Are you kidding me? President Barack Obama used a press conference to announce that Iran is building a second uranium-enrichment plant? He had a golden opportunity as the chair of the U.N. Security Council to present the case against Iran. This could have been his “moment,” a la Ambassador Adlai Stevenson, to present the irrefutable evidence that Iran, in violation of international law and treaty, has been building a secret uranium-enrichment plant.
Why did the president let slip away the perfect forum to bring the Iranians to task before the World Community? Isn’t that what the Security Council is supposed to be for for? Is the case of nuclear proliferation by rogue regimes not important enough? The president most surely knew all the facts. This should have been debated, and Iran should have been called before the Security Council to defend itself.
The president was intentionally derelict or grossly negligent in this missed opportunity. He had the president of Iran in New York. He had most, if not all, of the world leaders who make up the Security Council in New York. All members of the Security Council should have had their feet put to the fire and either condoned this illegal activity or condemned it and sought serious measures to correct it. Sadly, Obama will turn out to be the Neville Chamberlain of our time.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, like Adolf Hitler, warns the world as to his and his country's ultimate intentions. Hitler penned "Mein Kampf" in a jail cell. He stated his intentions for the world should he come to power. At the time he wrote "Mein Kampf," Hitler was a prisoner and did not possess the abilities to make good on his then wishful intent. The world chose to ignore his warnings, let him come to power and then let him implement most of his stated goals. The president of Iran is doing the very same thing.
Ahmadinejad has told the world of his ultimate intentions. He seeks the destruction of Israel and that of the United States. His country is building the instrumentalities by which he could achieve his goals, while the world sits back and watches. Sixty million people perished during World War II, with weapons far more primitive than can be produced today. If lone homicide bombers are willing to sacrifice themselves for religious fanaticism, why then is it beyond the realm of possibility, that a leader is willing to sacrifice millions for the same beliefs? We have seen it before. It has been said that, “If we do not learn from history we are condemned to repeat it”. Truer words were never spoken.
Hitler wrote the following words in "Mein Kampf" that have been parroted almost verbatim today by the president of Iran, “I believe I am acting in accordance with the will of the almighty creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord.” How many will needlessly die before we act to stop a repeat of what the world experienced during the time of Hitler?
Iran and North Korea must be stopped, and stopped now. Either other responsible nations will join us or we must do it alone. We have no choice. We must take these rogues by their words and deeds.
Bradley A. Blakeman was the deputy assistant to President George W. Bush from 2001-2004.