What started as some personal questions about ISIS or ISIL, which were precipitated by incomplete information on television network newscasts and newspaper reports, has grown into some history research and unintended consequences. Trying to better understand the political problems integrated with religious beliefs in the Middle East has been enlightening and leads me to share some of what I have encountered.
America has its own internal political problems and questions about healthcare, immigration, the use or abuse of executive powers and the "new" Republican control of Congress amid other concerns. However, the issue of ISIS and radical Islamic factions continues to weave its way into every aspect of our nation's activities. Because the State of Iran (nation if you prefer) is a key source of Islamic funding, and is trying to become a nuclear power, a great deal of the world is watching their activities and hearing their rhetoric with skeptical eyes and ears. This brings us to our national leaders' division over the House inviting Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to speak to a joint session of Congress.
Many Democrats were "no shows" because they viewed the decision to invite him (or allow him to come, whichever you prefer) as an affront to the president. However one feels about the invitation, he exposed yet another sore spot in our political leaders. Several standing ovations during his speech were significant in themselves. As stated previously, I am a Christian by spiritual conviction and an Independent politically. I have no ties to Israel in any form other than accepting the Old Testament as part of the Christian Bible. So, having said that, please realize the following comments are as impartial as I know how to be.
Benjamin Netanyahu's reception at the congressional speech was appropriate for any visiting head of state and much like our own president received at the State of the Union address. The crux of the prime minister's speech was to try to deter the nuclear treaty being negotiated with Iran. An Iranian leader has been quoted as saying "Israel is a one-bomb (meaning nuclear) country!" What many apparently heard in the speech was a person trying to disrupt the negotiations between the United States and Iran over nuclear proliferation.
To my untrained, unsophisticated ears, I heard the leader of a tiny land mass nation asking for our consideration concerning their survival. To me his speech was deliberate, firm but passionate in his concern for the long-range effect of an agreement that could assure Iran of complete freedom to pursue nuclear weapons after 10 years. His remarks were very flattering to all Americans and President Obama for our help in the past, but they did not overshadow the need for us to consider Israel's stake in the agreement with Iran. The frequent interruptions of applause and standing ovations indicate that he had the attention of the majority of the audience.
Most of those who objected to his speaking stayed away. Some who did not should perhaps have done so themselves. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA.), former Speaker of the House, was shown several times sulking in her chair showing her disapproval. She followed up the disagreeable appearance with some equally disapproving remarks to the television cameras.
Some of us are old enough to remember Israel becoming an independent state in 1948 when Harry Truman was president. Within hours after David Ben-Gurion declared them to be a nation, they were fighting with Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. Israel has been fighting to maintain that status ever since. In 1967, Israel defended itself against a perceived threat from Syria, Jordan and Egypt in a well-planned war called the Six Day War. Regardless of whether the threat was real or misunderstood by Israel's defense minister, General Moshe Dayan, they have proven they will do whatever they feel is necessary to protect their nation. In the process they had further alienated many Middle East nations who have been enemies for thousands of years. I believe I heard Prime Minister Netanyahu trying to warn us they will do whatever is required to keep Iran from having a nuclear bomb capable of destroying the entire nation.
There are other countries in the Middle East that apparently do not want a nuclear bomb in the hands of the Iranian government. They also fear the possible consequences but Israel seems to be the only one outspoken enough to fight to keep it from happening. With their history of wars with their neighboring countries, they probably have more to fear and Iran has already threatened them with annihilation.
Israel is not a large country in area -- only about 7,850 square miles excluding the disputed areas. The West Bank adds about 2,180 square miles and the Gaza Strip 147 square miles. The state of New Jersey is about 7,790 square miles. The population of the undisputed Israel State is around 7 million with another approximately 2.5 million inhabitants living in the West Bank. The Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas, is reported to have slightly less than 2 million people.
With a powerful lobby in Washington, Israel is a force to be considered any time they are in trouble. As a nation, we continue to give them about $3 billion a year in aid. And, they are privileged to have our most sophisticated military weapons. Hopefully our leaders in Washington who are busy negotiating with Iran will remember that it is only 990 miles (1,600km) from Tehran (Iran's capital) to Tel Aviv and an ICBM has a minimum range of 3,400 miles (5,500km). That is a serious threat if you live in Israel.
(Our Minuteman III has a cruise speed reported to be 15,000 miles per hour. That would be a matter of minutes from Tehran to Tel Aviv if Iran duplicated that ICBM.)
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Editor's note: Leo Lynch is an award-winning columnist. He is a native of Benton County has deep roots in northwest Arkansas. He is a retired industrial engineer and former Justice of the Peace. He can be contacted at [email protected].
Editorial on 03/10/2015