Iran is a terrorist state. Syria is a terrorist state. Now they've
formed a pact to oppose the United States. Is this a marriage made in hell
or what?
As I mentioned in a previous editorial; the government of Iran
is not to be trusted. No matter what they say, everything they agree to (on
paper) is done only to placate the Europeans (France) and to gather a wider
base of opposition to the U.S. in the United Nations. What they say and what
they do are complete opposites. The Iranian Nuclear program is moving forward
with break neck speed to develop a nuclear weapon.
They have seen what empowerment the nuclear bomb has given the
North Koreans and they are quick students.
They have seen a third world, impoverished, non-industrial country
(North Korea), bring the major super powers of the earth to its bargaining
table. And guess what? They're going to get the lions share of everything
they're asking for. North Korea will never give up its Nuclear weapon either.
So now we have a state (Iran) that has been at the heart of
almost every terrorist act since the 1970's. If they didn't train them, they
supported them with financing or logistics. Now they are going to have a Nuclear
Bomb?
Iran does not want a legitimate democracy in Iraq. As I mentioned
in another, previous, editorial, Iran's government as a theocracy is ready
to fall. They have the largest dissident population in the mid-East and just
the mere mention of its existence in a speech by President Bush sends thousands
of them into the streets to demonstrate for freedom.
To the North of Iraq lies Syria. A country run by an optometrist.
Another terrorist haven. The Syrian government just assassinated the former
prime minister of Lebanon, Rafiq Al-Hariri was the front runner in the upcoming
elections to be held in Lebanon. He was also was a reformer, an advocate of
free elections in Lebanon and an advocate of throwing Syria out of Lebanon.
So they killed him. Syria does not want an Iraqi democracy right next door.
(Not only does Syria support a cornucopia of terrorist movements and organizations,
it has been harboring the command and control center for the current insurgency
in Iran.)
In addition to all of this, we strongly suspect that prior to
the overthrow of Saddam, caravans of trucks were transporting the weapons
of mass destruction into Syria. They are either still in Syria or spirited
away to the Becca valley in Lebanon. Former Baathist regime leaders and members
of Saddam's former military are alive, thriving and kicking in Syria. Among
the most notable are Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri - a top aide considered, "The
most loyal", to Saddam and Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hasan, Saddam's advisor
and half brother. It is well known that Abu Masab al-Zarqawi has traveled
frequently back and forth to Syria.
Now, since the Iraqi election did not yield an overwhelming
Shiite majority, Iran does not have a stranglehold on the fledging government
in Iraq. Iran will not yield to freedom on its border. So now they've gone
to plan B, forming an alliance of convenience with Syria based on two common
interests, hatred of the U.S. and support of destabilizing the new democracy
in Iraq.
This new strategic alliance whose admitted purpose is to oppose
the U.S., doesn't leave us many choices. Diplomatic sanctions and U.N. resolutions
are as worthless as confederate paper money. Remember, the U.N. oil for food
program put more money in Saddam's coffers after, than before he was sanctioned.
We must meet this growing crisis head on. And we must not budge
an inch. The way I see it, the U.S. must do the following:
1. We must support the fledgling democracy in Iraq. And not
falter.
2. We must prevent Iran from obtaining a Nuclear weapon, at any cost, including
a pre-emptive strike. Who cares what France thinks?
3. We must support the grass roots democratic dissidents in Iran. This may
be our best move in the long run.
4. Syria must be forced to give up its support for the insurgency.
5. Syria must be forced to remove its military forces from Lebanon. By the
way, there is already a U.N. sanction on this one. Let the Lebanese choose
their own government.
6. We must stand by and support Israel if they decide to strike the nuclear
sites in Iran on their own.
The bottom line is that we cannot stand by and let these conditions
continue. If we don't deal with them now, we will surely deal with them later.
Frankly, I don't like the thought of sitting across a bargaining table from
some smiling Ayatollah who has his finger on a red button.
