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Thursday, May 23, 2013

The Senate Flexes Its Muscles

It is difficult to know whether to cheer or laugh at the following bit of news:

The United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution yesterday that expresses support for Israel should that country be forced to take action against the Iranian nuclear program.  Here is the heart of the resolution:

“If the Government of Israel is compelled to take military action in legitimate self-defense against Iran’s nuclear weapons program, the United States Government should stand with Israel and provide, in accordance with United States law and the constitutional responsibility of Congress to authorize the use of military force, diplomatic, military, and economic support to the Government of Israel in its defense of its territory, people, and existence.”

This is truly amazing.

Without a doubt, America is better equipped to take out the Iranian nuclear program than Israel is.  We have an airforce that has stealth bombers, cruise missiles, bunker busters, and all sorts of technology that the Israeli airforce does not.  We also have bases and carriers from which an attack on Iran's nuclear program could be launched which are much closed to the targets than the airfields in Israel are.  It is also indisputable that a nuclear armed Iran is a danget to America just as it is to Israel.

So why is the Senate announcing support for an Israeli attack on the Iranian nuclear program rather than seeking American action that would have a much greater chance of success?  Remember the Senate passed this resolution by a vote of 99 to 0, so this is not a partisan issue.  Which of the great minds in the Senate can explain this vote so that it makes sense.

Look, if the Israelis actually attack Iran, we ought to stand by them and assist them defend against any counter attack.  That is a fundamental truth in the current world.  But, we also need to have a government that is prepared to act to protect American interests with something other than a speech or a press conference.  The mullahs in Teheran do not care how well or how poorly president Obama delivers his next speech.  They already think he is a fool, and they do not care what he says.  If Iranian nukes are to be prevented, it will take action not words.  It is time that Washington, all of Washington, wakes up to this reality.


 

 

 

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