A Voice in the Wilderness In Defense of "Mere Conservatism"

The 500-lb Iranian Gorilla in the Room

Iran is the problem in the Middle East.

In the late 1970’s one of the weakest Presidents our nation has ever known, Jimmy Carter, handed control of the most influential country in the Middle East over to Muslim extremists and fascists. In an act of pathetic Liberal appeasement (almost as disgusting as Neville Chamberlain circa 1938-39) and by his inaction and unwillingness to use overwhelming force, Carter helped usher in the Islamic Revolution, eventually resulting in the yearlong hostage standoff involving hundreds of American citizens.

One of the proponents and participants of that revolution, who personally helped seize the American Embassy in Tehran, was none other than current Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Another coveted position old Mahmoud held in the 80’s was this: commander of the brigade in charge of removing land mines from the Iran/Iraq border during their war with Saddam Hussein.

Sounds harmless, even noble? I forgot to add something important. He removed the mines by recruiting volunteers to walk on the mines and die as martyrs. No, wait. It gets worse. The Ahmadinejad recruits were children under the age of 15.

So Mahmoud can check devoted, militant, fanatical follower of the prophet Muhammad off his “Life Goals” list made in high school. His Islamic radical guidance counselor would be so proud. Unfortunately this man is not just insane. He’s also highly intelligent with a special genius for evil. He knew exactly what he was doing then just like he does now. He is a university-trained engineer, doctoral recipient, and former Mayor of Tehran, all before being elected President of Iran. He is no simpleton. That’s what makes him so dangerous.

For the last 30 years Iran has been on the attack against America. First there were the American hostages in 1979. Then the killing of 250 Marines by an Iranian sponsored terrorist groups in 1983 in Lebanon. The same group also hijacked planes on three separate occasions during the 1980’s.

This summer we saw Iran (Hezbollah) as they cowardly shot rockets into Israeli towns with little concern whether civilian or soldier was hit. Iran praised the work of Hezbollah and sent over $200 million in aide to be handed out to the Lebanese people. The strategy was to undermine Israel (as if they needed further undermining in that region), but more importantly, to undermine American/British support of Israel. While they have a unique hatred for Israel, their hatred only starts there.

Iran is currently living large by spitting in the face of Europe, the United Nations and the United States while moving ahead at an alarming pace to arm themselves with nuclear capabilities. They’ve announced their plan to expand their centrifuge capabilities (the devices required to turn uranium into fissionable material used in nuclear bombs). President Ahmadinejad barely blushes as he tells the world just how those bombs will be used.

Opening a security conference in Tehran on July 8th, Mahmoud called for mobilization of the Islamic world to “remove the Zionist regime” known as Israel. He stated that the nations of the Middle East were beyond furious and that, “It will not be long before this intense fury will lead to a huge explosion.” Four days later, Hezbollah started a month-long war with Israel which witnessed over 120 rockets a day shot into the homes of Israelis.

This week Ahmadinejad held a “Holocaust Denial” conference apparently to explain away how six million Jews simply disappeared from the planet (having vanished mysteriously between the years 1939 and 1945). Rabid anti-Semites finally could cash in their saved-up “Frequent Flyer” miles and find just the right holiday destination. (Hunny, how quickly can you have your bags packed for Tehran?) At a press conference after the Hate-Fest ran out of steam for the day, Mahmoud vowed that Israel would be “wiped off the map” soon enough. He promised that Israel would follow the path of the former Soviet Union (the key difference being that Israel will be instantly blown out of existence and the Ruskies were slowly drained economically and morally by a President, Pope, and Prime Minster).

What I wish to stress to you, the reader, is just how dangerous, just how serious Iran is about instigating WWIII. Ahmadinejad is a well-educated, religious zealot who ascribes to a brand of Islam that teaches there is a 12th Imam (the Pope of Islam) that has been hidden for ten centuries in a well somewhere. When the wet (and perhaps slightly arthritic) Imam emerges it will be with Jesus by his side (no joke). Islam will then dominate the world once again and a Caliphate (Islamic theocracy) will rule for a thousand years.

Now, where have we heard all this before? 1) do away with all the Jews; 2) instigate a world-wide conflict to usher in a 1000 year reign; 3) spit in the face of the world’s democracies when told to halt the proliferation of weapons and 4) fill the role of promised savior? Let’s see – did anything ever come of Hitler’s ranting and raving? Or should we just ignore history and negotiate with Iran’s president as the modern liberals and appeasement-crazy moderates suggest? Unless I’m mistaken the last time we tried to appease a megalomaniac we ended up with a World War II monument in Washington D.C. and 50 million dead from nations throughout the world.

Here’s the truth.

President Ahmadinejad daily promises the destruction of our staunchest ally in the Middle East (Israel). He also boasts that the “head of Satan” (read America) will be next in line. He has twice sent open letters to President Bush and the American people basically warning us to repent or perish. Ahmadinejad states that only when we Americans are out of the picture will “freedom be achieved for the world.”

He is the Hitler of our time.

He blames the Jews for his people’s self-inflicted wounds. He promises total world dominance. He refuses to comply with the promises and treaties made by his predecessors to reduce his military (nuclear) build-up. He talks of a thousand-year rule by Islam. Are you getting the correlation here between old Mahmoud and Mein Furher?

Incidentally Ahmadinejad promises the return of that overly-hydrated Imam in the next two years.

Here’s what we have going in our favor. Iraq and Afghanistan offer strategic staging areas where a potential military strike against Iran could occur. Our naval capabilities in the Persian Gulf could be ready at a moment’s notice to pound targets inside of Iran. A large number of Iranians would welcome the chance to install a true democracy and can aid us with key intelligence and in the formation of a government to replace Mahmoud’s five year Reich.

The result would be a world spared the horrors of a nuclear bomb in the hands of a certified lunatic. We could achieve peace through victory – rather than defeat through appeasement. And we have a President in office – despite his recent setbacks – who I believe still cares more about the protection of the American people than he does his popularity or legacy.

Here’s what’s not in our favor. Americans and Europeans are more interested in Nicole Richie’s DUI than saving us from Adolph junior. Lately many Republicans are sounding just as weak on the War on Terror as Democrats have been. We’re losing our moral clarity and courage to do what has to be done because it might be unpopular. And we have a Democratic majority about to take over Congress who believes you can negotiate with terrorist nations.

Now here’s the reality.

We can stand up to Iran and Syria now and do what has to be done. There is still time to act, but it must be soon. Or we can wait until their nukes have been dropped and we’re left with that post-9/11 feeling of, “How did this happen without anyone seeing it coming?”

Consider yourself warned.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1164881878838&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/15/AR2005121501428.html