Will Israel be Forced to do America’s Dirty Work?

Looks can be deceiving. Relatively calm water can hide great dangers below the surface. While that might be a good weather forecast for hurricane season, it is an even more accurate forecast for conditions in Israel. We have been focused on American problems for months and, since the flotilla confrontation, the news from Israel has not been that alarming. I remind you, however, looks are deceiving. The American press has been under-reporting events in the Middle East to such an extent that we have been lulled into thinking that things are “normal” (What ever that would mean for Israel.) The truth is that tensions are growing every day. Last week Israeli and Lebanese soldiers exchanged fire with deaths on both sides. Recent rocket attacks from Gaza have struck Israel again. Arabs leaders have gathered to urge restraint and ask Turkey to serve as a messenger between Israel and Arab states. Some signs seem to indicate that Turkey may no longer fill that role.
Of course there remains the most dangerous state in the Middle East—Iran. While other Arab states seem to sense that an all out war would be bad for everyone, we have to face the ugly reality that Iran is just waiting for the ability to turn Israel into a mushroom cloud. Likewise there are forces in the Arab world waiting to destabilize Saudi Arabia, poison its oil, and, in that way, bring America to her knees. It is also frightening that our administration is doing little to discourage any of these scenarios. Both to placate the Arab world and the American Left our administration shows little serious intent to confront Iran.
T hese factors seem to be putting all the conditions in play for a real catastrophe- even Time magazine has recently described the current situation as the most dangerous set of circumstances in years despite the “relative calm.” Is this the calm before the storm? Only time will tell but I, for one, will be holding my breath for a quiet holiday season! Netanyahu has already remarked that any attack will be met with immediate and full response. That is code for: should war come, it will be full force and fast. Israel has learned that it can’t afford the luxury of hesitation.
Just one last observation: I think very few of us have been happy with the current support that America gives Israel. Too ambivalent. There has been a recent development you may not have heard about- House Resolution 1553, sponsored by Representative Louie Gohmert (R, Texas) and 46 other US Representatives. Resolution 1553 both condemns Iran’s threats against America and Israel and “supports using all means” for Israel to deal with that threat. This resolution is the “green light” for Israel to strike. While that may be Israel’s only choice at some point, I only hope that this will not amount to Israel having to do America’s “dirty work” at a time in which every decision can ignite a regional conflict. Pray for Israel!