As the days progress, the reality is becoming more grim in the Middle East concerning the situation between Israel and Iran. Israeli officials have exchanged words about launching a preemptive strike against Iran in order to stall the country’s military nuclear advances. The New York Times generated three important questions that bring the possibility of a pre-emptive strike into focus:
- Will the pre-emptive strike from Israel be strong enough to cause extreme delays in the nuclear advances in Iran, especially in the underground facilities in Fordow? Will the Israeli military and the nation’s citizens be able to survive a counterattack?
- Does Israel have enough backing from the United States to carry out an attack?
- Is this the final straw? Have all other options been satisfied? Is the pre-emptive strike an absolute necessity?
Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, has realized that there will come a time when delaying Iran’s nuclear advances can no longer take place. He believes that it will be in the next year.
Israel’s vice prime minister and minister of strategic affairs, Moshe Ya’alon, has also engaged in the conversation about launching a pre-emptive strike against Iran. He has noted that it will take place as a last resort, and also recognized that Iran’s nuclear achievement will be completed in a matter of months. Ya’alon, however, does not believe that Israel should be the leader against Iran. He leaves it to the international community, while also emphasizing the importance of Israel’s ability to defend itself.
Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, emphasized the importance of a strong military. He understood that Israel would always be threatened, hence the necessity for the finest defense equipment.
As these conversations continue in the Middle East and in the world, the United States is preparing itself for a presidential election. Barack Obama is on the campaign road while GOP candidates debate about jobs, health care, abortion, and taxes. The economy is a quintessential topic in this election, and as an American who exercises her right to vote, domestic issues are at the forefront of my personal agenda; however, the imminent threat of war, perhaps nuclear, exceeds the list.
I guess what I am trying to put in my own focus, and what I hope young, enthusiastic voters put into perspective is that nuclear war is more real than ever. I do not believe that it is a media gimmick this time, or that it is an overly exaggerated topic in the headlines. When choosing a candidate for the upcoming presidential election, or for the GOP primary, please consider the nuclear state we are in. Consider the fate of the international community, and more importantly, your community, because it is true: it is only a matter of time when the ability to delay nuclear advances is over. It is only a matter of time when Iran will live up to its nuclear threats.
- Mehgan Abdelmassih, Blog Writer
