Posted on 02/12/2006 4:01:47 PM PST by neverdem
A better response to Iran's threats.
As diplomatic triumphs go, the referral of Iran to the U.N. Security Council by the International Atomic Energy Agency is very small beer. It came without a call to action, and even any U.N. debate was postponed to give Iran more time to embrace Russia's offer to let the mullahs enrich uranium under Moscow's auspices.
Even at that minor rebuke, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered a resumption of homegrown uranium enrichment and barred snap IAEA inspections. But if the Iranians are as smart as they are devious, they'll accept the Russian offer, let the Europeans pretend the crisis is over, and continue to build a nuclear weapon in secret. Last weekend Iran said it will again consider Moscow's offer, and all signs point to the fact that on present course Iran is going to get the bomb one way or another.
Which is all the more reason for the U.S. to promote a more serious diplomatic response suggested to us recently over lunch at the Journal by former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar: Begin NATO accession talks with Israel.
Israel's NATO membership has been mooted before, but the suggestion is especially compelling as a response to the Iranian nuclear threat. Iran's apocalyptic President Ahmadinejad has called for Israel to be "wiped off the map," and influential former President Hashemi Rafsanjani has said an Islamic bomb "would not leave anything in Israel but the same thing would just produce damages in the Muslim world."
Those are unprecedented threats, which are all the more likely to be carried out if the mullahs think that the only retaliation would come from Israel itself. It may be that the mad mullahs aren't deterrable, since they claim to welcome mass martyrdom. But if Israel were part of NATO, the...
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
I rather make Isreal the 51st State. They would probably have the largest National Guard.
Though America is close to Israel, their culture is different enough from ours that I doubt that would be a very viable idea. However, the NATO idea is a good one, if it could be made relevant.
A wonderful idea as they are already a state.
I don't know what the odds are. Much of Europe is turning antisemitic, especially old Europe and leftist Europe. They won't admit it, but the just about all vote with the Arab bloc in the UN.
So, what are the odds they would agree to this?
Aznar was voted out of office in Spain, and the current prime minister is a Muslim loving leftist.
The vast, vast majority of the Spanish public was soundly against the war in Iraq. Jose Aznar was voted out because he opposed the majority view. The majority now have a prime minister with whom they do not disagree on a very serious subject.
Nice to see you again.
It's a different country, 51st state is a foolish idea, likely rejected on all sides.
NATO, that won't work because it brings NATO into direct conflict with fundamental Islam, call it what you want.
A better question, why does NATO exist?
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As a figurehead of sorts. It's like a cool club to put on your resume.
(of course, I don't really think it's that simple.)
L
The European Anti-Christ, would defend Israel as part of a treaty...
Sounds like a precurser to Prophesy being fulfilled.
Make Israel the 50th state and let the Iranians have Massachusetts.........Kennedy, Kerry......gone......I'm dreaming!
yes, make Israel a Nato member and begin discussions for expansion with (drumroll please)....IRAQ!
"A better question, why does NATO exist?"
BTTT
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