The United States and Iran are on a path toward direct armed conflict. In early October, U.S. officials accused Iranian operatives of planning to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States on American soil. In early January, Tehran sentenced to death an American citizen visiting family in Iran on charges of alleged espionage.
The threat of military strikes on Iran has upturned the quiet and comfortable lives once enjoyed by many Iranians, ushering in a new era of struggle and fear.
The United States has pointedly ramped up its public warnings over the last few weeks about the risks of military action against Iran, accompanied by private words of caution to Israel, which sees Tehran\’s nuclear push as a direct threat.
The top U.S. military officer told Reuters on Wednesday he did not know whether Israel would alert the United States ahead of time if it decided to take military action against Iran.
Iran has accused Israel of attacks on two Iranian nuclear scientists.
Israeli leaders have not asked the United States for approval to attack Iran for fear Washington will turn them down, according to a news report.
Walt and Mearsheimer portray as interchangeable the pro-Israel lobby and the neo-conservatives who have developed Bush\’s foreign policy. Not surprisingly, this report got negative reviews from pro-Israel groups.
Will Iran\’s nukes only kill Jews? That\’s the question Palestinians should be asking themselves. Because the answer is no.
The building tempest surrounding Israel, the United States, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and allegations of spying shouldn\’t obscure the real problem at the root of it all: Iran\’s WMDs.
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