What in the World

What in the world do our international leaders think? Do they really expect that Iran will react positively to a message on the internet? Even if they agree to a dialogue, will it be anything else but another delaying tactic to permit them to complete their nuclear mission? Do they believe that these religious fanatics are going to give up their religious idealogy in order to gain the removal of a porous economic boycott?

What in the world have our leaders (both USA and allies) said in reaction to the disclosure that Iran financed the North Vietnam production of a nuclear weapons site for Syria? Who in world expects Syria to give up its relationship with Iran and Hezbollah? Who else but Iran will support the purchase of a nuclear facility for Syria? Who else but Hezbollah will support Syria's goal of retaking control of Lebanon? At what point does reality began to play a factor in our dreams for change?

Who in the world realistically expects Israel to reach a two state agreement with the PLO while Hamas controls Gaza? Who in the world would expect Israel to reach a two state agreement with the Palestinians if Hamas and the PLO unite without Hamas recognizing Israel and all of the previous agreements between Israel and the PLO?

Who in their right mind expects that Hamas will see the light and change its attitude towards Israel? It is amazing how much time and effort is put into attempts to reach an agreement that cannot be reached under the existing political framework. We should forget about trying to dream the impossible dream and put our efforts into creating a better economic system and, therefore, a better life for the Palestinians so that they see there is not only hope but a better chance for success from the Palestinian Authority than from Hamas. Only then will there be a chance for the Palestinians to defeat Hamas and to then seek a peace with the Israelis.

Who in the world foresees the day when the major Sunni countries in the Middle East openly acknowledge that they have more common interests with Israel than they do with Iran? When will they acknowledge, plan and implement a common program with Israel to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons? Surely the Sunni countries recognize that the Iranians are guided by their perceived Shia religious heritage to develop weapons of mass destruction that will be used to implement their perceived religious dogma. Realigious zealots cannot be counted on to follow the philosophy of mutual assured destruction which was successfully implemented against the Soviet Union during the cold war. The odds are that the Iranians will not be deterred from using their nuclear weapons by the fear of retaliation. We in the west assume that everyone is as rational as we are.

It would be a major achievement if we could secure the prevention of Iranian nuclear weapons through diplomacy. My concern is that extended diplomacy will lead to nothing but giving Iran sufficient time to achieve its desired nuclear capability. If that happens the concept of mutual assured destruction will prevent the west from any action against Iran but may not have any impact upon the actions of Iran.

Likewise, the plan of Egypt and Saudi Arabia to develop their own nuclear capabilities will also fail because they may find that their hesitancy to use such weapons will put them under the domain of those who do not share the same hesitancy. In dealing with idealogical radicals success cannot be achieved through non-ideological logic.

What in the world causes President Obama to think that now is the time to divert our attention to health care, eduction and energy independence upon the theory that he can multitask. What foolish arrogance! We have the worst economic situation in our life time and some of the riskiest international problems to tackle. To think that he has the time, resources and ability to solve those issues while taking on three new major domestic programs is a major miscalculation.

It merely goes to prove that this administration is no different from the general public. It prefers to tackle those areas where it has comfort and prefers to avoid those areas where it has less or no comfort. The fact that those areas where it has less comfort may create peril for the world as we know it has not overcome their hesitancy to face those issues head on and resolve them. Let's pray that our world can survive this mind set of avoidance.