COMMENTARY: U.S. Iran 'Policy' Is Simply Mind-Boggling
By Joseph J. Honick
It is incomprehensible how the Obama administration could have so
jumbled our policy vis-à-vis Iran at the cost of threatening U.S.
security and that of Israel -- no matter how much or little anyone
might like Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The most recent warning by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, one of our most competent in that spot in ages, simply makes the point clear and indisputable, no matter how National Security Council spokesman Benjamin Rhodes might like to disagree as he did to the Associated Press, when he uttered the foolish: "This administration has been planning for all contingencies regarding Iran for many months."
If what we see in public statements actually reflects all that planning, it is worse than what we might have thought. Regrettably, those policies have only been multiplied in the current administration no matter how much the NSC man Rhodes would like it to be different.
Among realities in the Middle Eastern region is the fact that only two countries have been willing to risk human and military resources: the U.S. States and Israel, while rich Arab countries have happily avoided anything but massive investments in PR and similar activities.
When it was discovered that scads of those who were involved in the 9/11 disasters had come out of Saudi Arabia, that nation alone squandered a reported $14 million in public relations in just six months to fight the lawsuits totaling a trillion dollars by 9/11 families who had found out the facts. Since that time, we alone has spent another trillion with no end in sight as Islamic terrorism has continued.
As someone who worked hard for Barack Obama's election, it is more than disheartening to find he is expending so much of his standing and political power to make nice to the Saudis and their friends who are getting such a free ride while he cannot accept that even friends like Israel demand some independence as well to insure the safety of their tiny republic amid tens of millions who would rather see them disappear.
So back to Secretary Gates' memorandum that the NSC is so convinced is out in left field. Gates could have left government at the end of the Bush administration and made millions in the private sector. When he was asked to remain by President Obama, he did something very, very few other well-placed cabinet folks ever do: he opted to stay because he was and remains needed.
The Iranians must be hoisting toasts to the confusion created by the fact we are so spread out in our commitments in conflicts where we were always questionably involved … strained to the point any of our charges and temperamental responses to Iran have a hollow ring to them.
Bluntly, the Iranians are more fearful of Israel at this point but may be willing to test American supply and support should open conflict develop with the Israelis.
Given this newest flame of confusion in the administration where the best of advice is sorely needed on military affairs, the next several weeks will test the president's ability to assert leadership and listen to the kinds of warnings Mr. Gates has offered instead of sending his minions out to the Associated Press to sort of ask: "What problem? We don't have a problem."
What is worse to readers here is the reality of tons of PR investment by Arab non-performers to stay above and beyond the conflict so the risks could be shouldered by NATO (mainly U.S.) forces.
Not among our proudest (or safest) days.
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Joseph J. Honick is an international consultant to business and government and writes for many publications, including huntingtonnews.net. Honick can be reached at joehonick@gmail.com. This commentary was originially published in O'Dwyer's PR Report and is reprinted by permission.