A cacophony of calls by Democrats, some isolationist Republicans, pro-Palestinian anti-Semites, and the establishment media commentariat to avoid the risks of U.S. intervention in the current military operations in Iran has been exposed as a program of defeat after the brilliant surgical strike by the U.S. armed forces against primary Iranian nuclear facilities.
History is full of failures that resulted from avoiding risks and missing opportunities for triumph or success — and examples of bold, risk-taking action that resulted in victories or notable accomplishments.
The reality of foreign policy and, indeed, life in general is that everything we do involves one or more notable risks. The more risks that are taken, be they military, political, economic, or personal, the greater the potential reward.
This timeless verity of human behavior is somehow repeated over and over.
Of course, there are times when restraint works best, and when boldness fails. Those who can perceive the difference successfully are history’s winners.
The story of post-1979 revolutionary Iran is not complicated. It was and is run by clerics of the militant jihadist branch of Islam. After several years of violent conflict with neighboring Iraq, the regime settled into a long-term conflict with the U.S. and Israel that was conducted through paid proxy terrorist groups in Gaza (Hamas), Lebanon (Hezbollah), Syria (Assad regime), Iraq (insurgent militias), and Yemen (Houthis).
This decades-long shadow terrorist war reached an apotheosis on October 7, 2023, when armed Hamas militants invaded Israel from Gaza and murdered 1,200 Israeli men, women, and children in brutal fashion, along with taking more than 250 hostages. This was a case when bold was very bad, and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) subsequently entered Gaza for the purpose of destroying Hamas. That effort, now nearly complete, has eliminated the leadership of Hamas and more than half of its jihadist soldiers.
The Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon had been attacking Israeli settlements in northern Israel, and the IDF moved to remove them as a threat. The brutal Assad regime in Syria then collapsed, and missile attacks from the Houthis in Yemen were silenced.
Suddenly, and probably for a limited time, the multiple threats from Iran’s proxies were minimized even as the radical Islamic regime itself reached the cusp of its most important goal – building a nuclear weapon.
The Israelis, having recovered from the surprise attack on October 7, knew they had a genuine opportunity to rid the world of the severe threat of Iran possessing nuclear weapons. They subsequently initiated a series of attacks on nuclear sites, missile launchers, missile and other weapon construction factories, and military and terrorist headquarters, and assassinated top Iranian military generals and nuclear scientists.
Israel was, of course, denounced for these military initiatives by friend and foe alike, although in private, many nations were pleased someone was doing something to confront the jihadist Iranian regime, which had troubled virtually everyone in the Middle East and the West.
In spite of the extraordinary success of Israel’s initial barrage, the IDF lacked the military capacity to totally eliminate the nuclear threat from the air. Prime Minister Netanyahu had enlisted President Trump and U.S. military bunker-buster bombs and the planes to deliver them to destroy Iranian nuclear operations buried deeply underground.
To mislead the Iranians and misinform opponents of U.S. military involvement, President Trump created a program of misdirection and uncertainty about his intentions. The final military operation was a remarkable surprise and success, and a classic case of how bold action in the face of many risks and opposition can be exactly the best course of action.
Trump, a famously opportunistic businessman, saw a chance for a quick and decisive victory, and he took it. It paid off.
Some issues remain unresolved as Trump works to broker a ceasefire. Where is the stockpile of 60 percent enriched uranium fuel? Can the radical regime led by Ayatollah Khomeini survive? Will there be an uprising led by the crown prince and the many Iranian anti-government groups? Is the Iranian nuclear program truly dead? Will the ceasefire last beyond a few days or weeks?
Despite these questions, there is little doubt that if the Prime Minister of Israel and the President of the United States had not ignored the naysayers, doubters, and other opponents of bold action, the conflict and threats from Iran would have continued and truly festered into something even more far-reaching and dangerous.
Herald Boas is a writer for AMAC Newsline.
Thomas Sowell said it best: “If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilization, then be prepared to accept barbarism.”
Decisive action was needed and implemented by both Israel and President Trump. This will be viewed very well historically!!
Thank God for no nonsense President Donald Trump! Evaluated the risk and toke action!
I am puzzled by the thinkiing of the ANTITrump and Netanyahu people. Look at the history of Iran and where they were and where the Ayatolla regime has put them. The backwards “religious” movement has put the present day people back into the Middle Ages! Their goal is one that we oppose to be ruled by…ruthless, wealthy, religious leaders that if you cross them it is your death. Being born in a free nation and that is a government that I do not want to live under.
Trump and other freedom nation leaders are “men”. They are not kings, lords, or single minded dictatorial leaders, they want the same for the people they are leading.
These 2 leaders have access to intel that we are unaware, it is a bigger picture of world events and directions of what dangers are developing.
This latest battle with Iran is not finished, Biden’s administration by freeing up the frozen Iranian funds, slowed the nuclear weaponry, but the biggest mistake was believing the deceit by Iran, Russia and China. Iran is just one battle, to slow down their goal to totally annihilate Israel AND the USA.
Right now we have stop gap breather before the next threat.
Plan ahead, think ahead Or Lose
Trump did what the world should have done a long time ago. NATO has a clause in their charter “ an attack on one member nation is an attack on All”. Where was that in the case of an attack on Israel. This Oct 7 attack was not the first Israël has endured from Iran nor Our American soldiers stationed in the Middle East. Once again America is in the forefront of defending the boilerplate which is the Middle East. Iran threw everything it had at Israel via its proxies. The Houthis, Hamas and Hezbollah groups and as a punch to total destruction they had the nuclear bomb to deliver the final blow. But every nation in the world was blind when it came to help Israel. Even the useless UN was no help. They publicly added lip service to “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb” but privately they were saying but we won’t get involved in stopping them. The uprising in 1979 when the billionaire Khomenie took over, Iran went from a prosperous modern society to a theist strict adherent Islam regime. Women were dressed from head to toe once again. Wearing western attire was punished by caning. The religious zealots were getting richer and today Iranians are suffering under high inflation, joblessness, businesses closing, agriculture non existent, healthcare cost skyrocketing, but the n bomb and missile building to destroy Israel went on unabated. The world owes president Trump a big thank you and thereby all of America. Once again Americans were put in harms way to put down a regime that for the past 46 years has existed only to eliminate Israel and America. Would the AOC’’s and Jasmine Crockett’s of the world rather attack after the N bomb has destroyed Washington DC? The president swore an oath to defend our country against all enemies foreign and domestic. And he did that. And the whole world let out a sigh of relief. Except the Satan worshippers in America and around the world who want to globalize the world into a utopia that does not exist. President Trump showed the world how it really is. There are people in this world that want to kill and destroy other people. And he stopped that before they could do so. And without bloodshed. It takes a courageous person to take that on. May we always have a president Trump in the world to protect and do what’s right to save the people in this world.
Iran has no problem with 21st century technology, but insists on 8th century teachings of a what had to be a seriously mentally ill. Would not allow examination of any sort, that itself is sick as well, but it serves the purpose, keeps all clerics in power. Our feminists who won’t shut up about white supremacy and oppression of it bow to religious supremacy and are quieter than a miss mousie .If only they’d live under it, it would be dream come true to watch them, priceless.
No risk, no reward. Sometimes bold action is needed, but sitting and waiting is never a good strategy, except when boiling eggs.
Trump’s decision was necessitated by the misguided Obama decision to send Iran a plane-load of cash or the Biden decision to lift Trump’s oil embargo against Iran. The Obama and Biden make-nice gestures toward Iran allowed them to fund their terrorist proxies in the area and build their nuclear facilities. What would dithering Kamala have done if elected President? Most likely she would have condemned Israel for retaliating against the October 7 raid by HAMAS.
Having watched a lot of basketball and some football, those who “play not to lose” rather than being bold often DO lose! People, and nations, need to play strong; not sit back and wait for the other side to do something!
A well written article!
There is little doubt. The right action has taken place. Naysayers continue to nag. That is what they do.
avoiding risks is how we got to this point. it was difficult and time consuming to find out who what why where when before the internet made it easier/faster. not to mention we trusted our elected officials to a flaw.then we became too embarrassed to admit “the elected government member I voted for is a creep/enemy of mine. the fight isn’t over; it’s never over is the lesson. if you want your country to be what the founders gave us try to do one thing a week or month to try to fix. as the 2024 election proves, it’s all in our hands.WE ARE THE MAJORITY! the country will thrive or fail on OUR COMMITMENT. God Bless America!
vague generalities are dangerous axioms
The baby killers we are not allowed to speak ill of, started a conflict using every tool in the book to bring their banker daddy nation into the conflict but ultimately failed.
And “boo hoo”, an israeli hospital received some damage. If only someone could match Israels record of some 46 Gaza hospitals completely destroyed, well it would prove the existence of “karma”.
I am not an Israeli and do not want MY money spent on those demons behalf!!
Reminds me of George Bush’s Mission Accomplished speech.
Democrat President Polk was such a leader, getting a Congressional declaration of war against Mexico. His general, Zachary Taylor, succeeded him after Polk promised one term. This made America Great. Trump promised action in Mexico in his first term, and 8 years later, 20 million illegals are here while he attacks Iran.