Western Liberal Elites Have Made an Iranian Bomb a Reality
And the mullahs have been laughing all along.
If you want to know the scope of the illusions of Western liberal elites, you should read the fascinating editorial published in the Guardian on October 22, 2003. It shows the willingness of these elites to disregard the cruel facts, the radical agenda, and the apocalyptic ambitions of the Iranian regime.
Six years ago, the regime in Tehran executed the same policies, and was driven by the same ideology, as today. And the same Western political elites tried everything in their power to distort the perception of their counterparts in Tehran in order to avoid the harsh truth: the mullahs want to crown Imam Khomeini’s Islamic Revolution with a nuclear weapon.
The Guardian wrote that day:
Iran’s agreement to allow unlimited UN inspections of its nuclear facilities and to suspend its uranium enrichment programme marks a tremendous success for European diplomacy. It shows just what can be achieved when the European powers work together, rather than in opposition.
At the time, it was as clear, as it is now, that the three European ministers involved lied to themselves and to us. On their flight back, they knew that the surprising agreement they took home wasn’t even worth the paper it was printed on, but it was better to pretend that the mullahs were guys like them rather than accept the stubborn reality that some value systems and some concepts of human dignity are incompatible.
So in spite of all the facts, trends, and signs, the Guardian wrote:
Britain’s Jack Straw, France’s Dominique de Villepin and Germany’s Joschka Fischer have good reason to be pleased with their day’s work. Anxious perhaps not to tweak American noses, Mr Straw played down the significance of the achievement. He should not be so modest.
This policy of delusion — talk to the mullahs, threaten them with boycotts, accept their regime as a legitimate expression of Iran’s popular will, but never threaten, let alone use, “hard power” — was continued without a single gesture of goodwill from Tehran.
The hardcore establishment of the Islamic Republic only feels revulsion for the decadent and infidel Western diplomats who come begging for some cooperation. The mullahs know that the Western media and the political organizations to which these politicians belong will never allow the threat of a violent confrontation over Iran’s nuclear program, so year after year they smilingly welcomed these straw puppets and enjoyed themselves, using the simple tricks they practiced to gain precious time.
After years of delusional European diplomacy, the Iranian nuclear project has spread to hundreds of locations. It is undeniably a majestic operation, Iran’s most impressive achievement in modern history. The mullahs succeeded in creating the conditions for the construction of a nuclear bomb — and by controlling Hezbollah and Hamas, they forced the Israelis into passivity.
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Leon de Winter is columnist for Elsevier Magazine in Holland. He is also a bestselling novelist and adjunct-fellow at the Hudson Institute. He is presently living in Los Angeles.
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36 Comments
1. Ken N.:This is scary.
Nov 14, 2009 - 1:01 am 2. kochevnik:Is Leon de Winter taking up the slack left by Faux Newz, filling that insatiable appetite chickenhawks have for infotainment? Will FUD restore the ailing US economy? Or is this a death spasm?
Nov 14, 2009 - 1:55 am 3. Terry:I quote, ”The hardcore establishment of the Islamic Republic only feels revulsion for the decadent & infidel Western diplomats who come begging for some cooperation.” Many of us in the West feel the same, in this, at least, we have a point of agreement with the Mullahs. Our politicians are craven, cowardly, spineless appeasers, irresponsible & clueless, incompetent & self-serving scumbags. I feel revulsion when I see Obama, Gates, Hilary Clinton, Xavier Solana, Milleband, Brown, Zapetaro or whatever his name is from Spain, and a host of other American & European appeasers.
Nov 14, 2009 - 2:07 am 4. SAF:And, yes, Ken N. – this is definitely scary.
Absolutely great piece.
One of Bush’s biggest mistakes was allowing Iran and Syria to send all those explosives into Iraq to kill our boys. Of course the British were equally wimpy and kissed all sorts of ass when the Iranian’s commandeered a British Ship.
The liberal elite really don’t believe that Iran would nuke Israel or the strategic threat this all implies.
We will all regret this (except for the Russians who prosper greatly if the middle east oil supply goes up in mushrooms), Iranians included, since it can only end badly.
Liberals always complained that Bush was a cowboy. Not so. A real cowboy would have started turning the Iran/Iraq Syria/Iraq border into glass and keeping moving to the prospective capitals until a) they stopped sending weapons over to kill our boys or b)everything is glass.
WWI, WWII, and the first Iraq war were successful because we kept killing until we heard “uncle.” The USA is no longer able to fight effective combat and will be further behind the eight ball once the Iranian nuke is a reality.
Nov 14, 2009 - 4:02 am 5. Libertyship46:What always puzzled me is what are the elites and the politicians who appeased the mullahs going to say once Iran does get a nuclear bomb? Are they simply going to say, “Ooops, we were wrong?” Who do we go to to complain if one of the most unstable nations on the planet gets one of the most powerful weapons on the planet? What will the vaunted United Nations say when, after all these years, they will have to admit that Iran was lying to them and that, yup, they sure were working on that bomb? What will those idiotic diplomats say then? And where do we file the complaint when Tel Aviv or Haifa goes up in a mushroom cloud, and we see these duplicitous, self-righteous Europeans wringing their hands in shock and disbelief, hypocritically muttering again and again, “Never again?” Who do we go to then? You see, my friends, common sense people don’t have the luxury of being wrong about Iran, because if we are wrong it will not only spell disaster for the Middle East, but it could ignite a much wider war that most certainly will draw in the United States. That’s what the liberals, the Europeans, and the “peace at all costs” morons never consider. Tell me, if Hitler were alive today, would we still be trying to “reason” with him through the use of “smart” power and diplomacy? Tell the people at Aushwitz how “effective” diplomacy is and how useful treaties and agreements are. The basic problem with people today is that they have no historical compass to guide them, which makes them repeat the same mistakes again and again. Iran will eventually get a nuclear bomb and, to a very large extent, I don’t think the Europeans, as well as the left-wing loons in this country, really care. They should.
Nov 14, 2009 - 4:02 am 6. misanthropicus:Give also credit for this to the Nobel Prize committee who found (as usually, completely wrong) that Mohammad El Baradei is not a sinister schemer, but a thoughtful figure who defying odds and America, provided the planet with another element of a long-lasting peace.
Nov 14, 2009 - 6:07 am 7. ~Paules:While I understand the gist of this article, I think the conclusion is premature. The mullahs haven’t won just yet. An Israeli strike in the next few weeks or months can delay Iran’s nuclear program. What then?
We’ll see a general war in the Middle East with action in Gaza and Lebanon as the mullahs unleash their dogs, Hamas and Hezbullah. The crisis will escalate if Iran chooses to threaten the world’s oil supply at the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. will be forced to act. A crisis of this magnitude will not be good for the Obama administration.
American elections in 2010 will see a vast swing toward the right that will further weaken Mr. Obama’s standing. Look to Mr. Sarkozy to lead the western coalition until Obama is removed from office in 2012. A robust Republican administration might have a second chance, albeit a slim one, to put the nuclear djinn back in the bottle. We can hope.
Nov 14, 2009 - 6:11 am 8. Mike Blackadder:Leon, your discussion of Iran is dreadfully accurate and insightful. One of the best posts I have ever read on this site.
Nov 14, 2009 - 6:19 am 9. zhombre:“Only the desperate and heroic people in the streets of Iran can turn the tide.” And they will do it without the weak and vain American president lifting a finger to help, or even acknowledge their struggle.
Nov 14, 2009 - 6:48 am 10. e:The only question I still have was the Iranian bomb:
a) Was it a willing loss to gain power?
b) Did they think it might somehow create a positive stability?
c) Did they even care?
I have a feeling its all three, and the stability is some check against US power to hobble future conservative governments.
Nov 14, 2009 - 6:54 am 11. Pedrosito:Mr. de Winter, western liberal elites ruin everything in time. It many ways it is more odious then totalitarian regimes because their effect is slow but malignant never the less.
Nov 14, 2009 - 7:11 am 12. ETAB:Agreed, the European left is heavily responsible for enabling Iran to get a nuclear bomb. But so too is the American left, which took control of Congress halfway through his term and prevented him from moving against Iran.
And now, Obama is the key agent enabling Iran complete its nuclear bomb ambitions. He has refused to acknowledge reality. A succinct example was his insistence that the publiczation of Iran’s extensive second nuclear facility be repressed for a few days because He, Obama, was giving a UN speech on the delights of a non-nuclear world.
Think about it. Obama was giving a speech about a non-nuclear world and refusing to acknowledge the reality of Iran’s activities towards such a bomb
Remember Sarkozy’s anger, his statement that Obama was living in a virtual not a real world?
And Obama refuses to acknowledge this reality. He also refuses to help the Iranian people take back their country and thus prevent the Islamic thugs who rule it from such agendas. Obama totally ignored the democratic demonstrations of the Iranian people and instead, threw his support behind the dictators.
So – all of this will rest on Obama’s shoulders. Of course, since he lives in his own narcissitic world, he won’t acknowledge it.
Nov 14, 2009 - 7:25 am 13. Elliot:Yeah, Ken, the Euroweenies are scarey. Look what they have agreed to do to themselves with the Lisbon Treaty. Look at their history. And, why do you think millions of Americans came to these shores in the first place-to get away from them. Playing by their rules is somehow considered a good thing ? Whatever for ? Obama is trying to return us to the fold. Ugh.
Remember they aren’t our friends, they are our competitors. They are looking out for their strategic interests, not ours. That is what responsible governments do. The US isn’t supposed to be looking out for the interests of other nations. Our government is hired by us to look out for us. Any treaty we sign must be as much in the interests of the American people as it is anyone else’s. Our government hasn’t been doing that.
If you haven’t been reading The Guardian, le Monde, etc., I recommend that you do. Europeans believe they have exhonerated themselves for all their crimes around the world by playing the willing dupes.They are terrified of retribution and are always playing the deflection game. The US and its citizens have been their scapegoat for decades.
The Guardian articles are always the same, pre-emptive gloating full of pats on the back for being superior to Americans. Only it never really comes to fruition. They are suicidal fools who exaggerate their self-worth. Instead of being humbled by the fact that so many are on the dole, that they work less and vacation more, they are actually proud of it. It’s that fantasy utopian thingy, I guess.
Anyway, they will gladly sacrifice Americans, and Israelis, if they think their Frankensteins will gooble them up last.
Nov 14, 2009 - 7:44 am 14. sofa:US may be too stupid to live.
Nov 14, 2009 - 7:51 am 15. SAF:A fool and his freedom are quickly parted.
Nov 14, 2009 - 8:21 am 16. David P:The vivid shape of things to come, a large war is on the horizon that will permanently alter the course of humanity.
Nov 14, 2009 - 8:33 am 17. Eli L.:Leon de Winter has proof that Iranians are actually building a nuclear weapon?
Why won’t he tell the world?
Share your evidence with us, o mighty freedom warrior!
Nov 14, 2009 - 8:43 am 18. Terry Gain:Europeans are a despicable lot but they are not alone. With the help of America’s academia, the entertainment industry and the media the fanatics who run Iran will soon have nuclear weapons – unless Israel attacks.
Israel’s choice is to attack or wait to be nuked. I believe Israel will opt for self preservation. When they do they will be mercilessly attacked by America’s academia, the the entertainment industry and the media.
The Man in the White House will side with Iran.
Nov 14, 2009 - 9:07 am 19. Abu Major Hasan:Future generations shall take delight and wonder at the inevitable triumph of Islam over the weak and decadent infidels.
Nov 14, 2009 - 9:14 am 20. whyyeseyec:When Iran has a fully functional nuclear bomb the western elites will blame Israel #5.
Nov 14, 2009 - 11:32 am 21. RichieB:Just got 800 gallon delivery of oil….should last me until spring time… well after Israel strikes Iran..The Mossad has its finger on the pluse…Oil tankers will not leave the Persian Gulf for at least one month after IDF hits
Nov 14, 2009 - 3:08 pm 22. lefroy:Thanks. No-one wants to confront the horrible realities surrounding the issue:
Iran will consider whether it can, with impunity, slip a nuke to one of its terrorist clients, or even by proxy to the loathed sunni terrorists like al qaeda.
Putin positively wants Iran to get the bomb, simply because it will frighten, discompose, confuse and weaken America; and possibly also for baser reasons that those. His cosy relationship with the mullahs will ensure that the bomb will not be used by terrorists in Russia’s own muslim insurgencies, and in any event those insurgencies are virtually all sunni; the iranians couldn’t give a toss about helping them. Russia has played the naive State Department like a violin, with pathetic ease.
The only hope is Israel; if Israel can only upset, but not stop, Iran’s program, then there is no possibility of the program being stoppped. The US will do nothing. Iran will get the bomb.
A revolution is devoutly to be hoped for, but unlikely.
God help us all.
Nov 14, 2009 - 3:37 pm 23. Fernando:“Leon de Winter has proof that Iranians are actually building a nuclear weapon?
Why won’t he tell the world?
Share your evidence with us, o mighty freedom warrior!”
It is a matter of public record, and not even the IAEA could whitewash it.
What do you think is the only possible use of the facility concealed in Qom?
What about the warhead blueprint sold by AQ Khan?
Excellent analysis on the dishonest and suicidal role of the media.
Nov 14, 2009 - 4:51 pm 24. Cawoonache:Eli L #17, Can you really be so naive? Just keep your head buried in the sand. It will be encased in glass before it’s all over.
Europe as whole is doing the same thing. Before long there will be no semblance of Europe as we once knew it. I will not mourn for them. By their ignorance and obsequiousness they have hastened their own demise.
Nov 14, 2009 - 5:07 pm 25. kochevnik:13@Elliot:
Actually Europeans are disgusted with theofascists in the USA and Iran in equal measure. You’re both made from the same mold. And you’re reduced from a world superpower to chickenhawk status hiding behind a computer. Just like France, you will surrender anything to protect your trailer park from all the enemies you’re made in the last century. Just comeuppance!
Nov 14, 2009 - 5:22 pm 26. De Minimus:The media….. The media, who will not report the truth, for it’s own reasons which are unrelated to actual news and fact, are responsible, period.
When you let politicians decide what you will cover and how and the content thereof, when you manipulate and manage the news you choose to cover so that it is simply no better than the cheapest propaganda, so that you can manage public perception and therefor opinion, you needn’t be surprised when your enemies succeed in their activities, nor should you be surprised when there is a big flash in the sky.
The only thing which should surprise you, is the depths to which they will sink, in evading any responsibility and consequences for the predicable results of their efforts.
Nov 14, 2009 - 6:21 pm 27. Eli L.:“24. Cawoonache:
Eli L #17, Can you really be so naive? Just keep your head buried in the sand. It will be encased in glass before it’s all over.”
Please post a link where there’s proof that Iran ha violated the non-proliferation treaty then.
Nov 14, 2009 - 6:59 pm 28. Exactly!:Show me how naive I am.
Is Kochevnik a displaced KGB? Not too well grounded I would say.
Regardless, the only solace we peasants find is the knowledge that the “Elites” will be starving in the cold and dark while we have food and shelter due to our primitive skills of hunting, fishing, farming, building, and surviving. It is good to be capable.
And …. who wants to nuke fly over country? Look out all you blue states, you are in the cross hairs.
Nov 14, 2009 - 7:42 pm 29. Terry Gain:Is Kochevnik a displaced KGB?
He’s auditioning for a White House appointment created by the Anita Dunn vacancy.
Nov 14, 2009 - 8:51 pm 30. kochevnik:28@Exactly!:
>Is Kochevnik a displaced KGB? Not too well grounded
>I would say.
Grounded? What are you, an electrician? Coming from a chickenhawk I’d say that’s a compliment. BTW KGB I know will make you run and hide under your desk, calling your mommy.
22@lefroy
Nov 14, 2009 - 11:55 pm 31. WestWright:Americans have a short memory. USA threateaned WWIII upon Russia in July09. She runs around Russian border like a pilot fish cleaning up. Once the mess is clear, nations will abandon the US dollar and Pajamas chickenhawk wingnuts will wax about the good old days when someone cared about what they thought, or what a job felt like.
kochevnik 2.0 is the new automated KGB-BOT, programmed with the a 14 yr old X-Box player’s mind.
Nov 15, 2009 - 8:25 am 32. anonymous:It was Bush who nixed an Israeli strike on Iran. (I guess the guy wasn’t so stupid after all.)
Nov 15, 2009 - 11:03 am 33. Spindok:Therefore, the principles of warfare are:
Do not attack an enemy that has the high ground;
do not attack an enemy that has his back to a hill;
do not pursue feigned retreats;
do not attack elite troops;
do not swallow the enemy’s bait; ?
do not thwart an enemy retreating home.
If you surround the enemy, leave an outlet;
do not press an enemy that is cornered.
These are the principles of warfare”
Sun Tzu
I think our government does not yet know it has an enemy. It is unwilling to attack. Defense will not be effective now. Bring them home. The president has left them to…best not go there
Spindok
Nov 15, 2009 - 11:21 am 34. John "birther" Samford:“We’ll see a general war in the Middle East with action in Gaza and Lebanon as the mullahs unleash their dogs, Hamas and Hezbullah.”
Excuse me, what nonsense! Those dogs are already off the leash and going as fast as they can. As far as blocking the straits, Iran may have the will, but they lack the ability.
Nov 17, 2009 - 12:21 am 35. John "birther" Samford:Say what you will about the US military, you seldom catch them off base more then once. Remember the tanker war of the mid 80’s? The US navy hasn’t forgotten. The most effective weapon of that war was the mine. The Navy responded by inventing several new and more efficient ways of dealing with mines. Iran hasn’t.
Blockades work both ways. Iran will be hurt more by the interruption of OIL shipment then anybody else will. An attack on the Iranian nuclear weapons sites will delay the program. Iran can do F#&K all about that. They will whine and cry and go to the UN. The UN will whine and cry and ask the USA for more money.
That will be all that happens. Within 6 months, only history will remember. The Usurper will do what ever other POTUS has done. Say “Bad Dog!” and go back to screwing up the economy.
Meanwhile, back at the farm.
On a positive note, the Mad Dog Mullahs won’t use their nukes on fly-over America. Unlike Israel, the USA is to large and diverse to be destroyed by a few nukes.
The MDM has 2 choices, strategically. Use a nuke to try and force America to surrender and use a nuke to try and start a nuclear war. The first won’t work, since the USA has many nukes and has demonstrated a willingness to use them.
The second is possible, although technically more difficult.
Iran has no conventional delivery system that can hit the USA. Hitting any other nation would result in many nukes coming right back at them.
So an unconventional delivery system is needed. The ol’ cargo container ploy.
http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread318545/pg1
The article is from ‘07. The rumor mill says that the portable detector is finished and in limited production. Not sure I believe that, but it is possible. Fissile materiel is dense enough so that it is easy to find with scanning radar. So the chance of the a terrorist group slipping a container with a nuke on it into America isn’t that good. Moscow is a much softer target. Hezz’bollha coul load it on a tractor trailer and just drive it into Moscow.
Nov 17, 2009 - 1:03 am 36. Dany Freewest:Of course, then the MDM are counting on some Major commanding a ICBM site deciding the Americans did it and launching. Even then there is no guarantee that the USA will launch back. Our Missile defense is designed to knock down just such a launch.
It would take several such launches, which I find unlikely. You never know.
Anyway, considering that I live in flyover America, I have no problems with New York getting nuked. They can do Chicago, LA and Miami while they are at it. America would be a much better place once the radioactive particles blew out to sea. I suspect there are millions of Americans that agree with me.
So think positive. The same pack of Liberals that made it possible for the Mad Dog Mullahs to build a bomb will be the ones that bomb is used on. Justice at last!
Thanks, Leon. Some more Guardian:
Melanie Phillips: Everything is now illuminated
After watching Peter Oborne’s ‘Dispatches’ programme on the power of the Israel lobby in Britain, the scales have fallen from my eyes. I now see things in an entirely different light. I now realise that the power of this unique cabal is so vast and unprecedented in its truly demonic power – a power given to no other lobby – that both the Labour government and Tory opposition slavishly and unquestioningly support Israel’s military actions and that the Guardian and the BBC have found themselves totally unable to publish or transmit anything other than wholehearted support for Israel.
http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/5544851/everything-is-now-illuminated.thtml
http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/5543376/britains-least-effective-lobby.thtml
Nov 17, 2009 - 12:20 pm