I remember the haunting words of a Jewish Holocaust survivor. He explained that those who avoided the death camps believed Hitler. As "der Fuhrer's" fierce rhetoric waxed against the Jews, a few took him seriously and fled. The survivor's family believed Hitler's words and fled to the United States. They left behind friends and neighbors who found Hitler's blustering rants unbelievable. They reasoned, "Surely no one would allow such a madman to effect such schemes. Surely our friends and neighbors will rise to our defense. Surely everyone sees that the man is crazy." Upon leaving Germany, the survivor never saw these friends and neighbors again. Their incredulity fed a vain and diminishing hope that was extinguished in the ashes of Auschwitz.
Fatal optimism yet lives! Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has spoken plainly enough. He has declared that Israel should be "wiped off the map." He has the missile capability to do so. He is near acquiring the nuclear capability to do so. And, most importantly, he demonstrates the will to use these capabilities. Some might demur that acting on these aspirations would be suicidal. They might declare, "Surely no one would allow such a madman to effect such schemes. Surely he would not hazard the wrath and reprisal of the international community?"
Benjamin Netanyahu, the current prime minister of Israel, believes the madman. He is settled in his conviction that the risks to Israel from a nuclear Iran are unacceptable. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that he is preparing to extinguish Iran's nuclear facilities. Even if a coalition (that includes Russia and China) could be cobbled together, and if that coalition could muster enough chutzpah to effect harsh sanctions, and if this could be immediately effected and vigorously maintained (those are some very iffy "ifs."), there may not be enough time for such measures to achieve the desired effect. Netanyahu knows this, and also has reason (justified in my mind) to think that President Obama will not support the military action he is planning. He is alone, the clock is ticking, and he believes the madman.
There is a high probability that Israel will launch an attack against Iran in the near future. There is also a high probability that Iran will lob a nuclear warhead into Israel as soon as it is able. It is unclear who will take action first. But let's be clear about about this: Throwing firebrands is the madman's trademark. He may disguise his intentions even by feigning affability, but he is prepared to deal in death. Brace yourselves!
Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows and death, so is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, “Was I not joking?” (Prov. 26:18-19).
I read today on CNN that the dollar is going to be unseated as the currency for trading oil.
http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/06/markets/dollar_oil_gold/index.htm?postversion=2009100615
America is in a tailspin folks. Israel is quickly becoming "Alone in the dark." Another factor why other countries (besides the U.S.) will not act:
Iran has the third largest oil reserves, and is the 2nd largest producer of oil. Does this give them power over other countries such as China, Russia, other EU nations as well as OPEC itself? You bet!
If you think the fellow in charge of Iran is not cuckoo, you better heed the message of the article I'm commenting on. Einstein was right to leave Germany when he did, but a lot of very smart people did not leave to their doom.
Israel cannot leave. It means they have only one option. That makes it not a question of "if" but "when" they must act to protect themselves as a people and as a country.
Never again!
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000009650557 | October 06, 2009 at 03:20 PM