The past ten days have been interesting as one continues to observe the defiance of Iran to the demands of the rest of the civilized world. Suspense built last week as the Russians announced that they would begin fueling the nuclear reactor at Bushehr on August 21. You might remember that this was the nuclear plant that they began building in Iran nearly a decade ago. Almost immediately the former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, stated that Israel would have to do something before those fuel rods were placed into the reactor. If Israel failed to launch an attack against the Bushehr facility, then the world would have to live with the knowledge that Iran had joined the handful of nations possessing the capabilities of having a nuclear weapon. Saturday, August 21, came and went. National news media showed pictures as the rods were placed into the reactor; Israel never sent its military aircraft to Bushehr. Had Israel accepted the fact of a nuclear Iran?
The answer came in an article written by Jeffrey Goldberg and published in the "Atlantic Monthly". He wrote that there was a better than 50-50 ;chance that Israel would attack Iran after next July, but that many Israeli officials believed a better solution to the Iranian nuclear threat would be an American strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. Goldberg wrote that the Holocaust echo of "Never Again" will cause Israel to strike Iran, even without seeking US permission. The alternative would be the Iranian annihilation of the Jewish State. So, is Israel just biding time? As the pages of the calendar of 2011 begin to turn, we will learn the answer.
In the past few days Iran has been showing off its new military weapons. One was is the unmanned bomber aircraft that has been named "ambassador of death." It is capable of carrying up to four cruise missiles and has a range of 620 miles -not able to hit Israel yet. And yesterday (August 24) Iran tested a new version of its Fateh missile. With a range of only 125 miles, it is not a threat to Israel. But, hold that thought. According to Iranian sources, Lebanon has requested military hardware from Iran for its Lebanese army. This comes after the United States Congress ordered a halt to the $100 million in military aid pledged to Lebanon. The reason cited for this weapons cancellation was fear that American military hardware would come into the possession of Hizbollah militants, who form a good portion of the regular Lebanese army. So, now that 125 mile range missile becomes an immediate threat to Israeli security.
One final thought. September 2 will be an important day in the on-and-off peace-negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and the Israelis. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been invited to Washington to begin direct face-to-face dialogues. Also present will be Egyptian President Mubarek and Jordanian King Abullah. There will be lots of photo ops, but very little substance. The Palestinians are coming to the table only because the United States has told them to come. They want all construction in East Jerusalem and in Samaria and Judea to cease...Israel has said "that won't happen." In spite of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's remark that peace can be achieved in less than a year, I wouldn't take that as fact. Both sides have been here before. And, in each instance, the Palestinians have walked away. But it will make for some interesting media events.
I keep reminding myself that God is in control. Almost daily I am drawn to that powerful statement declared by a formerly pagan King Nebuchadnezzar: "The decision is announced by messengers; the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men" (Daniel 4:17). It took this King many years before he came to understand that truth that God was in charge, not him. This fact changed his life. This fact gives me peace today. It is time that we begin preparing for the celebration of the King!
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It seems to be pretty standard practice for totalitarian regime's to threaten others. Every totalitarian regime that has ever become rich has always gone on wars on conquest. China is the biggest military threat to the peace of the world though you don't hear that much about it (yet.)
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