updated questions, Blinken "cannot support two allies at once"

Submitted by David (United States), Dec 27, 2022 at 21:43

This is an evolving story, the final word on which has yet to be uttered, and the words of the author seem wise. I gather as well that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not yet collapse, although perhaps the seeds of its collapse have been sown.
But much also depends on the United States, and I cannot restrain the impulse to remark on ongoing developments here. There seems to be an unmistakable impulse on the part of the Biden administration to appease the vile terrorist regime. One certainly hopes this is an inaccurate assessment, but every so often, it appears so, as today, with the conspicuous remarks of Anthony Blinken to the effect that America cannot possibly defend two allies simultaneously. Putting aside the pathetic spectacle of a US Secretary of State so blatantly eroding American deterrence in vague terms, and giving a green light to the CCP to do what it seems to wish, it seems almost beyond question that the true target of Blinken's remarks, was Jerusalem. A message to the effect of, "Biden to Israel: Drop Dead." To paraphrase an old NYT headline.

Conspicuous as well, are the entirely unsurprising reports in some Israeli media outlets today, specifying fears that Russia may provide nuclear weapons and ICMBS to Iran as a present to reward Iran's provision of the Shaheed-III drones that have helped Russia in its attacks on Ukraine. I'm personally curious if it ever occurred to the author that this could be liable to occur. Namely that the decision to treat Russia as North Korea, would in effect, create an incentive structure for Russia to behave more like North Korea, and to resurrect its Evil Empire of the USSR. With foreseeable consequences for the efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. No longer, it seems, is this effort a matter of a possible regional war. In present form, it seems to be evolving into a world war. As long as, for example, relations between Russia and Israel continue to break down, there would appear to be no hope of containing Iran's ambitions, as the latter is on the verge of open superpower support. I'm curious what the author thinks on the subject.

And relatedly curious, if he has any insight into what propels Bill Kristol, for whom any interest in this subject was only rekindled on the occasion of Iran's alliance with Russia, and the emergence of protests ("hurray, democracy!") throughout the territory of Iran. I hope my prodding is not overly personal, but it is conspicuous how this particular individual, who has aligned himself like a barnicle to the ship of the Biden administration, seems to be filled with venomous spite for any American Jews whatsoever who do not align with his desire to destroy the Republican Party, and do not share his views of the centrality of the struggle of Ukraine, to the fate of the world.

Acknowledging the brutality of the invasion, I am still tempted to ask. Does no one realize that the Ukraine war presents both opportunities to confront the Ayatollahs, but also could considerably, enormously complicate the challenge? And does anybody care? The author quite rightly noted a general indifference to the subject of Tehran's ambitions over a year and half ago. What, if it is not intrusive of me to ask, is blinding so many Americans who once recognized the urgency of this threat, from recognizing it right now, as it becomes more and more salient? Parenthetically, I certainly do not expect the author to answer this, but would be impressed if he could shed some light: What, on Earth, is wrong with Bill Kristol? What explains his commitment to "longer and stronger" at the inception of the Biden administration. Why are so many erstwhile stalwart defenders of the war on terrorism, the war against Islamism, and the defense of Israel, so utterly uninterested in any of this, having demonstrated scant interest in the subject in any form until just recently?
Let me emphasize: this is not a criticism of the author, but a genuine question relating to his possible insight into former colleagues. Pardon the Yiddish euphemism, but are they simply motivated by some childish concept that any and every cause that might have been touched by former President Trump, is suddenly "treif?"

One cannot help but notice how the indifference of a salient former bulwark, if I may describe it as such, in the Republican party, is providing the current White House with free license to seemlessly shift from supplication of the Mullahs, to tentative condemnation, to supplication again when the embers of the protests in the streets of Iran, appear to momentarily be dimming. This would seem to be a very serious and urgent problem, which the author, who has considerable experience with the workings of influencing the direction of American foreign policy, would likely have extensive insight and wisdom to bring to bear. Why do so many former Jewish Republicans, seemingly have a death wish for the Republican Party, and for the Jewish people, and what can be done to address it before it is indeed, too late?

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