Iran’s a joke — but the world’s not laughing
It’s no longer news that Iran wants a world without Israel and that it’s leaders seek to wipe Israel off the map. But, if it were news, we’d want to report to you that the Tehran improv comedy troupe known as “the Iranian government” was at it again today. “The Zionist regime is a cancerous tumor and it will be removed,” said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at Friday prayers in Tehran. No word yet on whether they’ll use the latest Israeli-made techniques for treating cancer.
We’ve come to look at these guys as a joke – and their own words make it easy. In the same speech, Iran’s Supreme Leader claimed that the Islamic Revolution that installed his theocracy in 1979 had “replaced dictatorship with democracy.” He said that war with the United States – which only Iran is seriously talking about right now – “would be 10 times worse for America.” Usually when they speak, we roll our eyes and maybe laugh at them. And that’s okay – they deserve to be laughingstocks.
But we should keep in mind that the threat they pose is not a joke. Today, Iran announced that it had successfully launched an advanced observation satellite into space. The concern here is twofold: first, Iran claims that the imaging and surveillance capabilities of the satellite are far more advanced than they’ve had access to previously; and, second, the continued development of Iranian rocket technology means that we’ve taken another step closer to one of the world’s worst regimes having Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs).
And, as if we need further reminders of how close Iran is to developing nuclear weapons, the news today also carries a report that UN inspectors were, just today, denied access to a key Iranian military facility. Such denial is a violation of Iran’s treaty obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (which they’ve been serially violating for decades and been sanctioned for by the UN Security Council four times…so at least it’s familiar territory).
Comments (1) »Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 12:44 PM | Stand for Israel
U.S. intelligence: Iran willing to attack on U.S. soil
An Iranian soldier salutes in front of a placard of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a military parade in Tehran, Iran. (photo: UPI)
During a congressional testimony this Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper Jr. reported that U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that Iran is prepared to launch terrorist attacks on American soil.
Clapper explained that the intelligence community reached their conclusion after Tehran’s alleged role in last year’s assassination attempt of a Saudi ambassador in Washington.
If the intelligence agency is convinced that Iran is prepared to carry out terrorist attacks in the U.S., then who is to say that Iran would not consider a nuclear attack on the U.S. once they achieve that capability?
Given the increasing threats from Iran, the Western world must prevent them from acquiring nuclear weapons. A nuclear weapon in the hands of the radicalized regime that controls Iran will be devastating, not just for Israel, but for the U.S. and the E.U. as well.
Comments (3) »Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 10:18 AM | Amichai Farkas
U.S. boosts military presence in Persian Gulf
Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, head of U.S. Central Command (photo: Getty)
The latest from the Persian Gulf:
Comments (0) »The Pentagon quietly shifted combat troops and warships to the Middle East after the top American commander in the region warned that he needed additional forces to deal with Iran and other potential threats, U.S. officials said.
Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, who heads U.S. Central Command, won White House approval for the deployments late last year after talks with the government in Baghdad broke down over keeping U.S. troops in Iraq, but the extent of the Pentagon moves is only now becoming clear.
Officials said Thursday that the deployments are not meant to suggest a buildup to war, but rather are intended as a quick-reaction and contingency force in case a military crisis erupts in the standoff with Tehran over its suspected nuclear weapons program.
Friday, January 13th, 2012 at 3:11 PM | Stand for Israel
Who killed the Iranian nuclear scientist?
Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan (Photo: CTV)
There is a good deal of discussion among friends and enemies of Israel alike about the killing yesterday of Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, a top Iranian nuclear scientist and leading official at the Natanz nuclear site. Roshan was killed, according to media reports, by two motorcyclists who threw a bomb at his car and sped away. The killing took place mere blocks from the Iranian intelligence headquarters. Iran has called it “a daring terror attack.” Media around the world are referring to it as an assassination.
An assassination by whom is an interesting question. It could be Israel’s intelligence agency, the Mossad. It could just as easily be our own CIA. Or it could be the remnants of the Iranian opposition Green movement that famously took to the streets after the sham “election” in 2009. The Greens have largely been forced underground in the years since the failed revolution and their participation in the recent spate of scientist killings should not be ruled out.
Regardless of who is responsible, we can only pray that these activities slow down Iran’s inexorable march toward a nuclear weapon.
Comments (15) »Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at 3:23 PM | Stand for Israel
Iranian Army Chief Threatens U.S.
The USS John C. Stennis
Iranian Army Chief Ataollah Salehi recently threatened the United States, stating that if U.S. naval carriers return to the Persian Gulf after Iranian naval exercises have been completed, then Iran will take action. The U.S. naval carriers usually stationed in the Persian Gulf left the area prior to Iran’s ten-day naval exercise, which ended this Monday.
“Iran will not repeat its warning,” Salehi told the Iranian state news agency. “The enemy’s carrier has been moved to the Sea of Oman because of our drill. I recommend and emphasize to the American carrier not to return to the Persian Gulf.”
Relations between the U.S. and Iran have been increasingly strained over the past few weeks. Recently, in response to growing sanctions against the Islamic Republic, Iran threatened to close of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 40% of the world’s oil supply is shipped. In response to Iran’s threat, the Obama administration responded by moving the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis through the Strait of Hormuz.
Obama has kept pressure on Iran, and on New Year’s Eve the President signed a bill imposing new sanctions on financial institutions that deal with Iran’s central bank. This new bill, along with the threat of further sanctions targeting Iran’s oil industry, has hit Iran’s economy hard.
In the face of this growing pressure, Tehran has announced its willingness to renew talks over its nuclear program with the 5+1 powers, which include the U.S., U.K., Britain, France, Russia, and China. According to Israeli Political Science Professor Amiel Ungar, Iran’s sudden interest in renewing talks is designed to cause a split between the U.S. and the E.U. in order to avoid an oil embargo.
If there was ever a time when the U.S. needed to show leadership, it is now. It should be obvious to all that renewed talks will only serve Iran’s interest. The U.S. must lead the way for an oil embargo against Iran, because this is the last chance to stop the Iranian nuclear bomb…
Read More » Comments (14) »Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012 at 6:24 PM | Amichai Farkas
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