Opinion
Fordow: U.S fractious elite’s self- destruct politics
A perceptive observer of the controversy over U.S bombing of Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility on June 22, and its likely outcome would definitely come to one inevitable conclusion: America’s politics will ultimately self-destruct. This is based on the evidence of history, and the law of natural consequence.
It is such a pity that a nation so blessed with the best of everything is on an inexorable path to self-perdition. The current row over the Fordow attack between the Democrats and the Republican administration reveals the worst of this society and presages its inevitably ominous end by mindless default.
Watching Gen. Caine, chairman, Joint Chiefs, outline the fine and intricate details of the planning, strategy, and the clinical and skillful execution makes one want to weep for this great country with a troubled politics and mutually exclusive and irreconcilably divided political elite, who have turned themselves into objects of ridicule and derision across the world.
An Incredible Feat
The Fordow bombing was the greatest military feat ever undertaken and executed by any country in modern history of warfare in its complexity, secrecy, sophistication, and sheer bravery, courage and expertise. So overwhelming was the planning, performance and implementation that the protagonists, especially Iran and Russia, were dumb-struck.
By this action, the U.S. has proved that it remains on top of its game, and by far the country to benchmark in modern military technology and human capacity. Remember that this action started 15 years ago with the specific objective of destroying the Fordow facility. What’s a plan and preparation if it’s never executed? and on June 22, the 15 year idea and plan became a reality, which should have been a period of individual pride and national glory. But it wasn’t.
Destructive Partisanship
Unfortunately, politics has interfered with America’s greatest moment in history, only second to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Anybody watching the controversy today would think the mission was a monumental and catastrophic disaster for the country, instead of a glorious triumph of military superiority and technological excellence unmatched by any other country. Who did this to America?
As the euphoria of such epic demonstration of global military leadership was yet to settle, a segment of the liberal media led by CNN, began a campaign of denunciation based on a prematurely leaked preliminary and inconclusive assessment report, which said the strikes didn’t achieve their stated objective of destroying Iran’s nuclear capability effectively; a point that contradicted the president’s announcement that they “obliterated” the facilities.
Such lack of editorial discretion in relation to national interest is a palpable disservice to the country in the name of press freedom. The insinuation in the report is so periphery to the mission objective, and not only annoyingly irritating, but also consequentially immaterial to the fact.
The leaked report was derived from the speculations that Iran had evacuated its 800kg of enriched uranium two days before the U.S. struck with the GBU bombs delivered by the B-2 on Fordow, which, according to the report, leaves Iran’s nuclear capability unaffected, making it almost ready to make a nuclear bomb as at pre-strikes time. This is patently wrong in morality, as well as false in fact.
Questionable Motive
Wrong in morality, because it attempts to demean a national objective, and denigrate the sacrifice and effort of the people, who honored their country, on the altar of exclusionary politics. Again, both the leaked report and the media frenzy was a moral booster to Iran, which had been thoroughly humiliated by the attacks, that it borders on unpatriotic action.
Moreover, its logic is tenuous. With what had gone on after the strikes, it is impossible that Iran’s capability would remain the same even with all the enriched uranium in the world. Second, the possession of enrich uranium is not all it takes to make a bomb, although, it is crucial to it. With most of its nuclear infrastructure – built over several decades at huge and unimaginable cost “obliterated,” to quote President Trump, it is inconceivable that Iran can sooner return to nuclear bomb development.
Thirdly, with most of its top nuclear scientists gone, and those alive in mortal danger of Israeli attack, it is quite unclear how Iran can possibly return so soon to make a bomb. Finally, the Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, having proved evidently its presence in Iran, would be expected to know of any further quest by Iran to accomplish this dastardly goal.
Counter Objectives/Propositions
All the controversy over the strikes come to one thing: anti-President Trump politics, and how to deny him a dance in the sun. His effusive acclamation of the success achieved in his manner of hyperbolic grandiloquence may have rankled his opponents, he was not far from the truth, nor was he, as characteristic, misrepresenting the facts.
Sadly, his opponents failed miserably to rise above pettiness, and to separate politics from national interest.
While American opponents of the strikes hinged their position on not obtaining congressional consent and its failed expectation, others outside the U.S. insist that it is unjust to deny Iran its right to build a nuclear capability, while other countries, such India, Pakistan and North Korea possess nuclear bombs. This line of argument begs the issue.
President Trump did not break any law by not informing Congress. There is a different between deployment of troops and authorizing military action. Deployment suggests U.S. troops, even momentarily, being stationed outside the country, which was avoided by the mission not making any land stop. The mission was in the air for 38 hours and returned home. President Obama did it in the operation against Osama Bin Laden. Informing Congress would have compromised its secrecy and the surprise element.
Why Not Iran?
India is the largest democracy in the world, and has been so since independence in 1948. It is a country built on firm democratic institutions, and is unlikely for power to be blatantly misused. Pakistani has had a checkered political history, but it has strong institutions, such as the military, judiciary, and media.
North Korea is controlled by China, and is unlikely to abuse its nuclear power in any reckless manner, which may jeopardize China’s interest.
But it’s not so with Iran, which, apart of being ruled by an irrational and erratic Supreme leader, has an enemy it’s ideologically sworn to destroy. Unlike others, Iran does not only have the freedom, but also the motivation to use the bomb against a known enemy- target.
So, President Trump’s decision to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities was the best of any modern leader to ensure global peace generally, and the safety of Israel, in particular. He showed astute leadership of the U.S by the action, and nothing should be done to diminish his success. It is in U.S overall interest to forge an elite consensus around issues of national and global importance devoid of party politics.
With so fractious a political elite group, the U.S faces the challenge of an implosion, in a world that is becoming more nationalistic and bellicose.
