Backcountry Notes

Barack Obama's recent dismissal of Iran and other hostile countries as posing no threat to the United States is, quite frankly, scary.  Here is what Obama said on May 18:  "Iran, Cuba, Venezuela – these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union. They don't pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us."

Naturally, the Obama campaign came out with “explanations” and the candidate himself later modified his remarks about Iran - - but this is just another exercise in smoke and mirrors.  On May 18, we had another glimpse of the real Barack Obama and another insight into real way of thinking.  It isn't pretty.

This returns me to my initial point of serious (and perhaps permanent) departure from the Democratic Party: those now in control don't take the dangers of terrorism seriously.  Barack Obama's “no serious threat” comment typifies their misguided attitudes.  Those of my liberal Democrat friends who are still speaking to me may join those who aren't, but this is a very real, very serious problem, so here goes: anyone who doesn't consider Iran a “serious threat” to the United States is living in a la-la land so far removed from reality that he or she should never be trusted with a position having anything to do with national defense.

The choice we Americans face is difficult.  Either we confront terrorism, or by default we leave that grim task to our children and grand-children.  There is no avoiding it.

Reality 1: Iran began working years ago on the development of nuclear bombs.

Reality 2: When we invaded Iraq, Iran ceased working on the development of nuclear bombs.  There is a direct cause-and-effect relationship here; the Iranians who control that country's government were afraid that we would take action to deprive them of such weapons of mass destruction.

Reality 3: Following the 2006 Congressional elections, Iran resumed working on the development of nuclear bombs.  There is, again, a direct cause-and-effect relationship; those who control Iran realized that the Democratic Party, under its present leadership, does not take seriously Iran's development of nuclear bombs and will not authorize action to halt that development.

Reality 4: The Islamic terrorists mean what they say and say what they mean.  They are serious men, with a serious purpose and a long view of history.  When they declare that they intend to destroy Israel, what they mean is, “we intend to destroy Israel.”  When they declare that they intend to destroy the United States, what they mean is, “we intend to destroy the United States.”

Problem A: There are far too many Americans - - including Howard Dean, Barack Obama, Nancy Polosi, Harry Reid, and others in positions of power - - who do not recognize Reality 4.  I assume that they, too, say what they mean - - at least in unguarded pre-spin moments - - and what they say consistently is that Iran is not a serious threat and can be dealt with by talk.

Problem B: Osama Bin Laden and his ilk are well aware of Problem A.

Now, let's review some recent history.  In 1993, terrorists attacked the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York.  The attack did only minor damage.  We treated the attack as a crime, rounded up the perps, convicted them and sent them to prison.  Case closed.  We did nothing of substance to prevent the second attack, which occurred on September 11, 2001, and was far more effective.

The Israelis learned, the hard way, that you cannot combat terrorists by jailing those you can catch and waiting for the next attack, no matter how prepared you believe you are.  If you wait for the terrorists to attack, they will, and they learn by their mistakes.  So the Israelis figured out that the way to combat terrorists is to take the battle to them, disrupt their social and economic networks, deprive them of safe havens, and whenever possible capture and destroy their armaments.  

Reality 5: If Iran has The Bomb, then Bin Laden has The Bomb; and once Bin Laden has The Bomb, the timer starts running on the point when one will be torched of in the United States.  There will be a very short setting on that timer - - weeks, perhaps months, but certainly not years.

Anyone who believes that the terrorists need ICBMs or bombers, like the Soviet Union had, in order to deliver a nuclear bomb to a target in the United States is ignorant beyond belief.  A nuclear device can be disguised in a cargo container and sailed into harbor at New York, or Baltimore, or Norfolk, or New Orleans, or San Francisco, and detonated before the container is inspected.  A nuclear device can be smuggled into Venezuela, or Panama, or Mexico, and carried across our southern border.  It wouldn't even have to be in one piece; it could be broken down into component parts and then re-assembled in Dallas, or Chicago, or Washington, D.C., by anyone with the proper tools and a set of instructions.  

Comparisons of the present situation to the rise of Nazi Germany are appropriate.  Now, as then, most of Europe is asleep at the wheel. Hitler was a serious person; he said what he meant, and he meant what he said.  He published a book, available to anyone who cared to read it, making his plans and intentions clear.  He was, I am sure, delighted to engage in talk with England and France.  When we had the chance to put a stop to the Nazis - - before they rebuilt and re-armed their military - - we didn't use it.  Innocents died by the tens of millions.

This Presidential election is not about the price of gasoline, the mortgage problem, or any of the other short-term difficulties than dominate the news, any more than highway planning is about the most recent tractor-trailer wreck.  This Presidential election is about electing a serious person who means what he says and says what he means, who takes a long view of history, and who is capable of being commander-in-chief.