Bordering On Bedlam

The potential for an Israeli-Iranian conflict has been boiling for some time, notably escalating in recent days. A military factory in Sudan (one of Iran’s allies) was “mysteriously” bombed this month, and Israel was immediately blamed. Israel, in turn, suspiciously made no comment — this would not be the country’s first time infringing on Sudan’s airspace — and Israel has also taken out “threatening” targets in the past; in 2007, they destroyed a potential nuclear site in Syria. As a result of the Sudanese airstrike, Iranian naval ships have been moved into the Red Sea in order to provide a “message of peace and security to neighboring countries.”

There is so much wrong with all of this. Firstly and most outrageously is Israel’s inability to play along with any of the rules set out by the international community. They seem to have a problem with borders. This may be due in part to the nation’s inherent insecurities stemming from its historical victimization, but ever since its conception, Israel has been involved in innumerable conflicts. In the constant redefinition of its territory throughout the previous century, Israel has taken the lands of other nations to expand its own borders. More recently, it has stuck to infringing upon other nations from afar, crippling Lebanon in 2006 and now Sudan. And, one cannot forget the sinister settlements that keep springing up within the Palestinian territories, as well as the ongoing agro-economic violation of its symbiotic sibling state. What remains consistent, however, is the country’s disregard for international law. This tendency may be perhaps due to the fact that Israel is a relatively new nation-state, but it is clear that the Israeli government does not understand the concept of borders.

Iran is playing a strange game too; it is openly confrontational and makes clear that it wants Israel wiped off the map, but it does not have the military capabilities (as far as we know) to stand a chance if push comes to shove. Despite being disabled by UN-enforced economic sanctions, it continues to pursue its nuclear program, which, as recent revelations show, may prove to be a lot more innocent than many suspected. Israel’s own defense minister admitted to the Telegraph that Iran had used a third of its uranium for civilian purposes thus far, thereby slowing down whatever military program it was said to have. Iran shows open support for countries that share little in common other than their racial hatred of Israel. Iran, therefore, seems to be one of the last bastions of ideological politics. It obeys absolutely no logical rules and behaves violently without any possible gain except for the maintenance of its own faulty indoctrination.

Finally, just a word of caution for Governor Mitt Romney if he were to be elected: one should not criticize President Barack Obama for not having supported Iran’s “Green Revolution” as his was obviously a conscious attempt to show that the United States was not behind the protests, thus giving them a sense of authenticity. The U.S. should continue along those lines and try to stay as far away from this prospective mess as possible. Nevertheless, both the incumbent and the challenger agreed somewhat reluctantly during the foreign policy debate that they would support Israel in any retaliation against Iran.

The recent escalation in tensions is testimony to the fact that these are the two most active rogue nations in the international community. One is blinded by brutish self-interest, the other by extreme ideology. If the U.S. and North American Treaty Organization (NATO) are to be the ‘world’s policemen,’ then they should not support either of these two war prone, radical states.