BLOG 443
September 9, 2019
WISE ON THE MIDDLE EAST
Each week Robert L. Wise, Ph.D., explores the Middle Eastern situation, ranging from Egypt through Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the surrounding area. Wise first traveled to Israel and the neighboring countries in 1968. Two of his sons taught in Jordan and Lebanon universities. Wise presents an objective view of the behind the scenes situation in these countries.
IRAN, IRAN, AND IRAN
Who’s the greatest threat to Israel in the Middle East? In a television interview, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Iran, Iran, and Iran.”
Netanyahu has been warning the world about Tehran’s global terrorists’ practices for a long time. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic over 40 years ago, their expansion of frightening methods of terrorism have continually escalated. Even when the international community wasn’t slowed in reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran, Netanyahu continually warned of the dangers posed by this Islamic regime. Mossad agents struck and stole thousands of hidden Iranian documents that demonstrated that Iran was lying about having a limited approach to building atomic weapons. From the dealings of the Obama administration with Iran, one concludes that the USA did not take seriously enough the implications of these revealing documents.
For decades, Iran has viewed itself in a supreme contest with Israel. They have seen themselves as taking up the mantle of Gamal Abdel Nasser and pursuing this conflict in religious terms aligned with the Islamic Revolution. Nothing is more frightening and dangerous than a holy war. All restraints are cast aside, and the combatants kill in the name of God. Everyday citizens turn into fanatics, willing to cast their lives into the fire in the name of their god. Personal sacrifice is holy. This is the drum that the Ayatollah and his cronies have been continually beating.
Today Iran acts as if it believes there is no one to restrain them. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard cruises menacingly across the Strait of Hormoz while they shoot down a US Drone. They believe they have called President Trump’s bluff and scored a psychological victim over America. The danger in such exercises is a miscalculation on Iran’s part. Yes, the US could smash Iran, but an “accidental war” is the last thing the world needs.
America is currently rightfully pre-occupied with hurricanes and a stock market swinging like a gate. The average citizen is watching the Fall football games. All is well and good, but don’t take your eyes off Iran. The pot is boiling.
Iran has been playing with fire for a long time. The question before the Middle East today is, “who’s going to get burned?”
You might find my book on near-death experiences important for you:
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD OF ETERNITY
Revell books
Dr. Robert L. Wise 