Russian version
Baker's sellout plan
- Информация о материале
- Автор: Dick Morris Eileen Mc Gann
Jewish World Review Nov.
30, 2006 / 9 Kislev, 5767
Can Iran help us bail out of Iraq? Maybe — but we'd better take a hard
look at the price.
The idea has reportedly been floated via a draft report to the Iraq
Study Group (headed by former Secretary of State James Baker), which calls
for a "dialogue" with Iran as well as Syria. Along the same lines, British
Prime Minister Tony Blair recently said Iran could be a "partner" with
the West if it did not develop a bomb.
Presumably, we'd ask Iran to help stabilize the situation in Iraq,
curb the Shiite militias and encourage the Iraqi government to make sufficient
concessions to the Sunnis to end or at least reduce the violence.
Would it work? It could. Iran certainly has sought to arm and enflame
the Shiites in Iraq. Maybe the mullahs can rein in their proxies, and let
us withdraw in dignity -- not holding onto the skids of the helicopter
as it lifts off our embassy this time.
But why would they play ball with Washington at the same time that
Bush is threatening sanctions explicitly and a military strike implicitly
if Iran proceeds to develop nuclear weapons? No chance.
So this proposal amounts to the de facto abandonment of any military
or economic actions that could deter Iran from going nuclear.
Of course, Baker may seek and Iran may offer public assurances that
it won't develop nuclear weapons — the same worthless assurances it now
passes out to the entire world. What will have changed is that America
and Britain will be so engaged with Iran that they can't and won't bomb
or even impose tough sanctions.
In short, we can only get Iran's help on Iraq if we let Tehran get
the bomb.
Yet, with nukes, Iran gains the leverage to force Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi
Arabia and all the region's oil producers to move in its orbit. The Middle
East will become an Iranian sphere of influence.
Such an under-the-table deal would amount to a total sellout of Israel
and Saudi Arabia and America's other Arab allies.
The Jewish state would be left with no alternative but to take whatever
military action it could to stop Iran from completing its nuclear program.
American capitulation will have left it with no alternative.
Would Jim Baker cut such a deal? In a heartbeat. Never a friend of
Israel, he wouldn't flinch at a realpolitik solution giving Iran power
throughout the region.
But why would Bush go along? It would be "peace in our time" — Munich,
1938 — all over again.
© 2006, Dick Morris
Russian version
Russian version
An introduction to MAOF
Haim Goldman
Haim Goldman
Dear Friends,
Would you believe that the undersigned has anything in common with
-- Professor Victor Davis Hanson (Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University),
-- Dr Charles Krauthammer, (Washington Post, Time, The Weekly Standard),
-- Caroline Glick (Deputy Managing Editor of the Jerusalem Post),
-- Jonathan Tobin (Executive Editor of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent).
Amazingly, the editors of the MAOF website decided that the missives of the undersigned are worthy of translation and posting along the articles written by these distinguished authors.
The first letter was published without the consent of the undersigned.
However, after thorough examination of the laudable attitude of MAOF and of the excellent contents of the website, the undersigned had most graciously granted his permission for publication of his missives in both English and Russian.
“Analytical Group MAOF” [1] is an organisation founded about ten years ago by Russian-speaking Jewish intellectuals. The attitude of MAOF is definitely pro-Zionist -- unambiguously and unapologetically.
One of MAOF’s primary purposes is providing information and analysis about Middle-Eastern and world affairs as well as about Israel’s history, values and dilemmas. In addition to extensive publication activity in various media, MAOF also organises excursions and seminars. While the vast majority of the contents of the MAOF website is in Russian, texts originally written in English are provided in the original [2] as well as in Russian.
There are arguably about 250 millions of Russian-speakers worldwide and many of them do not read English. The indisputable motivation for the author’s permission was to grant those millions of disadvantaged people the grand benefit of reading the author’s ruminations. If the author is ever maliciously accused that his tacit motivation for authorising the publication was his craving to be listed along with the above-mentioned distinguished writers, his plea will definitely be “nolo contendere”.
The editors of MAOF expressed their gratitude by granting the undersigned a privilege that no other author got – the opportunity to review and correct the Russian translation before publication. The original letters of the undersigned are at [3] and their Russian version is at [4]. At of today, only two letters are posted but several other letters are pending translation.
You are kindly ENCOURAGED TO RECOMMEND the MAOF website to your friends and colleagues worldwide, particularly those who speak Russian. Those who do not enjoy the benefit of proficiency in the exquisite Russian language can find many thought-provoking and inspiring articles about Middle-Eastern and world affairs in the English section [2].
Sincerely,
Haim Goldman
28.10.2006
REFERENCES:
[1] http://maof.rjews.net
[2] section.php3? sid=37&num=25
[3] authorg.php3? id=2107&type=a
[4] authorg.php3? id=2166&type=a