Speaking the "unspeakable" reasonably and responsibly

Submitted by Kevin (United States), Aug 3, 2006 at 15:43

An attack on Iran should be seriously considered, but certainly the first blows should not be against Iranian cities, but against military targets. As Israel has been attacked by Iran's proxy, Hezbullah, as well as directly threatened by Iran, Israel should carry out the attacks, with the support of the U.S. and, probably, more or less covert support from other nations. The targets should include facilities where the missiles being supplied to Hezbullah are manufactured and stored, even though Hezbullah apparently has a large supply and there would be no immediate and direct effect.

The military targets should also include Iran's nuclear facilities, and in the case of deeply-buried installations, appropriate tactical nuclear weapons should be used. Although it has long been Israel's policy neither to admit or deny that it has nuclear weapons, no one seriously doubts that Israel is a nuclear power. Using one or more tactical nuclear weapons will have the incidental benefit of assuring Israel's enemies of two things. First, that its enemies cannot assume that Israel will wait until its very existence is at stake to "go nuclear." Second, that Israel, unlike Iran, has no desire to slaughter civilians in a nuclear holocaust, having struck military targets rather than Iranian cities. There will unavoidably be incidental civilian casualties, but Iran can hardly complain after having announced its intention to "wipe Israel off the map."

Iran will be given the message that it can no longer support and train Hezbullah, supply Hezbullah with rockets, cheer as they rain on Israel, and let the Lebanese absorb the inevitable civilian casualties, while sustaining no harm to itself. The same message, of course, will be heard by Syria as well. While a "message" to Syria in the first instance might likewise be heard by Iran, sending the message to Iran in the first instance will have the inestimable side-benefit of crippling Iran's imminent nuclear capability, something which needs to be done in any event.

From my limited knowledge and perspective, it looks as if Iran's reckless defiance has handed Israel the opportunity to do the world a great favor as part of the mitzvah of self-defense. I pray that, God willing, Israel takes that opportunity, and with God's help, succeeds with as little loss of life as possible.

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