The leaked memo written by Defense Secretary Robert Gates purportedly warning the White House that the U.S. lacks a specific policy regarding Iran’s nuclear drive must raise concern because it indicates that confusion exists within the current administration in its dealings with Iran. It suggests that President Obama was quite confident that by extending his hand and changing the “change of regime” policy, which was set by the previous administration, he was in control of the situation with Iran and its drive to obtain a nuclear bomb.
President Obama’s approach of sending letters to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and openly calling Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran (code words for accepting the mullah’s rule of Iran) obviously failed to have any effect on the ruling mullahs. Plus the unsuccessful attempt to get Russia and China to join in applying crippling sanctions must have Washington officials scrambling to figure out how to stop Iran’s nuclear program. Hence the warning by Secretary Gates.
However, when General Mullen attempted to downplay the situation, saying there were other contingencies in place, he in effect raised another alarm. He said his “worry about Iran achieving a nuclear weapons capability” is that other states in the region will seek nuclear arms of their own. He also said “I think Iran having a nuclear weapon would be incredibly destabilizing. I think attacking them would also create the same kind of outcome”.
The Iranians responded by announcing that not only will construction on a new enrichment facility commence soon, but Ahmadinejad added a warning to America that any military adventure against Iran will be met with the might of the Iranian army. The supreme leader’s representative in the Revolutionary Guards also announced that if the U.S. dares to attack, then all 32 U.S. bases in the region will be the target of Iranian missiles.
The harshest threat came from Hossein Shariatmadari, the managing editor of Iran’s conservative paper, Keyhan, who is also a strong supporter of President Ahmadinejad and a close confidant of the supreme leader. He said that America should know that it is not the only country with nuclear weapons! And in case of an attack on Iran, “We will use all our power and connections around the world to attack them and make them regret ever thinking about such aggression.” He continued on, “So Obama better listen to these words and stop talking things bigger than his mouth!”
General Mullen is mistaken in thinking that the biggest threat with a nuclear armed Iran would be other countries seeking the same. Yes, that would be a problem, but it’s the least of America’s problems. He is also mistaken in thinking that the consequences of any attack would be as dangerous as a nuclear armed Iran.
The mullah’s path to obtain the bomb not only will take the world hostage many times over, but will also create a nightmare for the West with their nuclear proliferation that will end up arming Syria, Hezbollah, Hamas and other terrorist groups. They will become more emboldened and will expand their terrorist activities around the world.
They know that they sit on one of the main energy passageways of the world and the last thing the West wants to see are nuclear bombs going off in the region driving the oil prices sky high.
The bottom line is: A nuclear armed Iran will checkmate the West and the consequences will be nothing short of horrific for the world.
