the American and Israeli governments when it launched several missiles in a “test.” Preceding this, Israel had threatened to attack Iran’s “peaceful” nuclear installations, and the US has been trying for ever tighter sanctions against Tehran. Following the tests of missiles that could hit Tel Aviv, US Secretary of State neoCondoleezza Rice said, “We are also sending a message to Iran that we will defend American interests and . . . the interests of our allies.”

This kind of public posturing is counter-productive if the idea is to ensure that a safe and secure Iran doesn’t have nuclear weapons. Now, it is true that the Bush administration and the Olmert government don’t want a safe and secure Iran if it’s run by the mullahs. It is also true that some in Iran believe that a nuclear bomb is a sine qua non for safety and security in a neighborhood that includes Russia, China, India, Pakistan and Israel (all nuclear powers). They note that non-nuclear Iraq-Nam got attacked while nuclearizing North Korea got aid packages.

However, the further escalation of the dispute this week brings a major exchange of gunfire that much closer, and no one can afford it. Israel and the US may well try to delay the Iranian nuclear program by attacking (they won’t get it all; it’s too spread out). In retaliation, Iran will increase attacks on Israel via its puppets in the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon. For good measure, it can close the Straits of Hormuz and turn off much of the oil the US and its allies need. If that happens, it may be that the US decides to go all out against the mullahs – in for a penny, in for a pound. Russia and China may not accede to this.

The fact is the Iranians believe that Mr. Bush is the problem, and that when he leaves office in January, they’ll get a more reasonable deal out of either Senator Obama or Senator McCain. They may misjudge the latter, but even the American media have done that. Besides in negotiations, what one side believes to be factual is much more important that what the facts truly are.

So, it’s time for everyone to shut up, sit down and breathe deeply. General Hosein Salami, the air force commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said, “Our hands are always on the trigger and our missiles are ready for launch.” Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barack said, “We must work towards an accord - but if not, then we must strike our enemy when it is required." That’s quite enough of that.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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