By Fareed Zakaria, CNN
We are hearing a new concept these days in discussions about Iran — the zone of immunity. The idea, often explained by Ehud Barak, Israel’s defense minister, is that soon Iran will have enough nuclear capability that Israel would not be able to inflict a crippling blow to its program.
Israeli officials explain that we Americans cannot understand their fears, that Iran is an existential threat to them. But in fact we can understand because we have gone through a very similar experience ourselves. After World War II, as the Soviet Union approached a nuclear capability, the United States was seized by a panic that lasted for years.Everything that Israel says about Iran now, we said about the Soviet Union.
We saw it as a radical, revolutionary regime, opposed to every value we held dear, determined to overthrow the governments of the Western world in order to establish global communism. We saw Moscow as irrational, aggressive and utterly unconcerned with human life. After all, Joseph Stalin had just sacrificed a mind-boggling 26 million Soviet lives in his country’s struggle against Nazi Germany.
Just as Israel is openly considering preemptive strikes against Iran, many in the West urged such strikes against Moscow in the late 1940s. The calls came not just from hawks but even from lifelong pacifists such as the public intellectual Bertrand Russell.
To get a sense of the mood of the times, consider this entry from the Nov. 29, 1948, diary of Harold Nicolson, one of the coolest and most sober British diplomats of his generation: “[I]t is probably true that Russia is preparing for the final battle for world mastery and that once she has enough bombs she will destroy Western Europe, occupy Asia, and have a final death struggle with America. If that happens and we are wiped out over here, the survivors in New Zealand may say that we were mad not to have prevented this. . . . There is a chance that the danger may pass and peace can be secured with peace. I admit it is a frail chance, not one in ninety.”
In a speech at the Boston Navy Yard in August 1950, Navy Secretary Francis Matthews argued that, in being “an initiator of a war of aggression,” the United States “would become the first aggressors for peace.”
In the end, however, the global revolutionaries in Moscow, the mad autocrats in Pyongyang and the terrorist-supporting military in Pakistan have all been deterred by mutual fears of destruction. While the Iranian regime is often called crazy, it has done much less to merit the term than did a regime such as Mao’s China. Over the past decade, there have been thousands of suicide bombings by Saudis, Egyptians, Lebanese, Palestinians and Pakistanis, but not been a single suicide attack by an Iranian. Is the Iranian regime — even if it got one crude device in a few years — likely to launch the first?
The efforts to delay and disrupt Iran's nuclear program are working. But even if one day Tehran manages to build a few crude bombs, a policy of robust containment and deterrence is better to contemplate than a preemptive war.
For more of my thoughts throughout the week, I invite you to follow me on Facebook and Twitter and to visit the Global Public Square every day. Be sure to catch GPS every Sunday at 10a.m. and 1p.m. EST. If you miss it, you can buy the show on iTunes. For more of my takes, click here.
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Israel doesn't have to strike Iran. They're already winning the covert war.
In his own country the Islamo fascists would cut Fareed's head off, dump his body in a ditch, and post the video on the Islamo Yoo Toob.
Not worried about Iran bombing Isreal. They know its MAD (mutually assured destruction). But say some nuclear "product" just happened to get into the hands of terrorists who would not hesitate to assemble and use an untraceable weapon. And it may not be only Isreal that should feel a threat, remember they also have another great satan....
That can be true with any country that has the technology. Who knows they may already have!!! $$$Greed$$$ is powerful!!!
All nuclear devices are traceable because of the radioactive isotopes. Similar to fingerprints.
Pakistan has the bomb already and hates us. Pakistan coddles al quida and has supplied the taliban with explosives to kill American soldiers. Pakistan trains terrorists and sends guerilla squads to places like India. If anyone would love to explode a miniature nuke in the usa or israel it would be Pakistan. but then the pakis areent a threat to israel
His own country? You realize he's from India, right?
Iran poses the gravest danger to our only trustworthy ally in the world. Israel
for the sake of Israel we must immediately, sink Iranian ship in Mediterranean, and attack Iran with full force.
after losing the two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we must start one with Iran.this would help to revive our economy.
senator1 – you sound like a Sr. IDF agent. Maybe you guzzled too much Jewish c-men and forgot that several Israeli spies were caught spying on the US. Trustworthy? Are they sending us their tax dollars? Phuck them k-eye-ks!!!
Senator1, trustworthy allies don't spy on you and attempt to embarass you in your own country. America has many better allies than Israel. Overall Israel is a hinderance on America, her policies have radicalized the entire Middle East.
Charles Widmore and buzz F$%^ YOU!!!! go and burn some books!!!!!
Senator1 – you must be very uneducated to think a war will "turn our economy around". Wars cost ALOT of money and one of the HUGE reasons we are in this mess is 2 unfunded wars.....it doesn't matter if we win or lose....the money we spend is still spent...there is no jackpot prize if you win a war. just thought you should know.
Iran has never launched a suicide attack? From Lebanon? Buenos Aires? From across the Middle East by proxy in the form of Islamic Jihad, Hamas, Hezbollah? Iranian intelligence, terrorist, and irregular paramilitary forces are synonymous with the export of murder and mayhem across the planet, and the comparison with Russia is more than obtuse.
Zakaria should be stripped of his right to appear on television for making such nonsensical and fundamental untrue utterances. Has 'Up' become 'Down' in Fareed's Hall of Mirrors?
It's idiotic and reprehensible.
What about this past week Zakaria? OK, perhaps the Iranian bomb that bounced off the tree in Thailand was not meant to be a suicide attack, but you're beginning to understand how the two-dimensional chatter which FZ shovels-out each week to legions of frothing Antisemitic nut bags, like those littering the comment section on this page, really gets people's juices flowing.
We 'understand' Israel? Who is this 'We' anyway, and how on earth (!) can FZ draw such stupidly-fallacious parallels between the US, a continent-spanning superpower of 300,000,000, and Israel, a 3/4 landlocked, tiny nation of less than 8,000,000?
There are zero noteworthy historical and ideological commonalities between the two nation states, the Cold War, their overall approach to conflict, and the regional threats faced by the US and Israel. Oh. I'm sorry. The United States does not have any regional threats! However, It can always borrow Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Egypt, Libya (whew), Pakistan, Persia, and any other nation required for FZ to fabricate some semblance of an argument.
It's not like the mullahs and their Marionette in-Chief have not waxed poetic about their Genocidal intentions either.
There is no 'we' in this equation when a critical examination of FZ's boringly off-the-cuff musings are undertaken. His analogies are stretched beyond the pale for people who actually understand a bit about the region, and the realities of Global Jihad.
And to fatuously propagate the appeasement-oriented, Chamberlain-esque notion that Israel should just sit tight, allow the Persians to get a bomb, and then wait until they can use it, so that Iran may, in turn, be involuntarily transformed into something aspiring to look like Afghanistan, circa 1500 AD, is a ludicrous proposition.
*** Read Israel's entire Doctrine of Preemptive Warfare, and it's legal precedents dating back to the 1600's, online at 'Project Daniel'. Learn how fundamentally ill-informed Zakaria is, and how a Clockwork Orange dose of reality might be just what the doctor ordered. Yes, including those little eye-pry-openers to drive home a point.
Project Daniel – Read and learn why FZ should never be taken seriously.
israel is our most trustworthy ally? look up the lavon affair and educate yourself.
Senator1 – Israel is our only trustworthy ally in the world? Really? Perhaps you've never heard of Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway... just to name a few of the most stalwart and dependable friends the US could ever dream to have.
@senator1 Israel is not an ally at all. It is just an annoying parasite.
Even though Fareed is an Indian Muslim he sure has some false convictions and facts stated.. especially centering around his thesis that Iran is harmless compared to Soviet. Soviets were fighting NAZIS .. awe poor Nazis, and yes, indeed, poor Russians. Russia was never a terrorist Nation yet Iran has supposedly been arming and financing terrorist arms especially in middle east and asia for years. Fareed.. no more falseness just because you're a blind Muslim sympathizer who uses rhetoric rather than fact to argue.
I like how Zakaria uses an example of the USSR and the USA.
Zakaria was born in 1964...Cuban Missile Crisis 1962...
Born in India and spent his childhood there...how exactly are you using the word 'we' throughout the article?
@carl His own country? You realize he's an American, right?
not to worry
We have more than one trustworthy ally in the world, and Israel is NOT one of them.
No doubt, Israel is US's best friend. We have successfully solicited two wars – Iraq and Afganistan instead of going ourselves. We do not even have to buy war materials, we get (+ billions of dollar every eyar from US – who can get that kind of tax money for nothing, we must be the best friend. We spy on US, we sometime kill their navy officers, nothing happens. We control the economy, we control the media – CNN and FOX, we have agents in WH, we must be the best friend US have.
re: senator1 comments
To those who attacked the senator, it's called sarcasm, look it up, then re-read. Went over your heads...
BTW Fareed, Stalin, very bad, but those 26 M were killed by the Nazis; Stalin had his own tab (~40 M)
You guys do realize that senator1's comment was tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, right? Or did you hear that whooshing sound as it flew over your heads?
The possibility that terrorists might get a nuke may not depend on Iranian national policy. It is possible the official Iranian government policy would be to keep all such devices in their own hands, but one or more could still get loose simply because Iran probably won't have developed adequate security safeguards (look at how adequate they are in the U.S. when a B-52 can fly across the country carrying live nukes), and their are high ranking officials in the Iranian armed forces who might be at odds with the official government policy.
Fareed Zakaria has been the long-time leftist mouthpiece with the network known for its tilt to the left and toward the hate America audience.
This screed is no exception.
Interesting there David, i believe you got the entire point of his article, except in an alternate universe lol. The basics of the situation since you either didn't read the article and/or aren't old enough to remember but MAD and the nuclear arms race of the 20th century far outstrips this tiny little shoving match in the sand.
If you were THERE and lived it, you'd remember the fear, the propaganda from both sides and the absolutely UNKNOWN nature of the USSR. It wasn't called the Iron Curtain because you could SEE through it. No one knew WHAT was behind it or its mentality.
You have the benefit of history to say oh Russia's not so bad and compare it against today's apparent no win situation and say its not even close. IMO its not close but in the other direction.
@stan The Lavon affair occurred when the US didn't even believe that Israel would survive.... And must I remind you that Truman wasn't so ready to vote for Jewish Independence when Stalin did.. I wouldn't judge the US-Israel relationship based on that...
Since when anyone gives a "beep" about Israel? I thought that most of the world were anti-jewish! I cannot say anti-semite because arabs-muslims are from the semitic race also. I think Israel my do the dirty job for the Americans so we can sit nice and pretty enjoying our Starbucks coffee or a beer, while we watch on over sized screens at the pubs cross-country how the Isrlites crock or melt. I was thinking if the Iranians miss the shot they can get the missles onto the sea or hit some arab-muslim country around Israel and then to make it more elaborated and a new novel, all the 25 arab muslim countries will join to finish with Israel and the Infidels of the west. I am exagerating? I don't think so...Iran has the desire to conquer the world...is not Israel the final stop and if you think it is and your Nazi inclination makes you a smirk on your lips, this will make it erase it at once. If you are not a muslim, don't worry it will not take long until you will be forced to be one or die. If you think that the politician in Kuwait pleaded to take over other countries so they can buy the local women on public areas so their man would not sin, perhaps your sister or your wife. Have a good night sleep if you can, I think we are in more danger that we ever been with Iran flexing muscles...
Fareed reports that not one Iranian has committed an act of terrorism. No, they just fund it. Do you think for one second the Iranian government wouldn't give some terrorist a Nuke to use? If you don't think so....you are EXTREMELY foolish. You can't compare the Russians of 50 years ago to today's Iranian leadership. The only reason Israel has not attacked Iran is because they don't trust our president. Obama has made it clear he will not support Israel. Sad.
and what about the nukes from israel and Usa. What if they fall into the hands of a terrorist? Orfrom France or Russia or China or India or Pakistan? Isn't it wiser for everyone just to destroy their nukes?
The world is not going to be safe as long as we have irrational rulers. All those countries that beleive in pre-emptive strikes are also irrational? It was Bush's irrationality that killed thousands of innocent civillians in Iraq.
senator1 if all americans think the way you do hehehe itll be by now in a deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep recession, with highhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh unemployment. Oh, and guess one, with China in its place. and believe me many would be happy by this LOL
You've never been to India have you? doofus
You think the UK and Canada are more trustworthy allies than Israel? You are citing past tensions as this case? You clearly have never heard of the 1812 war or the entire 19th century when war with the UK and thus, Canada was always a possibility. You know that precious White House of yours? Yeah, the British and Canadians burned that down. You also realize that the UK and Canada regularly spy on the US and Canada has a long history of messing with US states on their border? You must not live near the border so of course you wouldn't know, the TV never reported it.
Get a clue, people.
The UK has gotten us involved in two world wars, how many world wars has Israel gotten us into? If you think the US is Israel's dog you're point the finger at the wrong guy. Try your own politicians in the pocketbook of your own capitalist goons. Israel will get blamed for the US involvement with an Iran war, because that's what CNN and Fox News are paid to tell you. Meanwhile, gas prices will keep going up in order to make you believe we aren't getting any benefits from wars in the Middle East. Who's getting richer? Not you, just your politicians and your wealthy minority. Blame Israel, it's the popular thing to do.
The US is a hopeless lost cause. The people no longer show any promise and time will favor another country.
Let's not forget that Iran took American hostages and the current Iranian president was on of the hostage takers
This is response to Senate1......
You are either, young, inexperienced, or a complete idiot. If you really believe that United States needs to get into another war with Iran on behalf Israel than you need to lead by example. Maybe you can be first American Suicide bomber to go and blow himself up at some Iran embassy. Israel is our ally? Maybe so, what have they done for us lately…….What have they don’t for us…..EVER? To send our boys and girls to fight on someone elses’s behalf is stupid. I deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq I left best part of my youth in those two forsaken countries. I saw number of my friends die and even more of the injured. I say we should do whatever we can in order to avoid conflict with Iran. War should be last option.
As for you Senate1…….your mother would have been better aborting you.
Fareed also makes the mistake of comparing a 2 bit, self-righteous, fanatical country like Iran with a country like what the USSR was at the time. Yes they suppressed freedom and religion and had plans to spread socialism throughout the world, but the USSR did not export terrorism. They did not give their nuclear warheads to others to use as they wished. Iran won't think twice when they manage to build them. I'm not saying Israel is the most sane voice in the region either, a lot of the tension and threats they have brought on themselves and I as an American would prefer our country to stop supporting them. Israel has been caught spying on America, what kind of ally is she anyway?!
You're wrong Survivin. Iran has not called for killing Israel. Just removing their state as a recognized state. They are an illegal state which is what Iran is pointing out.
Nice try though...
Do you really that there are untraceable atomics?
Wake up people, a terrorist state (Israel) which has attacked ALL of its neighbors, has hundreds of nukes and is threatening a country which has not attacked another for over 300 years and DOES NOT possess nukes, with nuclear annihilation! Wake up!
@James Campbell
While you are calling people uneducated, it might help if you stop using "alot" and instead use "a lot".
Our "learning curve" is a flat straight line. comparing Iran to Russia is like comparing night and day. The Russians at leased used logic in their decisions, the Iranians use only emotion. I lived in the Arab world and can assure you that using 'our logic" to rationalize their behavior simply doesn't work. This mess will stop when we tell them that we will (1) definitely hit ALL their military sites, (2) ALL their nuclear sites, and (3) take their oil when we are done. Enough is enough. This current government will talk an issue to death before doing anything. by the time they come to a conclusion, the bomb will be built. Time for someone, anyone, in Washington to grow an undercarriage. Funny how we consider "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" to be relevant with respect to the health care issue but not a military threat.
I may be the odd man out here due to my age. Back when Iran took our hostages Jimmy Carter (the most worthless President in my lifetime without question) was in charge. He didn't have the guts to do anything about it. Everyone in the US had bumper stickers on their cars that read "Kill them all! Let God sort out the good ones". One of the big reasons that Reagan got into office was due to Carter's terrible performance with respect to this (along with inflation running around 10% and interest rates around 14%). It is very interesting for an old timer like myself to read some of the diatribe below. We used to stand up for ourselves. Now we have a significant percentage of people who simply can't, or won't, grasp what is going on over there. One way or another, this chicken will ultimately come home to roost. You can fight it now or you can fight it later. The only difference is the cost YOU are going to pay. It's time to grow up gentlemen. YOU make the call. Let's see what you are willing to stand for. What do you believe in and are you willing to fight for it? THEY ARE.
@oilmanbc, u r really stupid to say u r old and remember, u must have some dementia. Do you remember the soviet missile crisis where russia sent missiles to cuba, is that not exporting terrorism?
@Senator1 Are you imbecile or moron ?
I am sort of laughing at Fareed's comments about comparing Russia to Iran. It is my understanding that Iran has been supporting terrorism for a long time. I agree with you about your comment regarding Iran giving Nuclear materials to a terrorist group and let them ignite it. It wouldn't even have to be a big bomb. A tactical nuke would instill much more fear then a missile from Iran because no one would know where it originated from. Israeli stick on Iran's facility may or may not be the answer? Although covert operations may be the better option since they are less costly compared to all out war.
All nucelar mnaterial has a unique signature much like a fingeprint. this enables its source to be identified and revelaed. so a terrorist bombv regardless of whgere the fisile material was from would be able to be indetified and the location where it came from also identified for targetting and bombing by IAf
Pffft. I always love to hear the angry, self-righteous screeds accusing "islam-o-fascists" of terrorism when Israel is thenone with extra-judicial, illegal assassinations stacked up against innocent people in Iran.
Hypocrisy....Israel is a plague on the world. A plague of lies and deceit.
So you agree with Fareed that Israel should just quietly wait for the ragheads to blow them up? That is one of the most stupid remarks I have ever read!
You forget to mention one thing as well, Israel was created by terrorism by Jews. Study your history and read about the King David Hotel bombing, the Irgun, the Stern Gang and today's Kahane Chai. Many of those early day terrorists are today's Prime Ministers of Israel. Karma. What goes around comes around.
Right on the mark. You forgot one thing: AIPAC. As long as Israel has a powerful lobby that covers both parties, our nation will continue supporting the Zionist state.
i didnt know that israel threatened iran with annihilation or that hezbollah,trained, funded and armed by iran was launching rockets daily into israel. either you or i must be dyslexic and read the news backwards. i just checked, it isnt me.
Absolute nonsense. You are another example of why rational people must never negotiate with Islamic terrorism. There is very little hope for the Middle East, especially when their men are emotional children who enslave their women in the Dark Ages, and espouse vitriolic hatred for Israel - all of this is only an expression of self-hatred stemming from a feeling of inadequacy and having been dominated by autocratic regimes and religious zealots. In short, you hate Israel and the Jews for being successful and for your failures in leading your families and children to prosperity, liberal democracy, freedom and respect.
Thanks Keith
I forgot to mention that zionist support for Israel is premised entirely on hatred and intolerance for muslims. You dont think twice about using language like "ragheads" but god forbid some "anti-semite" ( a term which indicates bigotry towards jews and arabs) say anything disparaging against jews....the politics and rhetoric of VICTIMHOOD...israel's main fraudulent export. Hulacost is just genocide. Anti-semitism is just bigotry....all these "special" categories for jews..
It's pathetic!
And dont forget, all you muslim hating, zionist puppets, that the same mullahs you hate on now....are the same ones you personally armed a few short decades ago....remember? Reagan negotiated DIRECTLY with Ayatullah Khomeini to DELAY the hostage release until after elections with Carter...in return, Ayatullah got weapons delivered directly to Iran BY ISRAEL....Iran-Contra....remind yourselves you political sock puppets.
If Iran nukes Israel, say through a dirty bomb given to Hizbollah, would the muslim Zakaria shed a tear? Do not trust word of this guy!
right on Buzzk!!!
Here's what Obama's diplomats are saying to Jerusalem right now: we have more nuclear weapons than even Isreal. If we believe Isreal is a threat to the United States, either directly or through its military action, we can destroy Isreal 10 times over.
They do not have enough weapons (or the delivery capacity) to destroy the U.S.
So in the end, the U.S. is more powerful than Isreal. You can't have a toy poodle pull a horse. Sure it can yap a lot, and wag its tail back and forth all it wants. But at the end of the day, the decision is ours. If Isreal thinks we will be their steadfast ally, no matter what their military decision, no matter what their course of action, they are DEAD WRONG. They are a nation with a mere 7 million people. That's smaller than just New York City.
I'm sorry, but you can't lead by being a charity case.
Brian, it is hilarious that you are talking about Beirut barrack bombing. If I remember correctly (and I know I do), Israel was the one that was leveling Beirut and they were not invited in, neither were we (the Americans). We had no business being in Beirut, but it is funny how Israeli pilots repeatedly bombed USS Liberty and they claim to be our allies. Yes Iranians did send human waves at Saddam Hussein and that was only for survival. Saddam Hussein was supplied by the West (including us) with Chemical Weapons and they used it on Iranians while we supported the maniac and put sanctions on the Iranians.
As far as return of the 12th Imam, do not forget that the Iranians would never destroy Jerusalem, therefore your fear mongering is misleading at best and dishonest at worst.
Hey Buzzk, your twisting of the facts leads me to beileve that you are either a rabid right wing nut or a resident of WV. THe premise of Israel is and was to be a Jewish Homeland. End of Story. We don't give a rats a*s about the Arabs. We just wissh to be left alone. We only hate Arabs because they want to exterminate us and the State that was given to us by Great Britian (used to be called Paleestine). Palestinians are mostly ex-Jordanians or bedouins who's history is to wander the desert. They eshewed (go look it up) permanent settlements. Jet your facts straight.
Erik, you just summed up why Israel is so disliked. No wonder the native Arabs hate you, you're obnoxious enough to believe it's your God given right to be there. "We don't give a rats ass about the Arabs" well that was obvious from 70 years of Zionist bigotry.
"Palestinians are mostly ex-Jordanians or bedouins who's history is to wander the desert. They eshewed (go look it up) permanent settlements. Jet your facts straight."
And what are you? a bunch of people believing you're the "chosen" and you can kill and enslave at will? then allow no criticism lest you claim "anti-semitic" you disgust me! thankfully not all jews or israelis feel the way you do. You have no moral high ground
All for naught.
Soon the entire world will find support for Israel distasteful.
Soon the next Iran will become Israel.
And soon the world (UN.EU.US.RU) will conclude to make Jerusalem the international city- somethink like that.
But, wait~ Israel will resist. (How dare they!)
And then, we will see the words of E.benBuzi realised.
The massive miracle of the defeat of huge invading forces coming toward Israel.
Making that tsunami look like a teeny event in comparison.
Let's keep in mind that the country driving the US to war with Iran is Israel which has never signed the NPT and which has a large number of nukes. The Israelis constantly acuse Iran of violating the NPT and secretly trying to build a nuclear weapon.. But isn't this entire situation summed up by an Italian who once famously observed about the Pope and birth control: "You no playa the game, you no makea the rules"?
How sad you feel that way. So in your mind it would be okay for the Iranians to nuke that part of the world. If Iran can't have no body can have it. So far from reality. What a waste of human flesh.
Unfortunately USA has been bought out by AIPAC and does not have an indpendent policy anymore. The pro -Israel lobby has such a strong propaganda machine that many Americans really beleive that Iran is out there to strike everyone once it has the bomb. All they have to do is read Iran's history. Iran has never attacked any country in the world. This ist s history,unlike Israel's. Israel was also the creation of terrorists such as Haganah, Stern gangs, etc. Most of its earlier prime iministers were terrorsits at one time or another. So that it is thinking of a pre emptive strike is no surprise.
Am I suppose to believe that the hollocaust never happened as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says?!! I say To Israel.....LET THEM HAVE IT!!
To start off if you researched the evidence the US has received from Israel over time, you find a constant pattern of lies. Israel uses US soldiers to fight their proxy wars and has no respect for non Jews. Iran does not have nukes but MSM pretends they do. An imaginary threat that must be eliminated. If Israel was looking for peace it would no be blocking the Palestinians from being a state and getting rights that they deserve. They also would no be building houses on land that does not belong to them.
The Word is very clear. Israel belongs to YHVH...the end soon come and Israel will be victorious and prosperous. Read it..and then watch and see. No one can defeat the God of Israel!
In the overall scheme of things, these assasinations kill few people to avoid the necessity of killing many. It is a message that Israel will not tolerate Iran having a nuclear capability – even if many must be killed. Unlike China and the Soviet Union, Iran's schoolchildren begin each day saying "Death to America." Iran's President has publicly called for the destruction of Israel. He is by Western standards crazy. They brutalize their own people and the people of Syria. From a Western perspective, it seems probable that Iran would initiate a nuclear war even if their cities were destroyed in retaliation. It is even more likely, however, they would provide nuclear capability to terrorists whom they sympathize with and support.
Right on. Most of the problem my country the great US of A is currently facing is the result of the tremendous influence ISRAEL has on its internal affairs like a veracious parasite sucking on its host until there is nothing left, at which point it will move on to the next host/power.. btw the previous host was Germany...
Israel is not the victim. They are the real enemy. They are spouting lies and trying to get the world whipped up into a frenzy so we'll fight for them. Israel really is the plauge, and bringing up the holocaust every time does not change that fact.
If you look at those who Israel attacks, or is said to attack, is is those who have sworn to destroy them and are in active pursuit of the goal. This is not hypocrisy, lies, deceit, or terrorism, but self-defense.
Whether the King David Hotel bombing was justified or not, the target was British soldiers. This makes it a military operation, not terrorism. Also, a warning was called in, but not believed.
I am not Iranian nor Pro Iranian, I hope this regime tumbles and take all its leaders with it. My dilemna is, who gave Irsrael this World Protector Badge when they themselves do not honnor any International nuclear treaty and have so many nakus of their owna dn the have no regards to any international law. Isn't this the epidemy of Hypocrism, also about the holocust (200,000 people) if any, what about the other 54 million people that died in WWII, or they don't count in your books.
The people of Iran hate the Mullahs. If we are patient, they will overthrow them.
I agree. I'm just a died in the wool progressive and believe democracy is better served through attraction than promotion.
They said the same thing in 1930"s.
You are definitely wrong. Iranians selected mullahs as president for 24 consecutive years and more than 70% of the people voted. So try to use your brain instead of you stomach when talking
perhaps, but the next regime will continue its nuclear quest, there is no doubt about it
Simon, you're a fool to believe those elections were free and fair.
Yeah! That is wishful thinking that has empowered them for the past thirty years. For your information, even if the mullah's are overturned, there is no telling that would change their stance against Israel. If you have any doubts, check the posting of the dude who calls himself Iranian-American.
The people of Iran FEAR the Mullahs. The people of Iran should overthrow the Mullahs. But if you think they will, you misunderstand all historical evidence. It is an easy misunderstanding to reach, because liberals always tell a simplified lie about history in which revolutions occur because the government rebelled against was evil. Take a deeper look at any successful revolution and you will see the unpopularity of the government was never a fundamental factor.
The oppression of the people of Iran by the government of Iran is not our problem. If they get lucky and events develope that give those people the opportunity to rid themselves of that government, good for them. If not, then it is their own problem or even fault.
Meanwhile when the government of Iran endangers the world, that is our problem and we cannot wait for the people of Iran to fix it.
Most of the people of Iran want the regime to be changed. The 70% was a fraudulent election. It's amazing how crazy you think the Iranian regime is and yet you absolutely rely upon their election results and statistics!
Some of the German people hated Hitler and did not want war but Hitler ruled with an iron fist – like the Mullahs. We don't know whether a majority supports the Mullahs because of charges of vote rigging in the last election (which also has happened in the U.S. in spots). Bottom line is a risk assessment which no one is truly qualified to make. Israel is making their own assessment because they are too outnumbered and too small to trust the assessment of others. Right or wrong that is the way it is.
I was born in Russia durring the height of cold war. One thing you Americans have to understand is that Russians value their life, and do not dream of blowing them selves to smithereens, to apease some turban wearing, allah preaching suicidal mullahs. Those fanatics would love nothing better then jumping on to the 72 virgins myth and going to their so called paradise. Those lunatics have no regard for anyone else's life or beleifes. ISRAEL, should strike Iran and cripple their capability to produce nuclear weapons, eliminating the threat to the whole region. The Sampson option that the Israelis talk about would be far more devastating to the whole middle east then just a surgical strike to put Iran back where they belong GO ISRAEL
Alex, how come you see your own people (Russians) as reasonable but not Iranians (turban-wearing, etc.)? A prejudice is a prejudice, regardless of color or owner.
... and you now live in Israel? Not surprising you want everyone in the area gone.
Alex means, the mullahs and those who stand up for them. Not the other Iranian people. The young ones in Iran don't like the clergymen either. They're the future of Iran.
But when these young ones are only fed up with hatred to the US and Israel, and there is no dialogue with them, we all have a problem.
Yes - Alex, you're right. What Zakaria does NOT see is that the present hostilities are not political - they're religious. The Soviet's threat of world domination ("We will bury you..." – Nikita Kruschev) was purely political. The fundamental, Koran-based goal of Islam is the religious domination of the entire world. Convert, or die. That's why THEY must be dealt with BEFORE they get nukes and distribute them to Al Qaida.
sucking kosher hot dogs isn't going to do anything for you.
I agree Al, the US/Soviet comparison is nothing like this situation. Religious fanatics with nukes is very dangerous, in addition, they already threatened to destroy Israel.
Since you are strongly pro Israel, I guess you know what real religious fanatics and terrorist nut jobs look like: Begin, Shamir, Eitan; Netanyahu, etc.,etc.
@Mario - It's obvious, isn't it? Alex WAS a Russian who left, and now supports Israel. In other words, he's a Russian Jew. Like Avigdor Lieberman, they're the worst warmongers in Israel.
This call for pre-emptive strikes against Iran's nuclear facility will not solve anything. Let's not forget that Israel statistically is the most belligerent country in the region and posesses some 300 nuclear warheads itself. Now who do you think ought to be afraid of whom? For Isreal to think that with a first-strike they will resolve the problem is a fallacy. They are the ones who started the race for nuclear arms in the Middle East. Another point is that Iran may at present have a somewhat irrational goverment or should we say president. I am inclined to believe that Armedinejad is unlikely to be re-elected at the next election. The country is not a mad as their current leader.
Isreal's patented answers such as bombings, assassinations, economic strangulation, land theft, etc are ill-suited to further understanding and eventually peace. My advice would be: keep a close eye on the developments in Iran, but do not bomb pre-emtively.
Religious fanatics with nukes? I believe you are describing Israel, not Iran.
You are correct on the Samson Option except it's devastation would go well beyond the middle east. I would expect the first missile that Israel launches will be headed to Moscow.
I agree with you Alex. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a wacko!!
Yes Alex, you are a jew who abondoned Russia,. Please do not talk about Russia. Lets talk about Jews and Israel. Do you belong top the same group of people who killed children in Gaza? Are you one of those people who support the aparteid jewish wall that separates Palestenians to vsist their dear ones? Are you and your children from a group that wrote notes on rockets to "Lebanon that said, From israle with love". If there was a fair and emocratic vote in the world, majority would classify you as a terrorist. But of course you do not beleive in demeocracy. You beleive in false propaganda and made up stories. Be fair and just Alex, so that you allow others to live. When that happens others will also allow you to live.
Maybe when Iran builds it's nuke it will blow up in their face as it did to the suicide bomber.
Alex: Well said Alex. I could not have said it better myself.
Russia says you can't attack Iran or Syria. Better do your jew boy war mongering with another country. In any case the jews haven't the conventional military strength to do more than superficial damage to Iran. The moment Iran is touched, they would have found their justification to have some nukes. Then what will the jew boys do ?
At least Iran had scientists capable of creating nuclear capability on their own. Israel stole enriched uranium from the Apollo plant in Pennsylvania in the fifties, which plant was entrusted to a Zionist to be protected from just that happening, nothing like a wolf to guard the henhouse.
What I don't yet understand is this: A terrorist cell leader exhorts some young impressionable would-be suicide bomber to blow himself up so he can be with 72 virgins in heaven. If that were true, why would the terrorist cell leader not be at the front of the line? Also, most recently there've been female suicide bombers; does the 72 virgin piece apply to them as well, i.e., there's 72 young boys waiting for them?
Dev: Let's talk about Israel. No doubt children have been killed as an unfortunate consequence of military action, especially since Israel's enemies launch attacks from civilian areas. But Israel does not kill children deliberately. What you refer to as an "apartheid wall' was built not to discriminate against people, but to stop suicide bombings. This is certainly a legitimate goal for Israel. I was in Israel several years ago. Our Jewish guide had friends living on the other side of the wall. Sometimes they could visit her, but she could not visit them. Also, what will be the position of Jews in a future Palestinian state? Will there be Jewish members of the government as there are Arab members of the government in Israel? Which side really believes in apartheid?
You say that Alex should let others live and they will let him live. Sorry, but the enemies of Israel have shown by their words and actions for over sixty years, that they do not accept the Jews' right to live.
You condemn Israeli messages on bombs for Lebanon. Yet, at least now, you have not condemned rockets falling on Israel from Lebanon and Gaza.
Fareed, Have you forgotten about The Cuban Missile Crisis? President Kennedy brought us to the brink of Nuclear war to prevent missiles being deployed so close to our borders. Unless we can help implement a regime change in Iran right away, their nuclear program MUST be stopped.
Nonsense! we can not afford another war. Let Israel fight its own wars.
Joe, have you read anything about the Cuban missile crisis declassified in the last 20 years or do you base your entire understanding on the lies told at the time?
Kennedy initially caused the crisis as an unintended consequence of a secret deal he made with Khrushchev to give Democrats advantage in US elections. The resulting strange actions by Khrushchev and strange actions of the US military caused the Soviet military to think Khrushchev was weaker than he really was domestically and the USA was weaker than we really were internationally. That led to them seizing the apparent advantage to place missiles in Cuba without permission from Khrushchev.
Kennedy then took the world to the brink of nuclear war by misunderstanding Soviet politics and think Khrushchev was in full control. Kennedy never doubted that Khrushchev would compromise, so in recordings of Kennedy's private discussions during the crisis, all of his focus and all of his worry was applied to how the situation would affect Democrats vs. Republicans in US elections. He gave no serious thought to the risk of nuclear war. But he did not know that Khrushchev was unable to compromise (rather than unwilling to compromise) because Khrushchev temporarily lost the obedience of his military.
So the Iraq war for Israel's benefit wasn't enough; Joe wants the USA to fight yet another war for Israel and for its rich and powerful American friends.
@JSF12: There is medication for raving paranoia.
Spot on Joe. If Iran won't shut down their nuclear facility then we should do it for them.
This is a reply to "ProudAmerican"
The discussion here in not "should America attack Iran" but "should Israel attack Iran". Obama is trying to prevent Israel from doing so, and it is none of his business. So you're right, let Israel fight it's wars.
This is a reply to "ProudAmerican"
The discussion here is not "should America attack Iran" but "should Israel attack Iran". Obama is trying to prevent Israel from doing so, and it is none of his business. So you're right, let Israel fight it's wars.
The Iraq war was not for Israel's benefit.
Amazing the pacifist mind. Fareed is living in a fantasy land. Ignoring your killer won't make them go away.
1) The U.S THOUGHT that the Soviets were irrational-in the 1940's there was little international cooperation and technologically limiting communication. WE KNOW Iran is irrational. It's the Islamic republic. It would be an fulfilling Islamist dreams to nuke Israel. 2) The Cold War did NOT represent an existential threat to the U.S., a nation which stretches from ocean to ocean, with a broad expanse of infrastructure and resources. Israel is slightly larger than New Jersey
Screw Israel!
45,000 nuclear weapons aimed at the us isnt an existential threat? thats enough nukes that meccas of civilization such as Jacksonburg, Ohio. Population 37 would be on the target list.
P.S Muslims have lots of very good reasons to hate Israel. What doesn't make sense is America's close alliance with Israel which makes our country a terrorist target. Pitch the Israeli Jonah over board.
Pakistan is also a Islamic regime. It has nukes. It has not nuked Israel. So your argument that Iran another Islamic country will nuke Islrael is based on false propaganda!!
The argument that Iran could very well nuke Israel is based on statements made by Iran's leaders.
I lived in USSR, and Zakaria is dead WRONG. The Soviets, were impotent demagogues. Even Brezhnev did not believe in Communism and had zero intentions to nuke the west. But Khameni & Co. are messianic nuts more comparable to Hitler. And like Hitler, he must be stopped.
You should worry about Israel's 200 nukes.
it is rational to remove 26 million Soviet.? does iran have made the same ? NOOOO
What utter rubish. Iran is a third world country with a defense budget 1% of Uncle Sam's.
Farreed, what you conviently seem to omit is that the leaders of Iran publicly announce to the world that they want to wipe Isreal off the face of the earth. If my neighbor a block away threatened to kill me and my family as soon as he got all the parts to put a rifle together, I 'd be a idiot to wait for that to happen! Get real here! BTW, during the cold war neither did the US or USSR ever say they wanted to wipe each other off the face of this earth.
Without commenting on the overall issue here, Khrushchev did threaten something to the effect of "Our grandchildren will bury your grandchildren."
it's amazing how long this lie can perpetuate. imadinnerjacket said NO such thing. in fact when questioned by reporters about what he DID say he said that iran would abide by whatever was democratically decided on by the palestinians even if it ment recognition of and normalization of relations with isreal.
I'm glad Nikita K didn't mean us any harm when he said, "We will bury you" at the UN. Other folks might regard his comment as something of a threat.
The "we will bury you" comment was in the context of burying us economically.
Fareed, you know very little about this world and how it works and its problems. You are way too naive and unperceptive to write about such complicated issues. Please stick to other things, and don't offer nations advice–you are not intelligent enough, unfortunately.
True. btw look at Thailand, Georgia & India last week and what about Qods in Iraq, Lebanon & Syria?
Actually, Zakaria is one of the most intelligent and perceptive American journalists.
You may disagree with his analysis and conclusions, but attacking his credibility and expertise is unfair and somewhat naive.
Rascists will die drown in their own Sh... Zakaria and most of wise people know that , especially, this war will destroy USA economy and do much damage to the world including Israel. as a peaceful person, I hope it will never happen.
Mr. Zakaria, I profoundly disagree with you when you invoke comparisons of unintended consequences from wars of agression – compared to the situation vis-a-vis Iran and Israel. Germany started World War I for mastery of Europe; there is no indication that Israel could hope to achieve such hegemony. The deterrance of MAD in the U.S. vs. USSR is not applicable to Iran vs Israel. It would only take one or two A bombs to utterly devastate Israel. Iran may yet survive even in the face of many A bombs. The world, except for China and Russia, have not been able to deter Iran. The USSR, on the other hand, restrained itself after WW II; and it backed down in the Cuba Missile Crisis. As to your allegation that "Not one Iranian has been shown to be a suicide bomber", you ignore Iran's employment of surrogates to do that dirty work – all over the world – not just as applies to Israel. As for MAD, the U.S. has never and may never make it OBVIOUS AND CLEAR that it would consider an attack on Israel as an attack of the U.S. and that such an attack will result in massive retaliation by the U.S. Such an action might get Iran's attention and stop the repeated threats to wipe Israel off the map.
Zakaria's bad advice to Israel was not written from any misguided belief that it is good advise, nor from any hopes that he might fool Israel into following his advise.
It was written for an American audience in hopes of making Israel look bad and in hopes of taking American support away from Israel.
The $2 trillion the US spent in Iraq for Israel's benefit was enough. No more wars for Israel's benefit no matter how much money Israel's friends in this country give our politicians.
Fareed Zacharia should not comment on any event that involves Muslim nations or their proxys, Muslim terrorists, for obvious reasons.
then u cant respond to anything about christian... and or Jewish postings because you are now somehow ineligible....lol
Iran approached India to attack Pakistan so , possibilities of attack over Iran or Israel will be less and hizabolla and gaza terrorist will close their training center against Israel. So Israel will have peace full neighbor.
Fareed is either bias or stupid. (1) Israel is tiny. USSR could not destroy all the US in one strike, but Iran can destroy Israel in one strike. (2) Iran is not deterred by MAD because they believe destruction will bring back the Mahdi, their messiah; they seek mutual destruction, and they have openly stated that destroying the Jews is a religious obligation even if they pay the price of destroying their own country. (3) Religious hatred: We watched Hitler sacrifice resources to kill the Jews while his army was being destroyed. Iran was named after Nazi German – Aryan. They share the value of destroying the Jews, regardless of the price.
Joshua – Iran was NOT named after Nazi German – Aryan.
The name Iran means land of the Aryans in Persian and has been in use since 224 AD. The Nazi's stole the term in the 1930s claiming that the Nordics were the true Aryans as they were more 'pure"
The Swastik symbol is an ancient Hindu sacred symbol is use even today. My wife's gold bangles have Swastik symbols. Similarly the ancient Hindus called themselves "Aryans" centuries ago. The word "Arya Putra" in Sanskrit means son of nobleman. Perhaps these terms originated from ancient Central Asia and ancient Persia.
The Nazis hijacked the Swastik symbol and the word "Aryan" and made them infamous.
Josua, you are too young to comment about this article. I ask all Israeli kids, to refrain from posting here.
Joshua,
you betrayed your youth and ignorance in point 1 where you said USSR did/does not have the capability to destroy the US in 1 strike. They did. they still do, technically. just like the US still has enough to destroy them in 1 strike. do you have any idea the destructive force of 15,000-20,000 nuclear weapons per superpower (and that's not even all the bomb at each countries disposal) go ahead, pick the top 20,000 cities in the US and drop a bomb on them and tell me that's not enough to destroy the country.
sorry your arguement falls apart right at your first "point".
I love America, I do not like America's enemy; Israel.
and you're a third world arab...trying to propagate your hate for Israel...not going to work...try it in Saudi Arabia
Hatred eats the soul of the hater, not the hated. How can you call yourself peaceful when calling for Israel's destruction? I hope you do not represent Iranians. You are full of hate.
Your a moron.. Whoever you are! And most of the comments on here are ridiculous just like Fareed... Listen, Iran is nothing like Russia was back during the cold war. Different culture, different people, everything about that is different. It can;t be compared! Iran's leadership is extremist. They have a radical Islamic ruling party. They have publicly said they want to destroy Isreal. And, whether anyone likes it or not, we cant allow that to happen. And another thing, you honestly want morons like Iran's leadership to have nukes? and you really think sanctions and isolation will work? Look at North Korea, They are the most isolated poorest country there is and they managed to get nukes!!!! Don't be naive, its embarrassing. And it is also embarrassing that this journalist thinks that Iran won;t build AND deliver a nuke either by missile or terrorist? Pleeeeease! I say let Isreal whack that nuke capability into the next century!!!!! And I think we have to back them up and provide any help that is needed! Obama knows this, and so does the rest of the world. The only problem is, Obama knows it would hammer his re-election bid, so he wants to prolong any military action until after the election. This is going to happen people, this guy is like Hitler: He will exterminate millions if he can in the name of Islam. They are that Crazy!!!! And anyone who doesn't realize this needs to pull their head out of their behinds!!! And waiting won;t work either. The UN is crap, Zilch, Nada, a big fat ZERO in authority! We had this same mind set back during WWII and let 6 million people get killed because it wasn't in our back yard or our business. Well, guess what people, we are no longer separated by oceans or continents. We are only separated by technology, and TAKE A HARD LOOK at who is going after all of the technology they can get their hands on!!! WAKE THE HELL UP PEOPLE!!!!
I agree.
I'm sorry but isreal is not the enemy here.
Mark Israel off the friends list..... they have attacked us and killed our sailors before..... when needed they will stab us in the back again.
Do you know where Zakaria is from?
Zakaria is a consistently biased Muslim journalist from a non Muslim country. No Muslim country would ever give a journalist of another religion the kind of freedom that at least two non Muslim countries have given Zakaria.
He uses that freedom to support the Muslims who would take that freedom away.
when you aim for the middle groung both sides get hit...... its unfortunate that you are unable to see the balance because you dont know or dont care or dont have the capability to understand the consequences of war..... so your best approach is to shoot the messenger.
America is the land of opportunity. Leave Zac alone.
Iran has never launched a suicide attack? From Lebanon? Buenos Aires? From across the Middle East by proxy in the form of Islamic Jihad, Hamas, Hezbollah? Iranian intelligence, terrorist, and irregular paramilitary forces are synonymous with the export of murder and mayhem across the planet, and the comparison with Russia is more than obtuse.
Zakaria should be stripped of his right to appear on television for making such nonsensical and fundamental untrue utterances. Has 'Up' become 'Down' in Fareed's Hall of Mirrors?
It's idiotic and reprehensible.
What about this past week Zakaria? OK, perhaps the Iranian bomb that bounced off the tree in Thailand was not meant to be a suicide attack, but you're beginning to understand how the two-dimensional chatter which FZ shovels-out each week to legions of frothing Antisemitic nut bags, like those littering the comment section on this page, really gets people's juices flowing.
We 'understand' Israel? Who is this 'We' anyway, and how on earth (!) can FZ draw such stupidly-fallacious parallels between the US, a continent-spanning superpower of 300,000,000, and Israel, a 3/4 landlocked, tiny nation of less than 8,000,000?
There are zero noteworthy historical and ideological commonalities between the two nation states, the Cold War, their overall approach to conflict, and the regional threats faced by the US and Israel. Oh. I'm sorry. The United States does not have any regional threats! However, It can always borrow Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Egypt, Libya (whew), Pakistan, Persia, and any other nation required for FZ to fabricate some semblance of an argument.
It's not like the mullahs and their Marionette in-Chief have not waxed poetic about their Genocidal intentions either.
There is no 'we' in this equation when a critical examination of FZ's boringly off-the-cuff musings are undertaken. His analogies are stretched beyond the pale for people who actually understand a bit about the region, and the realities of Global Jihad.
And to fatuously propagate the appeasement-oriented, Chamberlain-esque notion that Israel should just sit tight, allow the Persians to get a bomb, and then wait until they can use it, so that Iran may, in turn, be involuntarily transformed into something aspiring to look like Afghanistan, circa 1500 AD, is a ludicrous proposition.
*** Read Israel's entire Doctrine of Preemptive Warfare, and it's legal precedents dating back to the 1600's, online at 'Project Daniel'. Learn how fundamentally ill-informed Zakaria is, and how a Clockwork Orange dose of reality might be just what the doctor ordered. Yes, including those little eye-pry-openers to drive home a point.
Project Daniel – Read and learn why FZ should never be taken seriously.
Nice hogwash!!! Such rant and raves that do not make any sense should not be published. It is a waste of evryones time. Israel is already nuclear. End of discussion.period!!
Which country ? India ? you are off the mark, Fareed is an indian and not a pakistani..
A Pakistani would be more in tune with reality.
Indian Muslims are more mellow than most, so his POV is skewed on everything except the small group of Muslims he's been exposed to. Add to that academia's inability to take off their rose colored glasses when it comes to the Middle East. Western academic views are more rooted in the fear of offending anybody than objective observation. Combined, you come up with Zakaria's consistently polyannish opinions on the situation.
It's either that or he's deliberately misleading. The man has no clue.
As usual, Zakaria has it backwards. Tell Iran to stop making threats to wipe out Israel while they are developing an atomic bomb, Zakaria. Duh!!!!!
Please, again Israel playing the victim, they already have nuclear weapons, why just simply not used them against Iran, and that way they will destroy each other, and everyone else can turn to more productive endeavor.
Umm, this IS Fareed's country. He has been a U.S. citizen for quite some time.
Is it democracy in this world that only 15.3 millions Jews are ruling 2.1 Billion Christans, 1.3 Billions Muslims and all other religions in this world. Iranians are peaceful people and they love life and mourns every since many centries the death of their originator (Prophet Mohammand grandson usw.). Israel should not worry if Iran would one day get atom bombs. Has America, UK, France, China, India, Pakistan and Israel have NOT?
Sir, I know you are very happy about Mr. Zakaria's stance. You are an Arab. you know that all Ahmadinejad wants to do is to annihilate Israel. You feel supportive of this action. All the fibers of your body is thrilled by joy to know that there is a maniac who wants to destroy Israel and exterminate Jews. You take it as a fact that the Jews are controlling the world. You want them destroyed because you think you are not participating in ruling the world. You think that by destroying the Jews, you will rule the world. You need therapy and professional help. Even your reasoning sounds like a justification for annihilation of the Jews. It may be democratic to give voice to people like Zakaria, and it may raise the number of people who watch CNN. It is also a tragic proof of pandemic of baseless hatred.
The statement that "15.3 millions Jews are ruling 2.1 Billion Christians, 1.3 Billions Muslims and all other religions in this world" is a total falsehood.. If Iran is such a peaceful nation, where is even one statement that Israel deserves to live in peace and security?
Go Israel. Attack now before it is too late!!!
Mr. Zakaria is tragically mistaken about Iran. I am watching CNN, where claims since no suicide bomber has been Iranian, therefore, Iran is not aggressive. Are you kidding me? Do you have any clue about history? Did Hitler not do as promised? Which world is he living in? What reality? Ahmadinejad has explicitly said that "Israel is a cancer that should be removed from the face of the world". Which part of this does Mr. Zakaria not understand??? It is so sad that in the name of fairness, they have given air time to these pathologically anti Semites and call them experts!
So what? Hitler was a fascit who wanted to reintegrate German speaking provinces for Germany. It could accomplish this all without national self destruction, or else it could have if it didn't try to invade the Soviet Union: something it promised it wouldn't do. Ahmadinejad is a figurehead, his words don't matter, Khameinei's do: Iran has almost no history of invading its neighbors, its nuclear program has been within IAEA treaty provisions since 03. Believe it or not not all Arabs/Persians/Muslims/Brown people are suicidal martyrs: if they were Israel would have never won the 48 war so easily.
In your opinion they should be giving more time to anti islamists? Isn't there enough propaganda already?
Farid Zakaria's own country is the United States of America.
Fareed you are wrong. The Soviets never talked about wiping the US off the face of the earth and they were'nt led by religious zealot ideologues pledging "Death to American" and the belief that the area of the United States was illegally occupied by the Americans, that America was a rotting corpse or cancer. You are comparing two totally different situations. Unlike Israel with a tiny population, zero strategic depth, ability to absorb a nuclear first strike and retaliate, the United States as well as the Soviets occupied huge land masses with huge populations. The Iranians may believe, and Ahmadinejad has already alluded to this, that they can and would be willing to sacrifice a substantial part of their population in a nuclear exchange with Israel.
Comparing Israel & Iran to USA & USSR? USA & USSR had different ideologies that were both new (less than 200 yrs old). Compared to a conflict that is thousands of years old. Unfortunately, when the US went after the wrong guy and in doing so empowered Iran. So now the world will sit back and hope Israel comes to the rescue. They will be damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Fareed is from India from Mumbai. India is a secular democracy with the world's third largest muslim population. You want to spew your bigoted ignorant views please do so in your white ignorant redneck church tonight at bible study time when you want to hasten the rapture.
You could go to a church to see what they really do at Bible study time.
Please do not compare Iran to Soviet Union-that is just silly and shows Fareed's limited knowledge about this situation.
Agreed. His attempt to extrapolate from the Cold War is completely misguided. Good people die when people like Zakaria do nothing to stop evil.
Yes, Iran is not comparable to the Soviets - in the sense that the Soviets were much worse than Iran ever can be. The fear is just being ratcheted up by Islamophobic hawks in America who want war. Iran is not an existential threat to the world. MAD and deterrence will work with them just like they worked with Russia.
And your qualifications are WHAT?
Israel is going to attack no one. Israel's main goal is to sucker the US into as many wars against it's enemy's as they can. Why would they waste Jewish lives when they can waste American lives.
Israel is nothing but a pain in the A$$.
I would love to see Israel and Iran blow each other up. The world would be a better place.
Wrong. Israel fights its own wars, with its own men, often from multiple fronts. learn history or shut up.
ISRAEL AND ISRAEL SUPPORTERS=TERRRORIST
AMERICANS BEWARE ISRAEL WILL TRY TO TAKE TAKEOVER THE UNITED STATES IF IT HASNT ALREADY
There is one clear difference between the USSR of the past and Iran of the current times. The leadership of the USSR never openly viewed the nuclear to hasten a theological event. As irrational as they were, there was still the idea of nuclear annihilation.
If you listen closely to the current Iranian regime, they openly look to hasten the return of the "12th Imam". In listening to Ahmadinejad , there is almost the anticipation that if such a conflict were to arise, then this type of event could hasten his return. So their goal has nothing to do with self preservation. It's more to do with their theocracy.
Zakaria is a naturalized American citizen.
Zakaria is a naturalized American citizen
Fareed's originally from India. I think you've got the wrong country, you racist tool.
Frankly, I think that we should let them kill each other, and then we can all rest and deal with more important issues.
Iran has done little to warrant the vitriol typical Americans obsessively spew. Iran has no campaign to illegally expand its borders, Israel would be best served by doing likewise and getting back into its legally recognized territory. Until there is a Palestine State, side by side with Israel, the continued injustice will translate into no peace and everlasting insecurity.
Born in 1964, in India, but, a naturalized American Citizen, who is just as patriotic as anyone else in this country, my dear friend. Why can't Fareed use the word 'we' in his article. You must be proud that he does. Since when did we, Americans get this bigoted??. Wow........ Please STOP.
silly report. we in america have the luxury of vast open spaces. in some places israel is only a few miles wide. 3 well placed nuclear bombs could wipe out every jew, palistinian christian in and about palistine
I had great respect for fareed's opinion in many cases. But I strongly disagree on his position of stalemate situation between Iran and Israel. Both USSR and USA was well educated modern countries when they had stalemate. It is already dangerous that Pakistan and north Korea is having nukes. The world would be much more dangerous place with another less educated radical country having nukes. I guess China and India should realize that and put pressure on Iran by banning to import Iran's Oil.
fareed zakariya ma chola indian agent israeli tutaay mo se nikaal lo.
zakariya works for cia he is blindly supporting israel on every issue very biast
You redneck: Get this straight! Whether you like it or not Fareed Zakaria is a US citizen. God bless America that it can have rationalists like Fareed and "hands on the trigger" fellows like you!!!
Which country do you think Fareed is from? He was born in India and is an American citizen. Would the Indians cut off his head or would the Americans? Last time I checked, neither India nor America were run by islamo-fascists. Get some facts into that thick skull of yours before shooting your mouth off, you in bred moron...
You dumb redneck!
Fareed is a US citizen. God bless America that it can have under one roof dumb "trigger happy rednecks" and some sane people too!!!
Where do you think Fareed is from, BTW? He was born in India and is an American citizen. Who are you saying would cut his head off, the Indians or the Americans? Neither India nor America are run by islamo-fascists. Try growing a few brain cells before shooting your mouth off, you in-bred white trash.
I wonder how many people here that wants an immediate strike on Iran has served or have sons and daughters in the military. How many are against more government debt but is ok to spend three more trillions in another war. Israel has nukes and an air defense system so advance to take out incoming missiles. I think we should not attack.
What exactly what he beheaded for? You, my friend, are the perfect example of the booby who gets sucked into the war mongering/villainization of everyone of the Islamic faith. Iran has not started a war for over 400 years. Their antipathy for Israel is no different from your antipathy from theirs...or maybe it is, I don't know, you seem like the kind of guy that would say "glsas the middle east"
I agree, therefore Israel must arm itself with as many nuclear weapons as it possibly can!
Mr. Zakaria, these are two totally different animals. the Russians have brains, the Iranians have brains, the Iranian regime have hate.
If Iran achieves its nuclear goals and gets weapon capabilities, what happens if they provide a weapon to a militant organization who is willing to use a suicide bomber in conjuction with that weapon? Who then is responsible for the ensuing damage caused by the nuclear suicide bomber, and how does anyone prove that it was Iran that provided the nuclear weapon? Fareed's opening statement fails to answer this question. No country is afraid of Iran using nuclear weapons. Everyone knows Iranians are cowards. They will attack unarmed citizens but they won't strike any countries' army. They'll give the bomb to terrorists to use, and then say it wasn't them. They are on the "State Sponsors of Terrorism" list for a reason.
It'a all a matter of timing.
Can the Western economies survive with high oil prices? Or will war be necessary?
Will the Iranian people overthrow their govt due to the sanctions?
Time will tell.
Yes, they would consider Fareed a traitor. Yes they might be-head him. But Fareed is exactly right in his analysis of the the situation in the middle east. The likelihood of Iran using a nuclear weapon is zero and every sane person knows that! The Iranians are not insane. They know they can't win a full out war so they won't start one. It's as simple as that! Ron Paul 2012!!!
I beg to disagree. the jihadis love Zakaria, who does his best work for the muslim brotherhood and islamic jihad while pretending to be a "moderate" muslim. He supports the 9/
I beg to disagree. The jihadis wouldn't harm Zakaria, they love him because he does his best work for the muslim brotherhood and islamic jihad while pretending to be a "moderate" muslim. He supports the 9/11 jihadi memorial mosque next to Ground Zero, he loves Obama as a good islamo-marxist, and will be dancing in the streets when Iran gets nuclear weapons.
As an Iranian American without a doubt, I can say that Iranian love America and American people, this relationship established over 50 years ago and Iranian government cannot do anything about it. You can go to Iran and see it for yourself. Going to war with Iran because Israeli asks us to do, does not make any sense. We lost enough men and women in Afghanistan and Iraq we do not need another war.
Zakaria is an idiot...the Iranians have never conducted a suicide attack? Is he joking or just completely oblivious to history? Iran is the greatest state sponsor of terror in hisotry...the Marine Barracks bombing in 1983 had Iran written all over the wall and the only reason Hezbollah exists is because of Iran...oh yeah, and they trained, funded, and supplied HUNDREDS of suicide bombers to carry out attacks against in US in Iraq. Iran is the arch enemy of the free world and is bent on destroying Israel and the United States and imposing Shia Islam on the rest of the world.
He also has problems with Geography, calling Syria isolated geographically. What a looser.
Zakaria is an idiot...Iran hasn't conducted a suicide attack? Is he joking or just completely oblivious to history? The 1983 Marine Barracks bombing had Iran written all over the place, Hezbollah only exists to execute the whims of the Iranian Mullahs, and they trained, supplied, and funded HUNDREDS of suicide bombers against the US in Iraq. Iran is the greatest state sponsor of terror in history and is hell bent on the destruction of Israel and the US so they can establish Shia rule over the entire free world.
The 12 imam is coming soon. They believe, even if we do not. Get you head out of the sand!
All I can say is thank god we have a reasonable man sitting in the white house right now. All we need is another war fueled by fear of nuclear weapons that probably dont even exist, just another ploy by our federal government to control a oil distribution center while drafting up some mass-weapon production contracts.
Fareed is from India, you ignorant idiot. Just because he is a Muslim does not mean he comes from a Muslim country. No one will shoot him or kill him there or put up his video on youtube. We have as much or more freedom of press and expression in India as the United States. Why do you think he has such amazing powers of thought and deduction?
You are kidding or from India? Fareed has no thoughts – only face that says "cheeeeees" with Indian accent.
I am surprised that Fareed is still around. He has no opinion on his own, incapable of producing analysis – only talking head on the screen.
"In his own country...". Mr.Fareeed Zakaria happens to be from India. His father was a health minister and a highly regarded intellectual and author of several influential books that are highly regarded by his countrymen.
"Opinion: Israel, don't strike Iran"...is Feb. 18 "obvious Day?"
Not one terrorist attack from Iran? Are you kidding? They are the terrorist in Sryia, Irag, Palestine, Israel and all over the world. They are the supply and direction behind all of the "coos" in the middle east. They are the creators of the suicide bombers.
Israel’s particular vulnerability to such weapons is a consequence of its tiny area, its high population density and its national infrastructure concentrations.
When israel tells us to jump we jump and say how high? no one is winning except the oil traders and the greedy wall streeters.
Could not agree more with David below. How FZ can compare the current situation in Iran where their leaders openly declare their intent to destroy Israel and its people to the Soviet Union is beyond me. Stop trying to be the intellectual and wake up to what is really happening in the world!
Mr Z !!! – If you can find the twin towers then you will find the towns that are not NUKED after this determined country get thier hands on the weapon they are so strongly trying to get. You will learn in a few years what you should have learnt a few years ago. You will be CRYING that we did not destroy these reactors when we coulld have. Because the world is sleeping and Israel will not do it!!!!!
Did the Soviet government ever openly and publicly threaten to push the entire US into the sea? If not then you can't compare the two
Mr Zakaria, your view is right on one hand. However, Russia and North Korea doesn't threatened to wipe out another country from the face of the earth. I still feel that Israel must make utmost effort to stop Iran arming itself with nuclear weapon.
Put Fareed in Isreal....let him write this kraap from there.
I don’t believe the Soviet Union called for the destruction of the of the United States. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for Israel’s destruction several time. The world watch as six million Jews were killed in the holocaust. No one then thought it could happen either. I take him at his word. The world especially Israel can’t take that chance again.
The US should have taken care of Iran long time ago. Didn't the military often blaimed Iran backed groups for attacks against US service men in Iraq? Why didn't they react then? We waited too long!!!
Fareed Zakira – C N N resident # 1 supporter and advocate for all things Muslim.
Strike Iran. They are sponsors of terrorism and will not hesitate to use nukes on the US or anyone else. Destroy them before they kill us.
Fareed, you are a colossal idiot. For the US to have gone to war with Russia at that time would have required the use of atomic weapons. The US, and the combined armies of all other nations could not have defeated Russia, at least not without the loss of millions of soldiers, let alone civilians. Don't blow so hard Fareed, you are, idiot personified. If the US and Britain had struck against Hitler in the mid-30's millions of lives would have been saved. And do you fanasize that the cold war with Russia was consequence free. Beside that any war with Iran is microscopic by comparison. Incidentally, the Pakistani bomb has already cost thousands of US lives, because the Taliban and Al Quaida have always been able to hide behind it. So Fareed, look in the mirror and read this post aloud to yourself.
This is unlikely seeing as Fareed is a Muslim.
(Also, "Islamo" is not a word.)
India is actually a rather tolerate country regarding freedom of religion.
Zakaria is a liar and manipulator. CNN should be held accountable for hiring and giving a show to this individual. Let's examine the facts:
Zakaria said not one Iranian has been a suicide bomber.
A Lie – Even within the last two weeks, proven Iranians carried out suicide attacks (one Iranian blowing his legs off with his own device) against Israeli diplomats in Thailand and other countries. In addition, during Iran's war with Iraq over a decade ago, Iranian commanders instructed thousands of Iranian fighters into kamakazi-like attacks, sacrificing their own lives by running into Iraqi forces and fire. Look it up. Zakaria's strategy is clearly to take advantage of non-informed viewers and craft their opinion using lies and manipulation. He knows exactly what he's doing. It would be interesting to know what specific executives hired him. Zakaria is a shame to CNN. The sooner he is let go from CNN, the better.
The principle of Mutually Assured Destruction will not hold water against radicals striving to martyrdom. This article is dangerously naive!! Anyone in doubt of Iran's ambitions need only search wikipedia for quotes of Ahmadinejad's speech...scary stuff
Fareed, you are out of your mind. However, you being the Liberal that you are, it doesnt surprise me that you are against any kind of military action that may be considered a proactive defense. If Iran gets to wipe Isreal off the map, they will do so....thats not a secret. CNN will hire anyone as long as they are liberal and have the same progressive views. Thanks God fareed isnt President of any country. Coward!!!!! Ian needs to be bombed and bombed heavily!
Jerusalem is the second holiest site in Islam. Not gonna be nuked by any Muslim.
History has showed us in all this years, wich way to go and to not do the same mistakes again and again, Remember Perlharbor? only to mention one, and you my friend have not leard nothing, but its always the same ingnorance that's blesed
and we pay one more time. when will we ewer learn??
Don't waste any time. Bomb the living heck out of them. Wipe them off the face of the earth.....PLEASE!
First, let me say this, this world we live in is not controlled by the Jews, Muslims, Christians or any religion. It is Rich against poor. Second, the Senator might sound crazy to you, probably is. However, read your history. Lets look at this timeline:
1899-Spanish American War – US prospers and is the beginning of what many call American colonialism
1914-1918- WW1- US enters late, but is deciding factor – US Prospers
1919-1939- There is no war and the US enters "Great Depression"
1940-1945-WW2-US once again prospers and advances quite drastically
1950-1953-Korean War- (yes I know there was the cold war that started after WW2, but that was not a physical war, but more psychological
1955-1975- Vietnam (not a popular war due to the fact people can actually see reality of war on TV)
1983 – Grenada (not a full scale war, but we got to try out some weapons)
1991- Desert Storms Part 1 – We get to try out more weapons and cold war is supposedly over)
2001 – Desert Storms Part 2 – A Saudi Arabian gives us a reason to attach Iraq. Saudi Family is our ally, yet again we attack Iraq and most terrorist were Saudis.
Does anyone see any correlation here. Unfortunately, this last conflict wasn't like the others that lasted less then 5 years. I believe this is why instead of helping economy, it hindered it. This happened because of the greed of the rich trying to profit off the backs of the poor. They thought since times have changed, we are a little more advanced tech a longer war was acceptable and profitable. As you can see it will be profitable for the rich, because unlike the majority of middle class and lower class, they can hold on to their homes and lose a couple million here and there, they will still be rich. If you or I lose some 5% of our assets we are in financial ruins.
Finally, the leadership of Iran needs to be stopped. The cold war with Russia was a totally different thing and cannot be compared to the current situation. The Russians did not have people willing to blow themselves up like the middle east does. Most muslims and middle easterners are great people. Unfortunately, the rich Sheiks and rich Europeans and rich Americans are not. The only hope I believe is that in the end, good has always prevailed and even those rich aristocrats sometimes realize that in order to continue to prosper and if they want to survive, they must find ways of solving such issues.
Israel might not be our best friends, but screwing us is not in their interest.
Read the Bible and you will know why this country founded by christians supports Israel and untill you do you can quit making your uneducated guesses
Fareed has a significant misunderstand of Israel's position. His liberal philosophy is apparent. Israel is very concerned about being destroyed by someone who not only has called for their destruction, but has gone as far as to say that their very history is false by denying the Holocast took place.
Israel must defend itself. Nations throughout the world should have the right to exist. But when leaders kill their own people, their own citizens to maintain control, then other nations must step in and do what is right for the sake of humanity.
For those who hate Israel, I hope you stop. They want to exist and that isn't unreasonable. Forthose who hate Iran, I hope you stop. They want to get out of their poverty and not be considered a third world country.
Faheed, your comparion of the US and Russian conflict, something I lived through, is inaccurate. While there was certainly concern, it is much different than what Israel is experiencing now. You have a nation, Iran, bent on destroying them for one reason, because they are Jews. All this foolish talk about who should or should not be our friends does not matter. What nation like Israel or Iran is really going to help us? None will. Instead we should consider battle not because we seek to gain something, but we would do it to do what is right.
We have fought bullies before. We will do it again. I ran is acting the role of bully. One day the Iranians bluster will cost then dearly. I hope not. But if they continue to poke the big dog, it will eventually will turn on them with a ferocious bite.
The author cannot compare the Soviet Unit with Iran. There is a suicidal, irrational, religious ambition on behalf of Iran. So there is no comparison here. Although, I am surprised that the author didn't bring up the Cuban Missile Crisis, but even still, the comparison lacks the self-destructive, religious component.
Freed is from India, not from Pakistan you MORON.
What utter drivel !! Fact is that Iran has been arming & financing the very same suicide bombers & rocket teams that target israeli civilians. So Fareed is at best ridiculous when he claims that Iran hasn't blown up anybody. The only thing more ridiculous is his comparison of Iran, the religiously intolerant islamo facists with the Soviet Union. Utter utter drivel !! Shame on you Fareed for parotting Islamo rhetoric !!
It is NOT the same as with Russia! How Naive! The Iranians are religious fanatics. The Russians were not! The Iranians have little regard for their own personal welfare when it comes to Religious Extremism. That fundamental difference is everything! Mutually Assured Distruction(MAD) is of little deterance to the Iranians if they are suicidal fanatics! MAD loses all effectiveness in the face of Religious Extremism.
Fareed, I've respected a lot of what you have said in the past, this however has not been one of your better articles. You are clearly showing a bias and have skewed your facts noticeably. I don't think Israel should attack either, but how you reached your conclusion certainly required more research. To say Iran hasn't committed any terrorist acts, have you read the news this past week? Are you deleting the fact that they provide money and arms to groups who do actually get out there and commit these acts? Time to rethink your point of view my man.
I'm not sure what your little rant has inaccurate rant has to do with this article but you do realize Zakaria is Indian, right? Wow, rightwingers are DUMB.
Wow -Zakaria could not be MORE wrong.
The MAIN difference between Iran/Israel, and the U.S./USSR, is the MINDSET.
Russia go the nukes in the late '50, around 10 years after they'd suffered horrific casualties in WWII- the death and destruction on such a mass scale stuck in the minds of the Soviets; they were in no hurry for mass death again.
Iran, on the other hand, is a theocracy; Sharia law evidences REWARD for martyrdom -and, since death (in the name of Allah) is something to be striven FOR, there does not exist the same deterrent for Iran, as had the Soviets.
I love u Zakaria, because u are on target every time…problem is u make it sound too simple, and too easy…no fear because…we been living with MAD for over 30 years…been with us all the time…it never went away.
These young kids think they know it all. Farred is talking about an era before he was born and has made a naive simplistic comparison. Ignore and move on. The Israelis will do what is needed at the right time.
It's just another war. What could go wrong?
Israel is a terrorist nation bent on wiping out the middle east. Israel think that they can start the war and than have americans spill blood for their war mongering and try to increase the aid they get from the American taxpayers so the terrrorist Israelis wont pay anything out of their own pocket. Lets stop this terrorist nation called israel before they take us to war and send us into another recession
Israel has never, by either work or action, expressed a desire to destroy the Middle East. Israel has never asked America to spill blood for Her, nor have we done so.
What Zakarria does not understand or "foresee" is the missing element in Iran' s intentions which was not existant with the russians nor the chinese which is the "extremist Religious Theology of Shiites" awaiting their messiah which will enter this world thru disaster and distruction. This has been noted several times by Ahmadinejad himself.
Also, on his remarks on the Suicide bombers by Iran; keep in mind, Hezbollah is in fact an Iranian Army of terrorists which is funded and organized, armed by Iran and in fact one of the first suicide bomings which started this craze happened against the U.S. Military in Lebanon which costed Hundreds of American's lives.
I do agree that Iran is smarter in general than your general arabs; they use their smarts in ways to utilize the arabs for their dirty work.
Russia as an other country can not afford to loose 26 million soldiers, but for a country such as israel; based on demographis, losing 1 soldier is equivalent to losing 150 in U.S. They are surrendered by hostile Arab countries of a total population or over 100 million vs. israel's population of roughly 7 million.
But Fareed Zakaria's of Indian origin, writes similar pieces in Indian journals and papers, as did his father,
the eminent historian and Member of Parliament Rafiq Zakaria
But Fareed Zakaria's of Indian origin, AND writes similar pieces in Indian journals and papers, as did his father,
the eminent historian and Member of Parliament Rafiq Zakaria
ISRAEL IS A TERRRORIST NATION TRYING TO MAKE ANOTHER WAR FOR US HERE IN THE UNITED STATES DONT BELIEVE THE MEDIA THAT IS BRAINWASHING PEOPLE TO GO TO WAR WITH IRAN.
WATCH OUT FOR AIPAC THE JEWISH GROUP THAT IS BRIBING OUR CONGRESSMAN TO VOTE FOR A WAR WITH IRAN. ISRAEL WANTS TO SPREAD JEWISH SUPREMACY, BEWAREE
Beware of statements like this that are contradicted by the facts.
Uhhhhh....I think Fareed is Indian genius....
MAD, the metaphor to IRAN is ludicrous, and irrelevant. Ohh who cares a couple of crude bombs in the hands of terrorists no big deal ......REALLY....Israel and the US will both hit Iran the war is on and has been. Crippling sanctions, Israel will premptively hit Iran first and soon, and right before or simultaneously will take out Hezbollah in Lebanon below the golan hts. SYRIA the second snakehead will be taken out in the next couple of months, YOU think Hezbollah and the revolutionalry guards are the only ones who can play Asymetric warfare? Are you that nieve, the war is on, decisions already made, regime change is the agenda in both Syria and Iran.
Fareed is Indian-American. In his country they don't cut off heads.
Coming from an opinion article from a guy named "Fareed Zakaria" I am sure the Nation of Israel will really listen.
You do not understand Iran at all. Do yourself a favor and educate yourself. Read some books by Robert Baer starting with The Devil We Know Dealing With the New Iranian Superpower.
after reading most of these comments one can only conclude that many americans are uneducated dolts who grew up playing doom way too many times...it is not all about killing other people
Fareed, I completely agree. Iran may have done many things against us and our allies, but what most people don't realize is that Iran has been the victim of many grave injustices in the past 100 years. We (the US) and Britain overthrew Mossadeq, one of Iran's first elected leaders. He probably would have created a Parliamentary democracy. Sadam waged a terrible war against Iran less than a decade after they finally threw out the foreign imposed Shah.
Starting a war with Iran would be absolutely insane. In the 70s Israel wiped out the airforce of almost three middle eastern countries in about 5 days...Iran is not as big of a threat as they make them out to be. Israel and Iran need each other to assure balance in the region.
The Jewish people were almost wiped off the map in WW2.......saying USA understands the 'existential threat' of nuclear power because of its experience with Russia is a position not deeply thought. Call to mind for a moment what it would feel like to acknowledge your people were almost obliterated.... recently......these thoughts from me, a Catholic.
I find the entire written like a junior high schooler. To equate the 40's to the 60's climate to what is current is uneducated at best and silly at worst. The world has changed exponentially since then, see Arab spring driven by Twitter and Facebook. This is not to say that Isrial should bomb but I think that the premise of the article is flawed
This is absurd. Of course the world should take any action necessary against Iran to disable their machine of hatred. Immediately after this latest world effort of diplomacy fails. The comparison between the US and Israeli positions is suggesting that allowing the 20 million people killed in the Soviet Union was worth it. I think this reporter/org is simply trying to make ratings and pandering to a naive audience the idea of peace
I admire Fareed's articles, but he is way off base here. His comparison here is apples and oranges. The USA and Soviet Union were nuclear powers. For now, a fight between Iran and Israel would not be a nuclear battle. Thus the words “pre-emptive strike”. And that is what Israel wishes to avoid, having an enemy like Iran possessing nuclear explosives. Inherently, Muslims in the Middle East want the Jews to disappear as a people. Israel is so small, that a small tactical nuke in Israel from an unknown source would serve quite nicely for that purpose. Enough to weaken the country severely for later conquest, but not enough to destroy the land and religious places. And the typical Russian on the street never really carried the same type of enmity toward individuals in Western countries as a people, like Muslims do for the Jews. So the enmity is much deeper ingrained in this conflict, then just a government, philosophy, or political difference.
I agree. In Poland we are neighbors of Russia whose policy to my country was often very hostile. Today Russia is nuclear superpower and potentially real threat to Poland which has no nuclear arms. The threat isn't however great. Why? Because It is better to seek strong and loyal allies with deterrent capability than to look for military solution. It works, it's more effective in long term and... it spares lives.
"Israel, don't bomb Iran" says the Muslim Zakaria. HAHAHA!
By drawing his false analogy between the Isreal/Iran situation and the cold-war US/USSR, Zakaria once again proved his limited and simplistic understanding of the forces at play in the Middle East: The USSR was not led by mad mesianic fanatics vowing to wipe the US off the map; the US was not surrounded by USSR proxies on its borders, all firing missiles at its civilian population whenever their fancy struck them; and, thankfully, the US had not lived through the experience of losing a third of its people to a madman who had never made a secret of his intentions, but was dismissed by the world as a mesianic fanatic. This is a mistake that Israel will not allow to be made again.
How and why do we let a few thousand Zionists control, enslave, manipulate, and shaft us every day and every hour.... And then we say yeah do it again. That is the story of the ruling Zionist party who control all of our politicians, media, Hollywood,, banks, Federal Reserve, and every thing you can think of..... They have destroyed the poor, annihilated the middle class, and set us all back years, destroyed the American Dream whilst they are now worth many hundreds of billions all laundered to the banks in Israel. Israel is the number one enemy of USA and the Americans. If any one with any common sense anything like Fareed, ther stooges attack from every angle..... don't forget they have vowed if they are ever attacked they will ate everyone down with them include Europe and the USA!!! Nice friends we have.... Iran is not the enemy... It's Israel and the ruling 1% who are the Zionists whose plan is to suck every drop of blood out of our vains.... as no amount of wealth is enough for these greedy bunch!!!
How and why do we let a few thousand Zionists control, enslave, manipulate, and shaft us every day and every hour.... And then we say yeah do it again. That is the story of the ruling Zionist party who control all of our politicians, media, Hollywood,, banks, Federal Reserve, and every thing you can think of..... They have destroyed the poor, annihilated the middle class, and set us all back years, destroyed the American Dream whilst they are now worth many hundreds of billions all laundered to the banks in Israel. Israel is the number one enemy of USA and the Americans. If any one with any common sense anything like Fareed says anything rational , their stooges attack from every angle..... don't forget they have vowed if they are ever attacked they will take everyone down with them include Europe and the USA!!! Nice friends we have.... Iran is not the enemy... It's Israel and the ruling 1% who are the Zionists whose plan is to suck every drop of blood out of our vains.... as no amount of wealth is enough for these greedy bunch!!! Israel is the biggest terrorist on earth!!! We must do all we can to distance ourselves from this bloodsucking group & country!
How and why do we. . . ? Simple answer: we don't. There is no ruling Zionist party. The goal of claiming so is to attack Israel.
THE WAR OF GODS!!
Which god will win? Allah x Yaveh!!
A truck full of gods for the middle east!
Oh and for the Morons chanting anti "Allah" junk you do realize that Islam, Judaism, and Christianity all believe in the SAME GOD? and Allah is just Arabic for God? seriously, you are all the same people stop making the case for us Atheists by turning on yourselves with such stupid arguments.
You have Israel with a boat load of Nukes and more Military Might than most nations combined, you have Iran which doesn't have anything of the sort.
You have Israel always making a case to wipe Iran off them Map, You Have Iran always making a case to Wipe Israel off the map.
You have all the Muslim Haters wanting to "rid" the world of every single one of them, you have the Jew haters wanting to do the same.
You have the Pakistan Haters ignoring the sacrifices and HUMAN loss of life they endured for us for 60+ years fighting our battles, saving our bacon when needed, we have the American haters in Pakistan that ignore the great investments and support America has given them over the years to keep them free and strong.
If you havent guessed by now, the point of my little post is that there are sides to every story, but those of you who simply see a person and because they are Muslim you discount all they have to say are idiots.
Those that sit there and blame the US and Israel for all their problems are idiots just the same.
Face the facts people. Israel cannot have a billion Nukes and tell Iran not to have any. Iran cant sit there shouting threats to Israel and expect Israel to understand it's Nuclear needs.
And I will never understand why we as a people are so ignorant, we have more access to information today than 2000 years ago, heck even 30 years ago, yet as seen on this site people are even more ignorant than before and this time there's no excuse.
THE USA is not owned and operated by Israel nor is it our DUTY to provide and Protect them. Same applies for everyone else. We are our OWN people and we have a duty to OUR nation. We blindly supported Saddam then he invade Quwait, we blindly supported Osama then he murdered our People, we blindly support Israel...........................
Its not ok to be stupid
Give the crowd the possibility to expose their antisemitism, (today it is anti Israeli) and every body is happy.
If you hate so much Israel, than please don't use your computer any more, and don't use you cell phone neither, and do not pay with your credit card thru the web or by telephone, and don't buy in most of the third word any vegetable and so on because you are using Israeli technology. Technology who comes from the brain of young Israeli "terrorists " and "enemies" of the states.
Probably most of what you know, in Physics, Chemistry, economy, medicine etc. comes from "horrible" "parasite" Jews who won about 30% of all Nobel Prices. This people, Jews, we all should admire. But most of people here, are so jealous, so mad, so ignorant, they choose to hate fore the sake of hate. Stop being hipocrits, if you hate so much Israel than go back to caves where you belong, because today, technology is the only thing that make possible to survive, and a vast part of this in the last 20 years is MADE IN ISRAEL or By Jews. GOOD LUKE TO THE ONE WHO CHOOSE TO LIVE WITH NO ISRAELI TECHNOLOGY,
your all talk about this please join in a way to have a united effort to find a better alternative to any war. some of you don't have any respect for life.be a part of the solution not the drama to make the problem bigger. peace should be what were all talking about not the after math. wars wont solve problems at this rate the outcome will be the what war always brings death and sorrow. please respect life.
There is only one real solution to avoid an immediate war and give peace a chance. The same solution that was tried but sadly failed to stop Hitler before he started WWII. Assassinaton of Ahmadinejad by his own people. He is just as crazy as Adolf and hates the Jews just as much. This is nothing like the Cold War!
And that does not happen in Israel, America or Europe? Right?
I can.t believe that his take on America includes him or any muslim for that matter. This country is based on Western European cultures and faiths and muslims are not part of that sphere of influences. Go find a cure for cancer.. How dare you insult the American by preaching to us. Go back where you came from and flush a toilet.
Fareed Zakaria is speaking from Indian's interest. Unlike Thailand, India never accused Iranians attacked Israel diplomats in India. Zakaria should be removed from here. Do NOT always says "We American". Zakaria is an Indian.
I cannot believe the level of hatred and ignorance displayed by many individuals who posted message here.
Iran has every right to develop nuclear weapons, and no one addresses this fact. No nation has a right to attack its neighbor "pre-emptively". Israel has nuclear weapons, The U.S. has nuclear weapons. Applying double standards in the manner nation are treated has no place in future world peace. WHAT IF ANOTHER COUNTRY BOMBED U.S. NUCLEAR SITES DUE TO ITS PARANOIA ABOUT U.S. ATTACKS , AS EVIDENCE BY RECENT WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN?!! –I am a true Christian Democrat and an attorney.
I agree with Fareed.
Israel should focus on two fronts: 1) mastering rest 2) supporting the Arabs. This is the for-sure path to peace for them and the entire region.
Look for H. Chavez to try to put US on some type of scare soon.
Fareed is failing to point out that unlike the USSR and north korea, Iran is a theocracy with a dictator (khomeini) believing he has divine authority from God. These facts place in doubt the mental stability of these god annointed rulers. American leaders wisely point out that we are talking about nuclear arms in the hands of a theocracy. A theocracy that states they have a goal to eliminate Israel from the map. what better way to do this then a nuclear weapon.
another great point, nice one jason
Fortunately there're also rational players in Israel who will try to stop those firebrands like Ehud Barak and Netanyahu to escalate the crisis. Barak wants to please Netanyahu so that he could keep his job, should the latter get re-elected. Netanyahu might be popular among his supporters, but on the international stage, he isn't at all liked and admired.
Perhaps you haven't noticed but it is the Israelis who are threatening to bomb Iran.
Yes, Jvon – Because IRAN is not "escalating" the crisis, right ?
Personally, I prefer a theocracy, which have never massacred 26 million (ussr) or 40 million (china). theocracy or communism not matter! only the facts count
Iran is far more rational than Mao's China or the USSR of stalline. who can say otherwise? person. Theocracy does not mean irrational !! stop propaganda !!
When a theocracy is Evil to the core, then the people of good conscience must oppose it and keep it from gaining ground. That is opposition to Evil not propaganda.
Neither theocracy nor communism provides freedom to its people.
Just ask the Iranian students who lost loved ones in the short-lived "green" uprising how free they are under theocracy...
I'm sure there's a bunch of rational actors among Iran's Revolutionary Guards who know the risks of attacking the West. The hotheaded Ahmadinejad has no say in the military, the supreme leader does. Should the latter get out of his mind, the Guards wouldn't obey his command and get rid of him.
Dear Jason,
Iran nor Ahmadinejad stated they want to eliminate Israel off the map. They want to see the of end the, what they consider, "evil Zionist" control in that region. If you can find me a video of Ahmadinejad saying he would like to nuke or physically destroy Israel, I'd be glad to watch it. However, I speak fluent Farsi/Persian and understand it. "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery" because people's lives may be at stake by your misconceptions. Thanks, and good luck!
Bobby Y, right on! You are absolutely correct! I heard The Iranian leader speak at the UN and he made more sense than President Obama. The Iranians are a beautiful, peaceful people and it's just the war mongers (corporatists) that are playing up this nonsense. Screw Isreal! Remember the USS Liberty!
when tom nolan agrees with you and mentions the USS liberty, the main anti israel/anti jewish libel in the last 40 years which was investigated and found to have been an accident of friendly fire, it may be time to reconsider your position. with friends like tom nolan you dont need enemies. ooooooooo.muslims good, jews bad
Dear Bobby,
While you claim to be fluent in Farsi, are you a translator? There is a big difference.While I am fluent in French, according to actual testing, I do not presume to be capable of translating accurately political and theological statements from French to English. Take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Ahmadinejad_and_Israel which appears to provide a more complete analysis. In part, it states:
In a June 11, 2006 analysis of the translation controversy, New York Times editor Ethan Bronner stated:
[T]ranslators in Tehran who work for the president's office and the foreign ministry disagree with them [Cole et al]. All official translations of Mr. Ahmadinejad's statement, including a description of it on his website, refer to wiping Israel away. Sohrab Mahdavi, one of Iran’s most prominent translators, and Siamak Namazi, managing director of a Tehran consulting firm, who is bilingual, both say “wipe off” or “wipe away” is more accurate than "vanish" because the Persian verb is active and transitive.
Bronner continued: "..it is hard to argue that, from Israel's point of view, Mr. Ahmadinejad poses no threat. Still, it is true that he has never specifically threatened war against Israel. So did Iran's president call for Israel to be 'wiped off the map'? It certainly seems so. Did that amount to a call for war? That remains an open question."[13] This elicited a further response from Jonathan Steele, who noted that Bronner agreed that "map" or any other place noun had not been used and criticized this Wikipedia entry (as it was on June 14, 2006) for "claiming falsely" that Ethan Bronner had "concluded that Ahmadinejad had in fact said that Israel was to be wiped off the map".[23]
At a gathering of foreign guests marking the 19th anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 2008, Ahmadinejad said:
"You should know that the criminal and terrorist Zionist regime which has 60 years of plundering, aggression and crimes in its file has reached the end of its work and will soon disappear off the geographical scene."[24]
The Iranian presidential website states: that "the Zionist Regime of Israel faces a deadend and will under God's grace be wiped off the map," and "the Zionist Regime that is a usurper and illegitimate regime and a cancerous tumor should be wiped off the map."[25]
Hey Bobby, don't listen to Tom Nolan, he just needs to sober up!
And George Bush didn't believe he had divine authority from God.
It's easy to look at people from another country, speaking the language you don't speak and worshipping a god you don't worship and presume they're all irrational nut jobs.
But I fail to see the evidence for the conventional wisdom that any of this is true, America may claim not to be a theocracy, but when Atheists are the least trusted people to rule a country and every politician who has a cat in hells chance of being evicted professes to be a god fearing Christian where the hell is the difference? George Bush certainly professed to be doing God's work, there are countries he could have destroyed and not fear nuclear retribution and he somehow restrained himself.
Your supposed wisdom about Iran is not based on any insight, just a fear of the unknown.
Iran's government is so hated by the West simply because it is not a puppet dictatorship like other Middle Eastern countries.
It has nothing to do with how women are treated or the separation of church and state, and you are simply the mindless propaganda parrots you imagine all the keerrraaaazzyy Iranians to be.
Iranian government is sohated by iranian people not by west countries. For more than thirty years islamist tugs killed, tortured, supressed freedom , financed palestian and lebananies terrorist and west countries closed their eyes on brutality of these islamic murderders, German companies sold them electronic devices to spy on opposition groups, buy oil from them . financing them to continue killing , torturing and imprisonements of iranian activist. Please give a break. western countries never hated iranian govenment.
Maryam,
Do you know what you are talking about? Israel occupy Palestian land, Israel refuse to obey UN resolution 442, the same Israel hunting Palestinians freedom fighters with F16 that supplied by US. Sorry to say you are brainwashed to believe what you believe. It doesn't take nuch brain to understand, Iran is not a threat to anyone.
If you don't trust Israelis or Americans, then don't listen to them. Listen only to what is said by Iran's leaders. Then you will see that Iran IS a threat.
Another point is that, as a theocracy, Iranian leaders don't CARE if Israel retaliates. They already think they are doing "God's work." The Cold War standoff was a logical one. When logic is gone, all bets are off. If I'm a soldier, I just want to live to see another day and go home to my wife and kids. If "going home" to a terrorist – or a nation's leader – means entering paradise, he WANTS to jump into the enemy foxhole with a live grenade.
An old gold merchant was chasing a thief in the busy street in Ankara, or maybe some place in Kuwait, or Bahrain. The merchant was shouting loudly help me to get the thief, chasing the man in full pursuit. The thief had shoplifted an expensive ring from his store. The thief was running and shouting too “help me get the thief” while being chased by the merchant. The public in the street were confused and could not help the merchant.
In this story, Israel shoplifted nuclear bombs. She possesses, based on our own US government report, about 200 nuclear bombs. The knowledge and materials for these nuclear bombs came from the United States, and other countries. Why Israel is accusing Iran for developing nuclear bomb? Maybe to divert our attention from her unlawful nuclear bombs and her inhumane behaviors in the Middle Eastern neighborhood!
Before Netanyahu make his accusation about Iran’s nuclear fuel cycle activities, he should place Israel's nuclear activities under the United Nations (IAEA) control.
We must together and demand that Israel dismantles her nuclear bombs.We must push for an International nuclear disarmament.
Of course Iran wouldn't care if Israel retaliates. Israel is not a military super power like the United States or even like the old Soviet Union. They have no second strike capability. They have no means of retaliating against a successful first strike.
Any attack by Israel on Iran would require complex coordination of fighters, bombers, mid air refueling and other support systems. That size operation would be inconceivable to organize after a nuclear strike by Iran.
Israel's leaders would be crazy to let Iran complete their first nuclear weapon.
theocracy: The Jewish State of Israel.
where arabs can vote and have their own political parties and elections are not rigged and the president is not overruled by a religious leader. just like Iran,eh?
@rick Arabs can vote and have political parties? What's the point in a vote when Israel's immigration laws guarantee that a certain group becomes a minority and another becomes a majority. Who decided that all the Jews form all over the world would be allowed to become an Israeli, and if an Arab wants to move to Israel they'll be denied?
Was it a democratic decision? or was it a de facto rule created when Palestine was taken by force? And the reason that this law is justified... divine right. Yeah nothing Theocratic about that, Israel is the perfect democracy. Give me a break... idiot.
no muslim fanatics in pakistan huh
its so funny that most muslims that come to America are fleeing fellow muslims
I think the most important point that we are missing is that these Islamic extremists WANT to die doing what they think is God's work. Stalin and Mao and the other people we feared because they were irrational and unpredictable valued at least one life, their own! We have to assume that at least some of the Iranians who have access to their WMDs want to die. This changes the analysis completely.
... and you think Israel is not a theocracy? A country built on the premise that if you are not a Jew, you are less than a human.
Israeli laws contain exactly one preference for Jews, in immigration. For everyone already in the country, every religious discrimination in Israeli laws disadvantages Jews and gives special protections, rights and advantages to minorities that are denied to the Jewish majority. A Christian or Muslim Arab citizen of Israel has more rights and privileges than a Jewish citizen.
Only one problem with this argument : Israel is not built on the premise that if you are not a Jew, you are less than a human.
Right, it is a theocracy with an sinister agenda. They think that it is their divine duty to usher in the "twelfth imam" and spark a world-wide catastrophe that results in a global islamic hegemony. This is why they hate Israel and their sunni "brothers" whom they stab behind their back.
And the Jewish State is not a theocracy? And it doesn't discriminate against Christians and Muslims who were born in Palestine?
4 of the repub candidates said god told them to run!
You are expressing irrational fears or inciting them!
Iran does not have a nuclear weapon, will not have one for some time, and even if it had one, will not use a nuclear weapon agains Israel because Israel has 300 or more nuclear weapons. And, after a nuclear exchange, no one can live in that same neighborhood. Dislike for the government of Iran does not translate to irrational behavior on their part – that is only in the minds of the observer. Most political observers and strategists (not the made for TV ones or those being paid to spouse a point of view) in the west will tell you that Iran has been a rational actor – you may not like the message but we have seen it in their nuclear negotiations, in how they interacted with their American counterparts after the invasion of Afghanistan, how they managed the situation in Iraq during and after American departure,....
If you are sane at all, and understand the implication of nuclear exchange you would know that it will not happen.
Additionally, Israel, as noted by Israeli's themselves, is not capable of taking on Iran. Again, you may not like that message, but rational strategists will tell you that. Any action by Israel will drag the US and allies in. Leading to a economic catastrophe for all side. There are many reasons for the implausibility of an Israeli or a US attack in the near (2+ years) future.
Given that, Mr. Zakaria need not worry or plead with Israel. It won't happen! It is an old story – been played before. Chinese and the Russians are not buying it, the Indians are not buying it, and that is why Mr. Obama is faced with a tough situation. He has played all his cards, or the Congress has forced him to play all his cards. Now what?!
Why would Israel have 300 nukes? They are a small poor county, whose nuclear (and other) technology has been extreme limited because they never signed the NPT. They cannot import the technology that Iran was able to import by signing and violating the NPT.
How could Israel obtain or purify the fissionables for 300 nukes? They pay far above world market prices for coal, oil and gas used for electric generation and have not enough fissionables for a single nuclear plant for electric generation.
How would 300 nukes benefit Israel's defense? (What would 300 do that 3 wouldn't do?).
By repeating absurd lies about Israel, you reveal that you cannot think rationally on the subject. You will ignore all evidence and believe only the worst that anyone ever says about Israel. Don't you ever wonder what makes you prefer hatred to sanity?
good point Jason, but have you been listening to the evangelical rhetoric that seems to permeate republican policy? Remember Bush jr. and Blair praying together in the white house....convinced that baby J was talking to the two of them?
Scary stuff.
Soviet Union claimed that it has its authority from history. It claimed to be the embodiment of the Zeitgeist and it was the only country with the prescription for the ultimate happiness of human race. This is as close as how an atheist country can get to claiming a religious authority.
Ayatollah Khamenei is not Khomenei and is not so radical
You mean Israeli theocracy?
I'm sure Fareed Zakaria understands more about the Islam than you do Jason (I believe his heritage is such) and thus I trust his judgment on this issue much more than those who don't have a clue about the middle east.
good points you raise except for the fact they ARE sponsoring terrorism all over the middle east and have ALREADY made it VERY clear they plan to wipe israel off the map. China, Russia, even North Korea, NEVER did any of that.
Iran is a much greater threat. if they give Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad or the al-Mahdi army, nukes, then the world is totally screwed!! you think it doesn't take one crazy religious freak to let off a crude micro nuke smuggled into the west to cause irreversible damage and spin the world into turmoil. We're already worried about Pakistan, the world's biggest double agent to terrorist organisations and whether they can contain they're nuclear devices to the sensible side of their leadership...
to place Iran side by side with North Korea, Russia, China and even Pakistan is an insult to those countries and to anybody who can see the clear difference in how they manage, present and integrate themselves with the rest of the world.
with nukes, they are bloody dangerous, a damn site more than anybody else in history... without nukes, they are not dangerous at all and it's time to paddle their asses.
mao, declared, be prepared to lose 300 million Chinese for the end of the united states. nothing happened. in the USSR many people declared the end of usa, burning london and paris.
korea to supporting terrorism in the 50's-60's, Pakistan has hosted bin Laden and supported the Taliban. all the arguments against iran fall by the wayside, one by one. Selective memory ??
You can't be serious, there is no comparison. Iran believes they have to bring about the end, unlike the others.
The Vile rulers of Iran want to bring destruction thinking they can force the hand of allah by bringing this Mahdi character to magically appear out of thin air. Such is their religious delusions. That makes then extremely dangerous because they think that allah is on their side when in reality its Satan that is urging them on to their own destruction.
By the recent actions of muslims killing muslims, muslims killing christians in nigeria, muslim/arabs killing africans in the sudan , rocket launches daily into israel, it might be fair to conclude that Mao and the chinese were and are a lot brighter than muslims seeking paradise
The US had a nuclear second strike capability before any other country had a first strike capability.
Israel is too small to hide a second strike capability and too poor to build one.
Your comparison is a lie.
Anonymous, you chastise the Iranian people and say that it would be a disgrace to Russians, Chinese, Pakistan, North Korea. You said, "to place Iran side by side with North Korea, Russia, China and even Pakistan is an insult to those countries and to anybody who can see the clear difference in how they manage, present and integrate themselves with the rest of the world"
Although it is clear that Russia and China exhibit far more principles and rationality then the Iranian government. I think you are sadly mistaken about North Kore and Pakistan. The North Korean regime starves its people, restricts all access of information and is a military dictatorship. Aside from that they recently attacked South Korea. How can you even compare the two governments. Although Iran does sponsor groups, these very terrorist organizations you claim such as Hezbollah have not launched a suicide attack since 2002.
As for Pakistan? Pakistan, has sponsored the Taliban and made their country a safe haven for terrorists. In addition, they have agreed to sell Saudi Arabia Nuclear Weapons.........what's worse Saudia Arabia or Iran with nuclear weapons?
America does not need another war. First and foremost, Israel has placed itself on a path to war because it believes that if Iran possesses Nuclear Weapons it will have a check in the middle-east. They are not worried about Iran as an existential threat, rather they are worried about losing Hegemony in the Mid-East. America, has been goaded into war for the last 10 years, sending thousands and spending hundreds of billions of dollars on wars that don't benefit the American people. In fact these wars don't even protect America from threats.
Thank you Fareed for spreading the truth, its very important.
The world would have been a better place today is the USA would have bombed the USSR. As result of communism more people tortured and died in the hand of communist governments than during WWII. USSR was the evil empire and we let them do it because we did not take action timely. Iran will act to change all the regimes in the middle east when it acquired Atomic weapons, and the USA will have to have PERMANENT presence in all of the countries in the middle east to protect them.
repons @YigalG
to protect the king of saudia? kingdom where non-Muslims have no right to enter the "holy" cities . countries where Jewish religion is forbidden? country or the woman can't leave her house without the consent of the husband? country or the woman can not even drive a car in 2012???? oh.. what ...
iran is an ultra modern diet in comparison to Saudi Arabia.
It is easy for one to take a risk when one doesn't have to bear the consequences of that risk. Israel has a legitimate concern with Iran's nuclear programme and what they intent to do with it, especially when they sponser terrorist activities in that region and has repeatedly called for the destruction of the state of Israel as a national policy. You can say 'opps, I was wrong, my bad' and get on with your life while for Israel, it could mean the smouldering landscape of a place they once called home.
Well said!
Israel has nukes. Why nobody is talking about that? The whole area could be affected by either Israeli or Iranian nukes. Either no one should have them or let everyone have them.
As a matter of international law, Israel never signed the NPT and never imported the foreign technology prohibited to it because of the NPT. So their development of nukes was not a violation of international law. Iran signed the NPT. Iran imported foreign technology that the NPT allows them to import. By taking the privileges given to them by signing the NPT, Iran agreed to never build a nuclear bomb. By importing that technology, they agreed to international inspection of their use of that technology. So by refusing international inspection and building nukes, they are in violation of international law.
As a matter of international sanity, a nuclear armed Israel is not a world threat. Israel is too small and too unpopular to use nukes as anything but a deterrent. A nuclear armed Iran is a danger to the world. Maybe they would wipe out Israel (as they promise). Maybe they would hide a nuke in a commercial ship and destroy a US port and hope we can't identify which enemy attacked us. Maybe they would destroy the Saudi oil fields to make the world more dependent on Iranian oil (would we destroy them in return and lose access to their oil as well for at least many years, or would we give in to preserve some of our standard of living?) . Maybe they would keep their nukes unused as saner governments have, but that is not one of the likelier outcomes.
wittynotes – you should replace your nic with, say, "sillynotes". Maybe you should spend a couple of months in Iran and then give an opinion on the subject. A couple of weeks will also do.
Israel has had nukes for over 50 years. And has never used them.
Iraq was trying to get nukes, had he got them he would have used them on Iran.(THey were prevented by Israel, and you're welcome).
Iran will use nukes on Israel, unless MAD will deter them, depends on how much they really believe their religion.
Does that answer you're question?
Pakistan is also double dealing with Taliban. If you trust them, why can't you do the same thing to Iran? Aside from that, I doubt mullahs from Iran will impart nuclear to the groups they've been giving support, because they are enjoying luxurious life and love their lives as much as you and I do.
I am afraid the West at the end may fell into the trap of its own making. The West has created such an image of a monster through a ceaseless propaganda about mad mullahs that now it has become a hostage of its own propaganda and a hostage to Israel. It is difficult now to convince people that much was propaganda and lies after all.
I bet you run into a lot of walls, with your eyes closed all the time.
As an iranian I can tell you the monsterous islamic mullas are more brutal and dangerous than you westerns imagine. america and europeans don't need to attack Iran, just stop buying oil from Iran and provide iranian people with free internet. We iranians hate Russia and China for supporting this murderous islamists.
I visited Iran in 2009, I would say one of the great country I have been. Warm hearted people, very welcoming, true hospitality. The food was excellent, cheap and also tasty. Their women are the most beautiful women on the planet. Politically they may not have much freedom to express their opinion, but the same goes to their neighbours..UAE, BAHRAIN, KUWAIT, QATAR, OMAN, SAUDI ARABIA...ETC.
Iran is no threat to anyone.
Ask Iranians inside Iran whether they want to be starved to death by sanctions like Iraqis in the 90s. Those who want by various methods to murder or starve to death millions of Iranians cannot claim to be Iranians any longer.
How should Iran looks at the region and the problems? Please read:
Iran, Arabs, and the United States: Crimes
https://sites.google.com/site/...
How did the late Shah see the problem? The same as the present Iranian government.
Sanctions will not bear any fruit..will only reduce small profit parcentage of Iranian oil. Iran sells less oil to EU, and more oil to China and Korea. China will never jeopadize their economy for the sake of Israel. OIL IS BLACK GOLD, Iran will find hundreds of cutomers of oil around the world.
but the muslim apologists and palestinian whiners of victimhood keep trying anyway to convince the world that everyone but them is the cause of their misery by having people like you chant the arab mantra over and over in these posts: "woe is me, woe is me, everyone but us is the cause of our misery"
Name one reason why Iran needs a nuke? It's certainly not for defensive purposes.
tell me one reason why the united states needs nukes? called me a reason israel needs nukes.
I can give you 2. The cold war and the balance of power. The second is a little harder to understand and that is that we can destroy them in their bases many times over. Read what ever you want from that.
so you have your answer to your question : why does iran need nuclear deterrence? nuclear balance against israeli weapons and western threat ! as simple !!
Exactly how is the fact that the west has had nukes since the 1940's and Israel since the 1950's a threat now of all times to Iran?
The main reason Israel shouldn't attack Iran is in the process it would be reduced to a pile of rubble. Simple as that.
more importantly an attack will not succeed, it will come iran out of the NPT ,and end iran requirement for npt. and will simply make a nuclear armed Iran inevitable
By who? The toy navy of Iran.
There are a couple of thousand missiles trained on Israel as we speak. Itchy fingers too.
And you think there is nothing being pointed at Iran?
At Frank..Hahahaha..itchy fingers. If Israel vs Iran..I am sure Israel will struggle to win the war without US military support.
Yeah by the same navy thats ganna leave a shadow of missiles over ur carriers in persian gulf, blow all u lil f#$ks out of the water
Iranian state TV, representing the views of the mullahs who run the country, informs us that Armageddon is coming, preceded by the destruction of Jerusalem, and followed by the return of the Islamic Messiah. Few people believed that Hitler really believed in or would act according to what he wrote in Mein Kampf. Let us not make the same mistake twice.
These are what your moronic local evangelist tells you and Fox news make up.
which news were u reading, im guessing the news their telling u in ur sunday church, gosh most u americans r stupid
Why should India, Pakistan, and israel have nukes and Iran none? So what if Iran develops the capability? Thank God for Fareed. More saner voices must prevail.
All conflicts can be resolved peacefully if those involved show mutual respect for one another - whether they agree with and like each other or not. Respect is accepting a person, group or nation as he-she-it is - as long as he-she-it does not physically harm others - or - physically threaten others' right to exist as they are. Peace is people, groups and nations coexisting without physically harming each other - or - physically threatening each other's right to exist. Caveat: All people, groups and nations should be strong enough and prepared to defend themselves if they are ever physically attacked by others who disregard this ideal. Bottom Line: Attacking others is purely uncivilized. Self-defense is an inalienable right. bdi-llc.webs.com
You assume Iran knows the definition of the word RESPECT.
@jdhartlv, Stop trolling. In this case, you are spreading evil, which is pretty sad. It sounds like you play a lot of video games. Stop trying to portray Iran as this huge mythological enemy, it makes you sound like you're 7 years old and you're about to go on this fake battle against a fake dragon. This is real life, wake up from your fantasy. Thanks, and good luck
Zakaria fails to address the following: (1) the fanatical religious leaders of Iran, unlike the atheist Soviets, believe that they'll be rewarded with heaven if they're killed, so they don't fear death; (2) Iranian mullahs have publicly stated that it's worth destroying half of Iran in exchange for totally destroying Israel. As one mullah stated, even if 3/4 of Iran is wiped out, the remaining people will be able to rebuild, and that is worth totally destroying Israel.
mao, declared, be prepared to lose 300 million Chinese for the end of the united states. nothing happened. in the USSR many people declared the end of usa, burning london and paris.
korea to supporting terrorism in the 50's-60's, Pakistan has hosted bin Laden and supported the Taliban. all the arguments against iran fall by the wayside, one by one. Selective memory ??
I just listened to your view on the situation in the Middle East concerning Iran’s nuclear ambition and the saber rattling by Israel and the western powers. You summed it up pretty well, it is sad however that the current world leaders are so ignorant of the consequences of a pre-emptive strike against Iran. Hopefully some common sense will prevail and perhaps there may be some hope for us all.
mao, declared, be prepared to lose 300 million Chinese for the end of the united states. nothing happened. in the USSR many people declared the end of usa, burning london and paris.
korea to supporting terrorism in the 50's-60's, Pakistan has hosted bin Laden and supported the Taliban. all the arguments against iran fall by the wayside, one by one. Selective memory ??
We must be in some kind of time warp because I remember two years ago our government was telling the media Iran was two years away from having a nuke. It's like ground hog day with Iran playing their usual game, and the fools in the media continue to buy into the BS being fed them.
I feel sure (and NOT, "I think so!") that Mr. Zakaria has most appropriately reflected the logical factualties. Syllogism with Induction and Deduction have played a very reasonable role in his writings.
Economics is complex. Printing money is a short term solution that creates long term economic imbalances between money and goods. Read Austrian Economics to educate the public on the downside of printing money!
Great comment.
Everyone wants to believe in "Free Cake". When people get disappointed, Greece defines how people react when they realize they must pay for the cake the earlier generation promised. I respect Fareed because he tries to educate people to think beyond the narrow stupid American media talking heads' perspectives, but he fell short on Drahgi as savior.
Brainless screed, as usual from Zakaria: (1) We let the Soviet Union get their bombs, and for the next forty years they DID operate with nuclear immunity. When Harold Nicolson writes in '48 that they'd invade Western Europe, at that point in time there WAS no Eastern Europe... the Soviet Union went ahead and invaded free states like Hungary and Czechoslovakia and CREATED the Eastern Bloc of slave states... and we couldn't lift a finger! They fomented revolution and war throughout the world, ESPECIALLY in Asia and Africa, so Nicolson was completely vindicated! In the 40 years of "Cold War" under their nuclear umbrella, millions died under repressive communist regimes. It is imperative for Israel to prevent Iran getting a similar umbrella.
(2) There hasn't been "a single suicide attack by an Iranian"... really??? You can say that with a straight face!? Iran has been more responsible for death and destruction in the form of suicide attacks in the middle east than any other player, by a long shot, sponsoring terror through their proxies Hamas, Hezbullah and Syria. All they need to do is give one of these dogs a nuclear truck bomb, and if it goes off, it will be years before anyone can "prove" it was Iran!
Iran is funding terrorism against the U.S. Israel and the United States are funding terrorism against Iran. Stop pooing your pants. We're trying to end it, not escalate it -_-. You also seem extremely scared; you should try finding out what's wrong with you psychologically. Scared people usually tend to overreact in situations (i.e. the Iranian situation). Just make sure you don't run for public office, that would be an ACTUAL national security threat. Thanks and good luck
Just imagine if Iran DID have nuclear weapons right now? You can fix it now or fix it later and later will be very costly.
I enjoy watching your show. I was surprised that you compared the Israeli situation with Iran to the standoff between the west and the Soviet Union during the cold war, but with no mention of the holocaust. I believe it reviles ignorance on this subject and of the Israeli post holocaust mindset. I read “Post American World” and I agreed with your take, but on this issue you sound more like Chamberlin.
I watched this show for the first time today. Reminded me of walking into a Dunkin Donuts.
There are reports on the internet that the US is deploying thousands of troops to Israel. Why isn't this discussed on TV by CNN commentators? I, for one, would like to understand the purpose and the implications of this deployment.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Israel showed the world (Through the UN), proof of every Iranian nuclear site. If space telescopes can detect traces of radiation many light years away, then surely it can trace every movement Iran makes here on this planet (nuclear or not). It seems to me that Israel and the CIA are only interested in making war…Does George Bush and Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction come to mind? Let every individual on this planet have a peek, It is our planet just as much as theirs. I wonder if power and greed have anything to do with this???
You are expected to be an ubiased reporter and to submit questions that do not include the answers that you would like to get.
I have watched a few of your interviews and when they come to the Israeli issue – regarding the so called Palestinians as well as regarding Iran – your anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish opinions are bluntly expressed by you.
It is beyond belief that an organization as the CNN allows somebody with your positions and lack of politeness to use the powerful tool that is the media to spread your biased opinions to millions.
The opportunity given by you by the network tints their objectivity and expose without any doubt – your and theirs –
real intentions.
All the advertisers with unbiasded positions should stop all advertising in CNN and obviously, in your program Obviously, any friend of Israel – Jew or not Jew – shall boycott your program and any program in which you could take part of.
It is the right time to remind to you that, and maybe in spite of your interests or the intersts of those that support you – Israel is the only Democracy in the Middle East and the most loyal US ally in the World and since ever.
Whoever cares about the US shall care about Israel. It is well known by whoever wants to know, that Israel serves the security interests of the USA as no other Country in the World neither does nor did.
Look what is going on in your brothers' countries where the soclled Arab Spring is going on and make a basic evaluation between your brothers' countries and the State of Israel from an American point of view.
What are you on about. Fareed I have found to be open minded and balanced in his views. Traits that will never be found in "friends of Israel."
I love the US. But give a for Israel.
I don't really see Iran as any warmonger. They only spend 1.8% of their GDP on Defense, compared to US at 4.7% and Israel at 6.3% of GDP.
When analysed on a per capita basis. the notion that Iran poses any existential threat is even more ridiculous. Israel's spending works out at $1750 per capita and US spends $2204 on defense for every man, woman and child. Iran spends a meagre $92 on defense for every person in Iran. Hardly the warmongering state they're made out to be.
Does your analysis include all the money Iran spends on state supported terrorism? Iran is more than happy to use human capital, which is relatively cheap, to achieve their objectives. They don't need to launch missiles toward Israel. All they need is one of their clients to detonate a small nuclear warhead in Israel. The fact that Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Gaza and the West Bank would be uninhabitable is of no concern as long as the theocrats can claim they have killed the Jews.
what about israel support for mok ? terroriste organisation ???
Iran spends $7 billion annually on Defense compared to Israel's $14 billion and USA at $690 billion.
I don't know whether that includes their donations, but CIA estimates they send $160 to $180 million to the organizations in Lebanon and Gaza, so call their annual Defense budget $7.2 billion if you like, or $94 per person. Not the sort of expenditure you'd expect for a country building up its military machine in preparation for war.
politics and propaganda is making the average person blind and very easily swayed...and it's the average person who will pay the ultimate price..
I didn't realize you worked for the Congressional Budget Office of Iran. I'm sure your "facts" about their spending are spot on, they do, of course, publish their annual budget in the NY Times each year. I'm sure we all believe they spend a very tiny portion on their military and defense, having one of the largest standing armies in the region and sending money and resources to terror groups all over the world (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon – oh, and this week Thailand). Thank God they spend so little on defense, I have heard it takes ZILLIONS of dollars to buy and develop nuclear technology (I think I got that figure from the same source you use for your spending analysis). As long as they don't start increasing their defense budget as a percentage of their GDP, the rest of the world is completely safe. I'll keep on eye on their budget in their quarterly fiscal reporting to the NY Times
whoops, meant for the financial genius, "GEEDEESA" posted above
i fully agree with Fareed . Natanyahu should listen
Well, Fareed, you have always been a shill for the Islamists, so this is just one more piece of drivel trivializing our worries while the Islamists try to destroy Israel, Great Britain, and the United States. They're mentally stuck in the 7th century AD, and are more than willing to do anything to destroy civilization, or at least remake it in their own world view.
Apologists like you have no business spouting your nonsense – they look at our "fairness" and see only weakness. They look at our civility and see only lack of resolve. The only way to turn the tide of terrorism is to stand tall and strong against all countries who support it – Iran included.
As seldom as I agree with Fareed Zakaria, he is right this time. History does have a way of repeating itself. Yes, many Aericans were frightened when the Russians acquired the atom bomb in 1949 and the majority were at that time and still by and large anti-Russian just like Israel is anti-Iranian. On the other hand, by acquiring the atom bomb, the Russians prevented the Korean conflict(1950-1953) from mushrooming into WW3!!! Moreover, I tend to believe the Iranians as they say they want nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Sorry folks for the missprint above. I meant to print "Americans", not "Aericans".
Dude... Learn your history... The only reason the Koeran Conflict did not escalate was because Truman and Ike did not want to go to War with 300 million Chinese... Which is what would have happened had the allies crossed the Yellow River in persuit of the North Koeran forces... Go bach to 6th grade and retake hisotry.
Wrong, Jon. Actually Truman would have liked nothing better than to give Gen. McArthur permission to use the atomic bomb on China in order to force it into unconditional surrender back in 1951, but the Chinese and the Russians have formed an alliance in 1949 similar to NATO calling for one to come to the aid of the other in case one is attacked. Truman was a man who saw things the way they were, not the way he wanted them to be, much unlike Gen. McArthur!!!
Zakaria's analogy with the Soviet Union is apt. But couldn't those (many) that called for a preemptive strike on Russia in '47 before they got the bomb have been right? Think about the billions of dollars spent and the hundreds of thousands of lives lost in the subsequent 40 years of "cold war." If we had taken them down a peg in '47, isn't it possible that the capitalist revolution may have come sooner, and many lives and many billions of dollars saved. How can Zakaria be so sure of himself?
Zakaria is like an adviser from death. Don't bomb Iran, let them nuke you then the world will nuke them in revenge for you.
Zakaria will tear some crocodile tears for Israel. Then Zakaria will write a book about that, make some million $ above the corpses of Jew.
It's wrong to compare the cold War (which was based on political and economic differences) to Iran-Israel, in which a fundamental religious group claims a 2,000-year-old blood feud, in which the premise is Israel has no right to exist, must be wiped off the planet and has demonstrated that it will send its people to blow up women and children to accomplish that end. Zakaria is a left-wing tool.
Trace your way back 70 years
To the Glow of Dresden – blood and tears
In the black above by the cruel searchlight
Men will die and men will fight – yeah!
The weather forecasts good for War,
Tehran and Isfahan-have some more.
No more Bombers (just one big bomb)
Yeah ha Hoo….
(Sounds like Israel’s agenda)
"Over the past decade, there have been thousands of suicide bombings by Saudis, Egyptians, Lebanese, Palestinians and Pakistanis, but not been a single suicide attack by an Iranian." I have heard this before but it utterly ignores the reality that Iran sponsors terrorism throughout the world and it has directly attacked countless times. Your view of the world is simplistic to say the least. Israel is in a different position than any other country in that it is in striking distance of Tehran. The Iranian Regime is run by religious zealots who are of a breed that the world has never seen before. Its time for you and others like you to wake up and appreciate the true nature of this threat. Didn't you learn from 9/11 how far this zealots will go?
Indeed so. Israel is governed by a coalition of neo-fascists and rabid religious fanatics.
this is about the war mongering of the US, the demand for control and the settler colonial maximalist push by Israel. The US and Israel are pushing the world, yet again, into a disastrous war, and its the same old same old. The assumption that its the good ole USA and Israel that have to figure out how to deal with the "bad guys" Guess what, what if the US and Israel are the bad guys?
We as Americans are sick of hearing Da Jooz crying because of thier Paranoia which stems from thier murdering of Palestinians and taking thier land while pratcining Apartheid and Genocide. Israhell needs to get a clean conscience and thier Paranoia will go away. The people of the wotld are tired of leeching Jooz preying on everyone they have the opportunity to and then crying when the tab comes due.
Americans? North American? South American? Tell me, which part of the Americas are you speaking for?? Are you Canadian? Are you Mexican or from Chile? I can only surmise that you must be from my beloved USA since you are such an ignoramous. Voice-in-the-wind my butt, you are nothing but breaking wind my friend and you DO NOT speak for me.
The Soviet Union comparison doesn't work for reasons already stated. Communism may be an ideology that competes with our own, but it still values the continuance of civilization. After all, you can't make a worker's paradise in a nuclear wasteland. Theocracies are different. If a theocratic leader believes that they will go to heaven for initiating a holy war, then they will strike even if it is known that the enemy's counterattack will be the total annihilation of their own people (as Israel's would be).
Don't listen to anything Zakaria has to say. He is a mole
big difference, the Soviet Union was not motivated GOD. Iran's rulers think God is commanding them to murder people.
God has not asked the Soviet, to slauger their own people, but they have killed 25 million without the order of gods. Mao's revolution has claimed the lives of 30 million Chinese. is it important to know if it's god or anyone other gave the odre?
you kill, your own argument by yourself. congratulation !!!!!!!!!!
There lies the problem. If it's not some extremist nut telling his followers to kill under GOD, than its the communis telling his followers to kill because they don't believe in anything else but destruction of their enemies. There are some here that hates religion – i can see their point. totally understandable. you see -without religion – there is socialism/communism. That is just reality. Secular countries do exist – lots of examples. but they don't usually last too long because they eventually either lean toward socialism/communism or swing to a religious base country.
Wouldn't it nice to use have a utopian society – free from religion and communism/socialism?
Are you familiar with Rabbi Josef, the spiritual leader of the Shas party? He is a genocidal psychopath who has many followers in Israel that are in a position of authority. That makes Israel a very dangerous country indeed.
There is a big difference between these two situations. For one, the USSR never said it was their goal to wipe the USA off the face of the earth, whereas Iran has made such statements about Israel. The technology required to deliver such payloads between Israel and Iran is much less than between the USA and USSR, especially if you consider the distance between Moscow and Washington D.C. vs Tel Aviv and Tehran. Mr. Zakaria, you are drawing unfair parallels between two very different situations. I understand your point. However, if you think Iran is not a greater danger to Israel than the USSR was to the USA, then you are either ignorant or very biased.
the USSR has owned up to 40,000 thermonuclear heads, and Iran suspected of owning one day possibly four or six maximum. oh yes it is much more dangerous than the USSR!
You must have misread something. Four or six warheads is the number that they are projected to have material for in a year. There is no reason for them to not add more as time goes on.
Have you ever been to Israel, I have. I've driven from Elat, the extreme southern tip, to the border with Lebanon in less than 8 hours.
Israel has four major cities: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Beer Sheva. How many nuclear weapons do you think it would take?
This parallel with the Soviets does not match Iran. The Soviets never declared their intention to destroy the US, Iran declares its intention to destroy Israel, that is the difference. In addition Israel can not survive a first strike, the US can.
the united states could not survive a massive Soviet attack, only for a short time
Fareed, what about Iranian sponsored suicide bombings of Hezbollah and Hamas? What about the latest round of terror and failed attacks in Georgia, Indian and Thailand. Check you facts, your article makes no sense.
what about israel support for mok and turquish pkk ?
Russia... I expected more from them on keeping peace and protecting the people... even with all that Russia has lost, they, the government, still don't get it. Peace.
People like Zakaria don't give a hoot about people of Israel. It is utterly ridiculous to compare islamic fundamentalist Iran's threat to Israel with the cold war between USSR and the West. Iran openly calls for the destruction of Israel. The history repeats itself. During WW2 the West sold out European Jews. Today the same people sell out Israel to get into good books with oil producing Iran
Put a swastika on your forehead
I am wondering how many lives would have been saved (many of them Russians) if indeed we had bombed the USSR then. A significant factor playing in today's middle eastern conflicts are derived from the cold war when Israel and the Arab countries were pawns in the world's cold war chess board. From a philosophical point of view the whole argument of this article is a fallacy because the fact that the USSR was not bombed it doesn't mean it was the right path to take. Besides, what other option Israel has now? Finally, what value is there in an opinion piece like this one in which the writer is clearly biased towards one side because of its origins? May be instead of talking about what Israel should or shouldn't do, he can concentrate in what Iran shouldn't do.
Tango, well said
If the Arabs put down their guns there would be peace, if Israel put down their guns their would be no more Israel
if the Palestinian left their own land there will be peace agreement.
Yes, Israel has NOTHING to fear from Iran which is just 1000 miles away, and we as Americans had it the same way with Moscow 4000 miles away.
Sometimes I wonder about these CNN writers.
Should have read,
Zakaria: Please don't kill my cousins.
Israel is a theocracy too where the ultra-Orthodox religious minority dictate the rules to the secular majority. Free democracy it is not, separation of synagogue and state does not exist.
Is Fareed Shiite or Sunni? that's how the Iraq war began -Shiite Iraqi's interviewed on Fox News urging war against the Sunni Saddam. Fareed could be Shiite asking not to strike Iran (his people).
Mr Zakaria, your premise is wrong. The Soviet Union did not strike because they viewed America as equal or stronger; Iran does not view Israel in the same way. Over the past 50 years Israel has been attacked by Arab countries numerous times in part because they believed they could destroy Israel. If Iran obtains nuclear capability then they will believe they can destroy Israel and I believe they will attack. If the US will not stop Iran, then Israel must stop them.
israel can sit and cry, all the elders of the army and mossad, are convinced, can not stop israel. iran.
as simple as that
Israel make sure you listen to a columnist on ESPN. He knows what he's talking about
I can't agree with you on this Fareed or your comparisons to 1940's USSR or NK or China. Firstly, none of those countries were neighbors of ours while Israel and Iran are close neighbors. We have a religious sect running Iran with the divine support of Allah and people ready to fight, die and go to heaven with the virgins. Poor comparisons. I know if I was in Israel I would be nervous and Iran only gets stronger and they will have a nuclear weapon very soon unless we stop them. In the middle east there will be major change when Iran announces it has a nuke and...not too far away.
I am doing WWII research Can you please give me the quote of Harold Nicolson 1948 Thank you
The quote is already there – and it was in 1948 – so it's more relevant to the Cold War; not the World War II.
Yet another voice for the "benefits" of the restraints associated with the Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.) idea during the "Cold War". Is there no one who understands that the Iranian government is now infested with suicidal religious zealots who will stop at nothing, including their own deaths, to assure religious and regional dominance? The Soviets, for all their faults, were "survivors" and always stopped short of self-destructive actions. There is no comparison between the Soviets of the 1950's and 60's and todays Iran. The Iranians likely will, either by design or miscalculation, go "over the edge".
Not suicide attacks by Iran? Hardly to believe if you consider the proxy attackers. Still, Iran did attacked western countries in a number of instances. Should I remember Mr. Zakaria that there are several members of Iran's Government in Interpol's most wanted list because of their direct participation (and I highlight the direct word) in their attacks in Buenos Aires, Argentina in the early 90s as a result of which about 100 people died? One of the targets was an Argentine building (AMIA) in which many non-jews (that is, Catholics) died. Mr. Zakaria, shame on you for being such a liar. Iran had already attacked the west and will attack it along with Israel again.
You said there hasn't been a single suicide attack by an Iranian....what about the botched attack that just happened in Thailand...oh, that doesn't count because it's a 'terrorist attack', not a 'suicide attack'? C'mon Fareed....if you were born in the USA or Israel and had to put your own life on the line to defend our freedoms, I think you'd be thinking much differently about this.....
Israelis are punks, they don't attack people who can fight back. They will their proxy AIPAC to get the USA to continue fighting their wars
bunch of lil girls
I hope Fareed is in Iran when they strike
the direct result of bombing iran would be disruption of iranian oil supplies, a big hike in oil prices and consequent our economic recovery. usa needs to stop israel until our recovery – which is in the best intersts of the whole world, btw – which is just a few months away.
Fareed is obsessed with the MidEast conflict. He talks about it far too much.
Leave the parties to sort it out amongst themselves, and natural borders will emerge.
Thank you, Fareed, for briging some historical perspective (even though it is kind of incomplete) to the Israel-Iran debate. My question for our government, our president, our congressmen is this: why do you let a small nation (Israel) with tribal fears, a militaristic bent and national interests that drastically depart from American interest govern and impact OUR foreign policy? Is Israel important to America because of the quarter million Jews living here? Or is Israel important to America's interests because of a misguided fealty based on Judeo-Christian values? Isn't that bringing religion to foreign policy in America? Why should we put up with Israel's problems when they are not aligned with America's problems?
More to the point: Why does Israel have nuclear weapons and yet points the finger at its neighbors? Why hasn't Israel allowed IAEA inspectors in Israel but criticizes Iran on nuclear weapons? Why is America a pawn of Israel's hawkish governments?
Answer to all you question. Israel lobby controls Congress NOT the American people ! Shame but that's the reality !
This commentary is spot on. Pakistan got it because India has it. Russia got it cause we have it. No one is sure Iran has it or wants it but if they do its because the other Arab state has it; Israel. I see it as a Mexican standoff who ever starts it the world will spiral to economic failure. No one can win. Make oil obsolete and the both can blow each other to bits the world will not care.
Finally I am happy to see Farid making a correct analysis withour fear of repercussion from AIPAC or Israel ! Keep it up, Fareed.
Fareed is on point, pre-emptive strike will burn half of Israel. I can see that coming. There will be chaos in Iraq, Afghanistan and worse..oil prices to all of us will hit more than $8 per galon.
it seems the voice of thugs and zionist are on one end and those of balanced thought and a reasonable common sence on the other...and now we should see how many people the thugs/zionist have killed to gain the worldly possession during their short existance.... as we know these are the same people supported a parthied south africa's tyrrany for many years (in every way possible) how many innocent people were killed there???,..... brought about Iraq and Afghanistan war...how many there??, blood of thousands of Palestainian on their hand only to steal and rubb their land , usuing the same religious rights( laughable) as their reasons and now they talk about mullah who for past thirty years are even having hard time to hold on their own powers due to the constant attack of all kinds by these (same) thugs and the zionist who have hijacked the Honorable Jewish religion...... Power that they have will bring their demise at the end as history has show us.......history repeats. yet the voice of Christ, Gandi, Marther Luther King still reverberates in all of us when it is heard. peace
The thinking in the middle east is as convoluted and comical as the writing – "zionist thugs" reminds me of the comical words of the early communist nations. Look where they wound up.
You, just like most of your anti-israel anti-zionist jew hating brethren, don't know **** about peace, or about the works of good peace-loving people and men like MLK Jr
The fact that you invoke his name while hating Zionists – even though MLK Jr. Himself a Zionist, just shows what an idiot you and your ilk are.
“When people criticize Zionists they mean Jews, you are talking anti-Semitism.”
-Martin Luther King Jr.
big difference compared to USSR and cold war. iran publicly, vociferously, and repeatedly states that they want to wipe israel off of the map.
Is Mr. Z channeling the ghost of Neville ("Peace in Our Time") Chamberlain, after he visited "Mr. Adolph Hitler", and brought back the signed statement from the man who would murder millions?!
Fareed talks about "We" after WWII. Yet he has no clue what America is all about. Not a friggin clue.
You meam Fareed has to be a White person to know the history of America?
I am sure he understands US politics than many White Americans.
You may be misinterpreting Jo's comments. Zakaria seems out of touch in a way that is common among academics and arm-chair theorists – I don't think the comments were intended about race or religion.
you're an Idiot
"But even if one day Tehran manages to build a few crude bombs, a policy of robust containment and deterrence is better to contemplate than a preemptive war"
So, Zakaria supports Iran's getting a nuclear weapon.
His article ignores the fact that Iran is the strongest conventional power in the Middle East.
Zakaria mentions terrorism, but ignores the fact that Iran has the most effective terrorist force in the Middle East – Hezbollah. With Hezbollah, Iran has turned Lebanon into a vassal state, independent only in name.
With Iran's conventional military superiority and it's asymmetric force, Hezbollah, its other proxies like Hamas and sleeper cells all over the Middle East, it can easily take over the whole region.
It is also one of the largest exporters of terror in the world.
Once Iran gets nukes, it gets immunity from military intervention. It can take over the whole Middle East that produces 40% of the world's oil supply and blackmail the West. It can then start to overthrow all secular governments and export terror.
Why is Zakaria supporting this outcome?
It's possible for Israel to make it clear to Iran, through variety of means and diplomatic channels, that they would nuke Iran back into the stone age should Iran be so foolish as to initiate hostilities against Israel. That would be enough to stop Iran from trying anything, just as it did to the USSR. I would be surprised if Israel has not already done this.
One of the premises in this article is the implicit acceptance by Mr. Zakaria that Iran's nuclear program is to build nuclear weapons (the argument is about Iran's not using nuclear bombs and not about Iran's being misunderstood and having a peaceful nuclear program).... Oh, wait a minute. Isn't it that Iran's nuclear program was for peace only?
I hope my comment disagreeing with Zakaria will not disappear yet again. I've noticed this happen consistently...
yea, Isreal should just wait Iran out. Maybe if they wait long enough they can get blown off the map!!
I think the author would probably prefer that. wow CNN. You guys have really let it go
The Jews are fond of saying 'never again' another holocaust.
Yet the Jews will behave in exactly the way that WILL ENSURE ever again. lol
Such is life: The 'attachment to pain' is as terribly self-destructive as the 'attachment to pleasure'.
So go ahead, Mr Jew; attack Iran and open the gates of hell, and give the masochistic christians their Armageddon! lol
Zakaria talks sense and insight, as usual. Of course fanatic fascit-zionists may differ, but listening to extremists is a waste of time and patience.
Zakaria, go suck a duck, you homegrown terrorist.
Zakariah is a shariah law loving, American bashing islamist. It is no surpirse that he is on CNN along with all of the other liberals.
If you don't believe me check out his book:
Zakaria, Fareed. The Post American World.
London: W.W. Norton & Company: 2008. Print.
F u ck AIPAC!!!!!
You're a redneck.
Zakaria's article shows that he thinks in a very concrete manner. There is no logical comparison between the Soviet Situation and present day Iran. Iran is a religious dictatorship and sees the world in that framework. Its leaders are far more illogical than those who rules the USSR. Also, the claim that Iran may not have committed suicide bombings is also not substantiated. Its well established the Iranians are supporting major terrorist activity. Zakaria needs to better study his history and confront reality.
Another major flaw in his assessment is his failure to recognize the fact that the US (with help from a number of NATO countries) just fought a lengthy war in Iraq over imaginary WMDs. The last figures I saw was that the US lost almost 5500 serviceman with another 250,000 wounded over something that *did not* exist! Think about it folks, Iraq destroyed all of their WMD after 1992 but that did not stop GW Bush from seeing 'boggymen' and pulling the US into its most expensive war!! So how is it that the US or any of its allies are in a position to dictate what Israel should or should not do to defend itself. The threat from Iran is many, many times greater than that Saddam's Iraq poised in 2000.
Fareed Zakaria does not understand the fundamental difference between the Soviet priviligentsia and the Iranian mullahs. The former enjoyed their privileges – closed shops, closed hospitals and pharmacies and access to foreign press the rest of the population could not obtain. The latter believe in the Mahdi and the afterlife and are willing to sacrifice 2 /3 humanity to bring about his return. Now this is not the opinion of some conspiracy theorist but the opinions of leading western scholars of Islam like Bernard Lewis and Raphael Israeli. See MAD is Dead http://www.madisdead.blogspot.com
Western Scholars of Islam = KKK Scholars of the Black folks. You're too stupid to even reason with.
Professor Bernard Lewis of Princeton University and Professor Raphael Israeli of Hebrew University are scholars who combined spent more than a hundreds years studying Islam while you probably never read the Koran but have the chutzpah to insultl them. I bet you have no clue what abrogation of the verses mean and how the Koran verses are arranged.
Israeli's are a bunch of lil twots. They have a huge stock pile of Nukes and don't allow the IAEA to inspect and have a history of double crossing the US with their covert operation. I'm really against sending them any moire of my hard earned tax dollars when I'm having a hard time staying afloat. F u ck AIPAC!!!!!
I lived in USSR, and Zakaria is dead WRONG, again. The Soviets, were impotent demagogues. Even Brezhnev did not believe in Communism and had zero intentions to nuke the west. But Khameni & Co. are messianic nuts more comparable to Hitler. And like Hitler, he must be stopped.
It's not what the Soviets WERE, it's what Americans BELIEVED they were. Same as with Iran.
The Hitler analogy? Pure propaganda. Those Nazis kicked ass, and invaded their neighbors for years. They had fantastic capabilities. I've never bought an Iranian sewing machine, or car, but my German ones show a culture whose industrial capabilities made for a formidable enemy. Iran by contrast – well, the carpets are nice. But you cannot fly them.
If israel were to strike first – it would prove they are not god's chosen people
(provided god really does side with the meek)
I have lived in the Soviet Union back then, and never heard of or saw any russian mother who would be happy to see her teenage son or daughter blow himself to pieces just for the reason of blowing a school bus full of "infidel" children...
Where is the similarity of two situations, Fareed?
Why does this Muslim author feel we should listen and validate his writing? Screw this! Isreal this is from me; Please stop the tug of war in the government about weather or not to stop Iran by force. It's needed and required to stop this Islamic plague nation of terrorism and violence against civilization. We need to take military action and set Iran back to the stone age. We all know that they re making nukes and they are going to use them on isreal. And after they do no nation will do anything but say . "Iran, you shouldn't have done that"! Enough is enough! Iran has a loaded gun in the mouth of isreal and is moments away from pulling the trigger. What are we waiting for , why must millions of Jews die in a nuke attact before Iran is topped. Why must we wait for the event that we know will happen when Iran makes its nuke to launch. We need to stand in deliverance and break the back or Iran forevermore. Thank you, David
Did anyone consider how many Muslims will die in that region if Iran was to Nuke Isreal ? Israel wants to scare the world and act like a victim as always.
Fareed, you miss the critical difference that Iran has overtly and repeatedly threatened to destroy Israel, and its terrorist group's charter states overtly that its purpose of existence is the destruction of Irsael. How is this comparable with Russia during the cold war?
My local California gas just went up 30 cents a gallon to $4.27 on the runors. I can only imagine the economic disaster for America, suddenly having gas at $10.00 a gallon would be, if it only stopped at a single Israeli attack with no significant response.
But if as we all expect, such a war would have retailiation and rapidly spread to include damage to Saudi Arabia's oil supplies, as well as Iraq, Qatar, etc. Then our "ally" Israel would probably give us $25.00 per gallon gas, and the biggest economic disaster in Americas' history.
what a humanitatian you are! Sacrifice to safety and lives of people around the globe to protect your wallet!
Over the years, that does seem to be Israel's philosophy
iranian are peace lover we didnt attack usa saudi arabia attacked 11 september taliban is from saudi arabia they are terorist killer why dont u understand this saudi arabia invested millions dollar in vahabiat it is the most dangerous explanation from islam they want to attack and kill every western people it is the end for world the real danger for the world is vahabiat very extermism very fanatic
Iranianas as a people may very well be peace lovers. However, they are controlled by fanatics who think nothing of slaughtering their own to stay in control (remember last summer??)If the Iranian people cannot control their own government, others must when they threaten the outside world.. This is why in America whe have the checks and balances that may result often in stagnation but prevent us from becoming complete hostages of our government,
Among the suicide bombers Tamils are the number one. They practiced it as a political weapon before Saudis or Palestinians copied them. Zakaria is a level headed true Patriot.
Please read Robert Baer's book "The Devil We Know". As a person who has been embedded in Iranian culture and interested in the geo-politics of the middle east for many, many years and tell you that his position is very realistic and should be the basis for action. The Iranian government cannot be understood without understanding Iranian culture, especially Shia Persian culture (there is more than one religion, more than one ethnicity in Iran.) As a group, Iranians are businessmen first and religious zealots second. The Iranian government may not expect you to negotiate, to pay for the acquisition of peace at a lower price. They expect you to pay the more expensive price of a forceful confrontation which will good for them, bad for us.
If Israel attack Iran, Iran might counterattack bombing the Israeli nuclear center Dimona which is located 8.5 miles from the town of the same name. Given that about four kilograms of weapons grade plutonium are used in each nuclear weapon, Israel has produced enough plutonium at Dimona to construct between 100 and 200 nuclear weapons. It has also produced about 170 kilograms of Lithium-6, which would produce about 220 kilograms of lithium-6 deuteride. Roughly 6 kilograms are needed to construct a thermo-nuclear weapon. Israel could, therefore, have as many as 35 thermo-nuclear weapons. Palmikhim, another Israeli nuclear Centre is where missiles and rockets are assembled and tested. It is the main research and development facility. The US believes that Israel has a capability to develop and launch ICBM's (and is thus a danger to the entire world), Imagine, just imagine, Iran attack these two nuclear centers and hit the jackpot. What a mess will be, but also it will end for ever the nuclear threat in that part of the world. Iran doesn't have not even a nuclear pistol, they have nothing except the big mouth of his little president. So, US and Israel do not try to fool the whole world with your cheap propaganda for fools. In the meantime be careful with Dimona and Palmikhim, the Iranians might get lucky and hit the spot.
Muslim agit-prop.
Zakaria, the closet Muslim, tries to make a case against the world protecting itself form the Iranian threat.
He writes:
Over the past decade, there have been thousands of suicide bombings by Saudis, Egyptians, Lebanese, Palestinians and Pakistanis, but not been a single suicide attack by an Iranian. Is the Iranian regime — even if it got one crude device in a few years — likely to launch the first?
The efforts to delay and disrupt Iran's nuclear program are working. But even if one day Tehran manages to build a few crude bombs, a policy of robust containment and deterrence is better to contemplate than a preemptive war.
No Iranian suicide bombers? He doesn't know of the Iranian QODs units that recruit, train and equip suicide bombers?
Does he think that we have had "robust containment" and that sanctions are working? Zakaria is either a complete fool or a subversive. I suggest that he write his future articles from a prime target in Israel.
You don't get stupd Fareed, Israel is not worried about an Iranian attack. It knows well Iran won't initiate an attack, let alone a nuclear attack against Israel. Israel is only concerned because a nuclear Iran means an end to Israeli hegemony and super power military status in the region and force itto end its illegal colonization of Palestine and sit down and negotiate peace seriously.
I wonder upon acquiring nuclear weapons how Iran's leaders would explain the existence of Israel after 30+ years of death to Israel and now with the means to make it so?
This article by Fareed Zakaria compares apples to banana's. Iran is not the Soviet Union, big difference in their belief system and objectivity between the two.
A nuclear Iran would be good for balance of power in the region and will force Israel to negotiate peace seriously to end it brutal colonization of Palestine. The Zionazis are willing to draw the world into WW3 to protect the interest of some 500K armed Israeli religious fanatic thieves colonizing Palestine.
The problem with Iran is that they are a bad neighbor. When Iran is taken out most of the middle east problems will not exist anymore. Iran is already at war, not an all out battle,but what they think is behind the scene.Iran is not fooling anyone. Whom ever runs Iran thinks that they can win world opinion, because they pretend Innocent in their motives.Iran is a danger to freedom, just as was nazi germany. The nazi were trying to build a pure race of whites, and if left unchecked a lot of people would have gone to the gas chamber. First jews, then blacks.asians and on to anybody who disagreed.Iran left unchecked would exterminate all Israelies, Bahai's,Christians,and any persons not willing to convert to their version of Islam. Iran's thought is if you can't prove it were not doing it .The world cannot live with a nuclear armed Iran.
Misguided :CNN's Fareed Zakaria makes an equivalence between Iran 's threat to Israel and the Soviet Unions threat to America? Hardly the case .
The Soviet Union was never sucidal in its core belief system or ideology-Communism which refers to religion as the "opiate of the masses".
In contrast Iran is rooted in Islam- an ideology rooted in Jihad /suicide/ and the after life- religion.
While Communism is a threat – the Soviet Union does not hang gays in public- does not have honour killings- promotes free enterprise- and is a far safer place to travel than Iran .
The following is from the same person who has faith in the Arab Spring and the ability of Islam to embrace democracy in its humanist sense !
Islam is rooted in the tenets of "Submission" and "Obedience" while Democracy is rooted in Individual Rights!
And America has had a siege oin Cuba ( Cuban Missile Crisis) since 1959 or 63 years!
Comparing Israel (which is surrounded by Muslim countries), to the United States (which is a huge global power) is insane. Comparing the former Soviet Union to Iran (which is run by insane fundamentalists) is even more insane. I have never disagreed with an article on CNN more than this one. Completely ludicrous. If anything Israel needs to strike NOW.
Good stuff as usual Mr Zakaria, but you passed over some other very important considerations, namely once Iran has the bomb its Sunnis neighbors will want one as well. Where and how does it end?
Iranians may not directly commit suicide bombings but their surrogates do. They also provide the funding, training, and the bombs themselves. Swing and a miss on this one my friend.
Sticking with the history lesson, it was similar appeasement sentiments that gave Hitler a free hand and started WWII. A better idea would be to use your influence to get China and Russia to seal off Iran's exits and allow sanctions to really work.
If the Iranian regime was as "rational" as suggested, why not simply allow unfettered inspections and be done with this mess. Clearly they are out gunned and on the wrong side of history. No they would rather have war? And now you suppose these same "rational" players will appreciate the implications of MAD? More likely it will embolden them to redouble their efforts in exporting their brand of Islamic Revolution and harassment of Israel and Iraq. Convinced they are now immune from attack, the Middle East/Asia Minor will enter a new era of instability, only this time with nuclear weapons and they will drag the "Great Satan" into the fray.
This isn't about the wonderful Iranian people but about their kidnappers. Bloody work, but someone has to keep the 16th century in check and hold nations accountable for their irresponsible actions.
Take Care!
Unfortunately, it is so easy to try and draw a comparison to the US-USSR Cold War. However, there are several differences that Fareed, of course, didn't mention. During the Cold War, the US and USSR held talks with one another; Israel and Iran have never and won't in the foreseeable future. Stalin, nor any leader of the USSR, ever said that they will do everything in their power to destroy the US; the Iranian president has said in scores of speeches his desire for the destruction of Israel. Finally, Iran is driven by religion, so from their point of view, everything they do is justified and correct.
I agree with all your points except the religion. Israel is also drive by religion, just see how they treat the Palestinians. If you parent are Palestnian and born in the US, you are American. It is not the case in Israel. You have to be Jewish. I think in the regard, Iran and Israel are both driven by religion.
When I say Iran is driven by religion, Islam dictates them to conquer all land and destroy all infidels that do not agree with them. Israel and Judaism do share such beliefs. Israel is not driven to murder people that do not adhere to Judaic law.
@jeff
That's not true:
190 Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors.
Although it is not a bad idea to strike Iran, I don’t think Israel has the opportunity or the power to do it. Now every Arabian is angry at Iran support to Syria. If Israel strikes Iran, it would result everyone on the side of Iranians. Israel is already lost an ally that was essential for their security for the past 40 years. All arrogance aside, Israel is surrounded by changing political landscape in the middle-east that is not in their favor, and Iranian military reaching hands to the borders of Israel. Any guess why an Iranian supply and war ships gone twice to Syria this year. It is not to deliver weapons to Syria; that is easy for Syria to get. It is to pick up the load the Russian left for them in their base in Syria. So, Israel is not really a threat to anyone for the time being.
I have rarely read an article to careful to avoid facts in order to promote their opinion. Russia never stated that their goal was to "exterminate" americans on a regular basis, nor did they ever deny our right to exist. The comparison is so far from legitimate that I can only conclude that the writer is entirely ignorant (I know this is not true) or sincerely hopes his readers are (Bingo!). Only two types of people will actually believe this nonsense: 1) those who hate Israel already, and 2) those who want desparately to believe it to avoid any form of armed conflict. Zakaria, your article is nothing more than a thinly veiled hatred of Israel written in a way to try to appeal to group no, 2 above in order to bolster support of your view. CNN – what happened to your ethics? Why not also hire contributors who are prejudiced against blacks and asians while you're at it?
Fareed, I like your emotionally stable approach to the problems of the Middle East. However, you state that there haven't been any Iranian suicide bombers. While this might be technically correct, their proxies, Hizballah have sent suicide bombers into Lebanon over the years and kill many Americans.
See my note above.....group one seems to really love this stuff based on the comments posted Zakaria – only proves my point
Israel is the one with 100's of nukes, reject peace with its neighbors, ruled by crazy religious fanatics who believe in chosen people and promised Zionazi idealogy, committs terror and assassination attacks all over the world, illegaly occupies and colonizes other people and the only remaining apartheid regime in the world. It can do all that and get away with it because there is no counter balance to its military. A nuclear Iran would provide such counter balance and force Israel to end its Zionazi brutal regime and policies.
What you say and believe about Israel, and what the truth is, are two totally different things.
This is a part of US propaganda to show that Israel is serious in attacking Iran but Fareed doesn't not let them to do so. You probably expect a big hug from Iran
Director of National Intelligence to the senate Select Committee a couple of weeks ago:
"We assess Iran is keeping open the option to develop nuclear weapons, in part by developing various nuclear capabilities that better position it to produce such weapons, should it choose to do so. We do not know, however, if Iran will eventually decide to build nuclear weapons."
Seems they ain't started on any nuclear weapons program yet. As usual, the hype comes from the politicians and lobbyists and not the people who spend their whole lives analysing this stuff.
come back from wonderland, Alice. North Korea said their nuclear production was for peacefule purposes also. How did that turn out?
I miss the incessant war mongering on every part of CNN. Please bring it back ASAP.
Further, we, the United States, cannot continue to afford the cost of fighting other people's wars. In both dollars and lives. We spend so much and die in great numbers so panty waist countries can sit by and reap the benifits. This must stop. Problem in the Middle East, let them take care of it. Problem in Asia, let them take care of it.
Fareed's message. Don't strike Iran that will impact what they are paying me.
There are no good options here, but a preemptive strike may be among the worst.
Taking out nuclear facilties will set their nuclear program 3-5 years. However, it is likely to provide more justification to the leaders, as well as the general population, for the development of a nuclear weapons program in 5-10 years. On the other hand, a preemptive strike on Iran could result in an ill-advised attack on Israel, which could precipitate a real escalating bloodbath.
It's surprising how little Fareed seems to understand the situation. Yes, the Soviet Union and United States had strong differences and stockpiles of weapons, but Russia never said Americans didn't have a right to EXIST! Iran finances terror organizations, applauds the innocent killing of Jews, and is unquestionably building weapons to use against Israel, or at least covertly slip them to an affiliate that will. They want Israel dead and gone! I'm not hoping for war either, but your assessment of the threat is so unsound.
Justin, you, like much of the Western media, have distorted what the Iranians said in THEIR OWN LANGUAGE. What they said is that Isreal doesn't have the right to exist GEOGRAPHICALLY, not as a people. They want to erase the BORDERS of Isreal, not wipe out its people.
I believe Isreal did not exist in 1920, less than 100 years ago. And the world was getting along just fine, or so I've read.
Zakaria is not ignorant of the truth or lacking in understanding. He is just promoting anti-israel propganda. Notice he makes not even the most feeble effort to defend Iran's official line that their nuclear efforts are for "medical and peceful" purposes.
Littlebird (is the brain also little?): So glad you clarified. They only want to destroy Israel as "geographic" nation. So I suppose you are suggesting they want Israel to close up shop in their current location and move to Iran? Exactly who helps you put on your pants and shirt in the morning?
This is ridiculous, the whole world is begging the Zionazis regime of Israel not to initiate WW3. Why don't we just impose sanctions on Israel, like Iran, to stop end war mongering threats. After all, Israel is the one with 100's of nukes, horrible human rights records, occupies and colonizes other people by brutal force and the only remaining apartheid regime in the whole world.
“When people criticize Zionists they mean Jews, you are talking anti-Semitism.”
-Martin Luther King Jr
My only concern is if Iran already has a nuke that can reach U.S soil.
Even Iran get the bomb U.S.A & Israel knows that Iran don't use it ,they want bargain for their business oil price etc.
Thoughtful piece – but the distinctions are greatly different – a single nuclear attack can virtually annihilate Israel – that was impossible with the land mass of Soviet Union or the US – or Iran for that matter. Also, the Soviet Union never openly called for the destruction of the United States, such as Iran. I am not for an attack on Iran or any act of warfare – but the vigilance of the Israelis should be recognized, as they face a threat much different threat from Iran's development of nuclear warheads than any other nation in the world.
Did i just see "Arabian gulf street" in Siemens adv? there is no water in the world called Arabic gulf and Siemens made a great mistake cause is fooled by bunch of Arabs who filmed that sign and probably told the dutch it says something else. such actions would represent hatred of Europeans toward things that are very sacred to Iranian society. that picture of the adv should be removed ASAP. my comment is one in hundreds but i hope the producer of that adv. can read it.
@OJ: Not a bad idea to strike Iran? You are aware of the fact that Iran is allied with Russia and China, right? So, could you use your little brain and analyze the result of Israel and/or the US bombing a country that has committed no aggression to speak of and is buddies with 2 powerful countries with loads of nukes? I'll save you the trouble, since you're obviously struggling: the result would be a world war. A nasty, deadly, nuclear war. Not a bad idea to strike Iran? Lunacy.
It is most gratifying to know that Fareed actually reads some of the points from his bloggers. And hopefully some of right things might even make it further. And there is a lot being said. Good ! But here is what I believe to be the simple chemistry in all this;
Element Types #1.
Weapons of mass destruction. Nuclear weapons of mass destruction. Biological weapons of mass destruction.
Element Types #2.
Hatred. Discrimination. Religious fanaticism. Propaganda. Brainwashing. Irrationalism. Psychosis. Bad "intel".
It's unfortunate enough that any of these elements should at all need to exist. But they do. And NOT just in Israel or Iran, but all over the world.
We created or inherited these elements (for the most part anyhow). And we are not putting forth enough global effort to control, reduce, and eliminate them as best as possible.
But as long as the two elementary categories exist, so does the threat; almost anywhere and anytime. And storing them separately at either ends of the globe is frightening enough for me, but keeping them on the same shelf is almost suicidal.
Here is the problem with the "Mutually Assured Destruction" concept. When one nation believes that they have a mandate from God (by whatever name you wish to use) to destroy their perceived enemies, and have a belief in martyrdom as a tenet in their philosophy, the policy that served so well in keeping the United States and its allies, England and France, out of a nuclear war with the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China. There is no such philosophical restriction between Israel and Iran. At least Pakistan admits that they could do damage to India, but would be blown off the map from Indian retaliation.
I have a mandate from God to sell all the black gold under the Earth for whatever the Great Satan is willing to pay for it. I wear a black robe, you scared yet?
fareed, russia never called for the distruction of the usa. iran are activley killing jews with hizbulla and hamas, calling for the distruction of the state of israel, while saying the holocost never happened. sorry man, you are wrong. israel wont tollarate a nuclear iran and can affored to test your theory.
Only uneducated idiot could have compared the former Soviet Union and islamic iran. The Soviet Union has never declared a destruction of other countries as a global and most important goal of it's foreign policy, as does iran. Neither the Soviet Union had a goal to destroy the other nations based on their religious believes. Objectively there was a positive effect of 'nuclear balance of power' between the USSR and the USA. zakaria should keep his pro-islamic opinion with himself .
OK Fareed, Israel will first consult with you!
You know, if Russia gets the bomb, everyone else will want one, and Russia hates the U.S. and seeks its destruction, so God forbid, we must destroy Russia now, before they get the bomb.
Hello people, the only answer to nuclear proliferation is DISARMAMENT. Yes, that means ISREAL MUST DISARM. THE U.S. MUST DISARM. RUSSIA MUST DISARM. PAKISTAN MUST DISARM. Yes, it means Ahmadinejad must SIT AT A TABLE WITH NETANYEHU AND TALK.
YES! YES! THIS IS IN THE END WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN! YOU KNOW IT AND I KNOW IT!
This is the ONLY SANE WAY for a civilized world to function and have peace. Jesus f'ing Christ... what is it going to take for people to act RATIONAL and have a little sanity????
Littlebird,
You're absolutely correct. But it will take a massive unselfish global effort to separate these hot heads and sit them down in their corners until everything can be sorted out for the best. Not just for their own good, but for ours and everyone elses too.
And you honestly think we can trust EVERYONE to not even keep one single NUKE. You are about as stupid and naive as they come. Someone was right, Little Brain should have been your psuedo name instead of little bird. Well, I have a bird for you and its a GIANT MIDDLE FINGER MORON!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are ALMOST laughable, but not quite!!!!
Zak just does not get it. The past examples of waiting out the adversaries simply do not apply to Iran. Mutual self destruction as a deterrent does not mean anything to them. Their ideology and cleric based hierarchy will, as they have always, miscalculate the outcome. They may not use the bomb themselves but provide it, even a crude one, to lunatic proxies to destroy Israel. Al Queda or Hezbollah will be pleased to set one off to enhance their fading status. Iran can then claim their innocence. Is there any real doubt that Israel will attack Iran's nuclear facilities? I doiubt it.
Here's your big problem. If Israel or the U.S. attacks Iran, Iran lobs their ballistic missiles (1200 mile range) into the
Saudi oil fields creating $400/barrel oil and bringing all western economies to a screeching halt. Then everyone will
ignore the sanctions and pay Iran $ 400/barrel.
This just confirms that Zakaria is an Anti-Semitic. It’s a shame that he has deluded so-many people with his global platform.
"in the end, however, the global revolutionaries in Moscow".........................You are talking about Trotskyites. Stalin took care of those people in the show trials of 1938. Our "military industrial complex" needed the Soviet Union just as Rome needed Carthage to rail against. Time Magazine said the Soviet Union was never a serious threat to the U.S.
Religious fanatics should not have nukes, can't believe anyone questions why, it would be dangerous and stupid. Not only that, they have already threatened Israel.
It's not difficult to understand the existential threat of someone swearing to annihilate you, then seeking out the means to do that. And even if Israel weren't a factor, no one wants nuclear capability in the region; not Iran's enemies, allies, or even a significant portion of their population. So if Israel doesn't take steps to destroy it, then shouldn't someone?
I'm a little more concerned about them striking with less than indisputable evidence of it, though. And they could point toward the Bush administration's precedent of preemptive strike from shoddy intelligence. That would, and should, alarm every one of their neighbors.
Nothing is going to change as long as we continue to allow Israel to be the neighborhood bully. Iran, with all its boasting, wouldn't be dumb enough to start a war with anyone. The rest of the world has no right to deny them a power grid.
You don't get stupd Fareed, Israel is not worried about an Iranian attack. It knows well Iran won't initiate an attack, let alone a nuclear attack against Israel. Israel is only concerned because a nuclear Iran means an end to Israeli hegemony and super power military status in the region and force it to end its illegal colonization of Palestine and sit down and negotiate peace seriously.
Iran has signed in to international initiatives to make the Mideast free of nuclear weapons. It is Israel t hat opposes. It wants a complete monopoly of nukes. Well, Zionazi racist Israel cannot get away with its belligerence forever. The world should force it to give up its nukes so neighboring states give their weapons programs.
zakaria, resign and go home to pakistan or iran, whereever you're from. CNN, please, stop posting his crap!!!
I ususally like what Farheed has to say, but this time I completely disagree. A pre-emptive strike on a pre-nuclear Russia could have prevented 50 years of madness. Mutually-assured destruction. Vietnam. Afghanistan 1 – all because the super powers were playing with the 3rd world for dominance. Perhaps a pre-emptive strike then would've freed the peoples of Eastern Europe, and even hasten the creation of a western-style government in Russia early on. Imagine if the soviet union had become a democratic federation of states 60 years ago. What would the world be like?
Another big difference is that Russia in 1945 didn't call for wiping the west off the map. If Iran was calling for regime change in Israel, then you could compare it. But Iran wants to obliterate Israel. Thats a huge difference.
Let Israel strike. But Israel must be prepared to deal with the consequences of such a strike.
What else would you expect from a Muslim? Israel is threatened with annihalation every day from Iran. The Iran mullahs believe that it is their duty to exterminate the Jews and blow Israel off the map. They arm Hezballah, Hamas, Syria, and provided muitions to the insurgents in Iraq, and Zakaria wants Israel to just sit back and do nothing? Give up the crack pipe please Zakaria.
I love reading all this "experts" on Soviet Union, including Alex et.al. To be born in USSR does not mean to know a damn about the country and its policies. They Russians were FANATICS then, in 1945. When Stalin died, millions got slaughtered during his funeral, because they wanted to say farewell to the monster, who they called a father. Zaharia is 100% right. There are a lot of parallels. If Soviets made the bomb before the US, they would have used it. US made the bomb first, and they used it. As soon as USSR developed the nuke, and then others followed – no country regardless how rogue they were,never used it again because of fear of retaliation. The mullahs are the same as Stalin, Mao, the Kims, and others if their ilk. They can brainwash their people all the way to the grave, but all they care about at the end of the day – is to stay in power and have good living. Using the nuke will take this away. Iran should not have the bomb, but Israel should not bomb them. There are other ways, and they are working.
I love how the main page has three stories about Iran while nothing about Israel daily unprovoked deadly strikes against Gaza. The media is guilty of covering up Israeli war mongering and magnifying non-existing Iranian threat.
Take all the nukes and NUKE ALL THE OIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST. Do it now.
Then, NO ONE WILL CARE about a little stupid country called Iran, or a little stupid country called Isreal.
ZAKARIA: Y O U A R E V E R Y W R O N G.
IF A CARTOON in a Newspaper Elicits DEATH TREATS – Then one can EXPECT RETALIATION for an Attack on Iran – So it SHOULD Be Avoided – But if REQUIRED to Prevent an APOCALYPTIC HORROR then the ATTACK has to Be CRIPPLING and PUNISHING – A NUKE to Blast the Underground A-Bomb Factory with FALLOUT that Poisons QOM and Conventional Bombing of Every Dam and Major Power Plant in Iran – Enough DAMAGE to the Infrastructure that They will be TOO BUSY to Build Bombs.
I love the brainwashed Joe here believes Israel's belligerence is justified when Iran has not threatened war on Israel nor has it assassinated its scientists as Israel does to Iranian scientists. Iran is not blackmailing the whole world to impose harsh economic sanctions on Israel to impoverish its people to give up its 60 years old 100's of nukes that allow Israel to illegally colonize and brutalize Palestine.
There is NO SUCH THING as PALESTINE – That was an Ancient Roman Provence whose NAME was Used by the BRITISH when carving Up the MidEast after WWII. TRANS-JORDAN (another Invention) was to be the Home of the Non-Jewish Inhabitants – JERUSALEM WAS to Be and Like MECCA Must One Day Be INTERNATIONAL cities that BELONG to the WORLD.
If an Iranian scientist or an engineer decided to sell some weapon's grade uranium or even plutonium by smuggling it out of the plant with other collaborators who have a terrorist agenda this would be a great and fatal danger. Maybe this is what Israel is worrying about and they are right in doing so. Remember the Pakistani physicist (forgot his name) who sold nuclear technology to North Korea for a considerable amount of money. That is a fact. Israel should be very worried about the nuclear threat that this represents.
If I sell you uranium to make million dollar and you use to blow up New York, how much my million dollar worth then?
Zakaria has shown his hatred of Israel in every article he has ever written about the middle east. What kind of fool would take advice from someone who hates them.
I'm sure other people have posted this already, but the Soviet Union did not call for the destruction of the US. Iran has called for the destruction of Israel and is backing terrorist against Israel. Completely different, Zak. I guess you are just support terrorism and the destruction of Israel also. Not good for a reporter. I sincerely hope CNN fires you for this before you incite more people to become terrorists.
Mike, Iran called for the BORDERS OF ISREAL TO BE ELIMINATED ('wiped off the map'), but not for the destruction of its people. Read the original Farsi speech, not the Western (Zionist) translation.
Littlebird, don't be naive. You know and I know that there are thousands of pronouncements coming out of the Middle East today calling for the destruction of Israel and the Jews. This is no surprise. We live in an age where information is available to anyone with an internet connection. Gone are the days when the Iranian leader could speak in the mosque on Friday and no one would know what he said. Now the video finds itself sent out, translated and posted within minutes.
How on earth could you destroy the lines on a map, but leave the people unharmed? I would prefer that you just be honest with us and say you want to push them into the sea.
Pronouncements from who? Religious fanatics or from heads of state? I suggest you look at only the latter, and translate exactly what was said.
I was amazed to hear Zakaria state that there has not been a single Iranian suicide bomber, as it is clear to most of the world that the Iranians are the greatest exporters of terror through their proxy organizations such as Hezbollah. They had direct involvement in some of the most heinous attacks of the last 60 years, including the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, the Khobar Towers truck bomb, as well as countless attacks on US forces in Iraq sponsored directly by the Iranian regime. Let us keep in mind that Iran has shown no timidity when it comes to suicide attacks, as grotesquely illustrated during the Iran/ Iraq war when they sent waves of volunteers, many children armed only with a plastic "key to paradise", to clear minefields ahead of regular forces.
To compare Israel's fear of a nuclear Iran to the US fear of a nuclear USSR is to overlook two important facts.
The first of which is that the mullahs in Iran believe in the return of the twelfth iman or Mahdi, whose return they believe will be presaged by the destruction of Israel. Thus, they believe they can hasten his coming. Many examples of these thoughts being voiced can be heard at MEMRITV.org. This mindset negates the concept of mutually assured destruction when one side fervently believes that mutual destruction is a small price to pay for the ascendency of Islam worldwide.
Secondly, we must remember that Israel is a "one bomb" state, where the detonation of a single nuclear weapon, over Tel Aviv for instance, would spell the end of the State of Israel. The mistake only needs to happen once. The US could absorb the devastation of a single nuclear bomb, even in New York or Washington DC, as horrific as that event would be. Israel does not have that luxury. To ask Israel to show restraint toward Iran, a country that openly advocates the destruction of all Jews, is to ask them to return to the horrors of World War 2, and the Holocaust that resulted. Israel and it's allies say "Never Again!" and so should all peace loving nations.
Iran talk to much this is their problem.They should explain to the world power what they are doing before get too late.
Yes, Iran has sponsored terrorism, and even suicide bombings, BUT SO HAS/DID RUSSIA.
Israel has also supported terrorism.
Maybe Isreal is really afraid that once Iran gets to nuclear capabilities then Isreal won't be able to push around the Palestenians with immunity any more. Once Iran becomes Isreal's nuclear equal, then maybe the Isrealies with go back to the bargaining table about a Palestenian state hood.
Israel has always tried to negotiate with the Palestinians with the goal being the PEACEFUL existence of two states side by side. Palestinians have overwhelmingly stated their desire to see NO Israel. This is why whenever there has been a real chance of peace, Palestinian leaders have backed out (the Second Intifada). All Palestinian leaders know that it is political suicide to recognize Israel's right to exist.
The poor, oppressed Muslim is a very different soul than the rich, Rolls Royce-driving one. I suggest you look at Qadhafi as an example.
How does CNN get away with hiring someone so clearly prejudiced against a group of people as a major contributor to the orgnanization? If we were speaking of blacks, asians, or other groups with such a slanted view against them there would be an outcry to fire them. Why is it that he can write articles so filled with non-sensical comparisons that they are clearly one-sided propoganda against a group of people and not have screams for CNN to fire him????
If a Moslem is willing to blow himself up to kill other muslims, maybe 10 or 15, would not he be willing to blow himself up to kill 10 million americans. It is not Iran that worries me: it is all of the terrorist organizations that it supplies which will have potential access to the bombs: Hezbollah, Hamas,
Zakariah you are very naive and have your head in the sand a la Nevile Chamberlain
The real enemy is Israel.
AngryJew should be called AngryAtJews. Of course it's the Jews blowing up crowded markets around the world. We all know that. Muslims have never met a bomb they didn't like. They are equal opportunity bombers though, blowing each other up as well as others. They kill soldiers, worshippers (all religions) , civilians at the market place and school children. They do not discriminate.
What ever Isreal does I hope they do it twice, destroy every capability they have
Here's what's going to happen: NOTHING.
There will be a little talking, a little delaying, a lot of saber rattling, Iran will eventually get the bomb (whether Isreal attacks or not), and power in the Middle East will be a little more balanced. That's it.
Oil will continue to be sold, and it will continue to be bought.
Finis, end of story.
You're probably right. We should send Carter over so we can blame him when it happens.
Zakaria should run for US president since he has all the answers to all the worlds problems. Who is this guy any way?
Kat are you just an anti-semite? When did Israel announce to the world that its goal was to destroy Iran? It has been Iran that has made all the statements about destroying Israel. are the Israelis supposed to sit back and not listen. Even Saudi Arabia which is no friend of Israel is extremely fearful of Iran with nuclear weapons.
Obama said 3 years ago that there was a line in the sand in September 2009. The time went by and everyone forgot what he said he was going to do: prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons. Now it is probably too late.
I ran wants to eliminate Isreal POLITICALLY and GEOGRAPHICALLY (that is what Ahmadinejad really said), not destroy its people. Get your facts right.
Ira
Comparising Israeli-Iranian holstilty to post war US-USSR hostility is naive. Iran's hostility aganist Israel is Theological..
For Annihiliating Israel is the pronounced duty of every Muslim. Armed with nuke,Iran loves to be the one who does it. Once upon a time it was Communism against every other ideology; now it is Islam againta Israel primarily and againat anyone who is not Islamic.
Read what someone said above: the Iranians are businessmen first, religious zealots second. They're not going to do anything to threaten their key resources (oil). Does Ahmadinejad wear Western business suits or does he wear robes? I rest my case.
He wears a suit, so he can't be a religious fanatic? Amazing logic.... Study the man, his history, his writings, his speeches. There is no doubt that he would continue Hitlers' work if he could. For you to deny it, you are either ignorant or willfully misleading. Either way, you have no credibility here.
Brian, Ahmadinejad is NOT A RELIGIOUS FANATIC. What did he study in school, did he study traffic patterns, or did he study religion?
What is it that makes you think he's a religious fanatic? Is it Zionist media propaganda?
Just to save you some time, he studied TRAFFIC PATTERNS. Not religion.
Listen to his speeches, Littlebird. Let his own words speak for themselves. I knew what he studied in school, but he doesn't talk about traffic patterns in his speeches at the UN. He talks about Israel, that it should be wiped off the map, that it is illegitimate, that Islam, under the direction of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Revolution, will usher in the coming of the Twelfth Iman and the ascendency of their religion over the Earth. He is the definition of a religious fanatic. Log onto MEMRI.org and watch every speech you can stomach. His views are crystal clear.
He's a politician, Brian. He'll say whatever it takes to get the support of people and to get elected. In Iran, that means getting high, mighty and religious. I very much doubt he really believes all that garbage himself.
By the way Kat, Israel doesn't knowingly and maliciously target civilians, they launch precision airstrikes on Gaza targets that are firing rockets at Israel. If the Israelis truly wanted to destroy all Palestinians, they have the means to do so. The fact that they show more restraint than any country in the world faced with similar situations speaks volumes about the humanity inherent in Israel. They are not perfect, no one is, but to compare the accidental killing of the civilian shields that these cowardly terrorists surround themselves with to the barbarity of killing oneself and in the process blowing up men, women and children on a bus or in a restaurant, and to try to find some type of moral equivalence between the two, is morally bankrupt.
Israel launches precision airstrikes on Gaza targets. Absolutely agree. During Cast Lead over 350 Gazan children were butchered. White phosphorous bombs were also dropped on defenseless innocents. War crimes and nothing less. The Hague awaits Israel's war criminals.
Hamas and the Palestinian terrorists understand very well how to play this deadly game. They launch rocket and terror attacks from within civilian areas, preferably close to families with children, or better yet, schools, knowing that Israel will be prompted to try to strike back at the terrorists, and eventually kill civilians. The Palestinians then know that they can parade these casualties of their own making before the media in an attempt to inflame passions. The fact that the Palestinian people accept the death of their sons, daughters, fathers and mothers in suicide attacks against civilians as something not only good, but to be wished for above all, gives one an idea of how far out of touch their society has become. When the Palestinians want peace, more than they want Israels destruction, it may happen.... until then...
Brian, just for your own conscience,please reserach how many Arab children have been masacred by Israel. Once you know the answer ,perhaps you will be able to sleep well.Or perhaps you won't. I am talking about children under 12 only. One source of unbiased research for you would be through the organization called, Jews for peace.
Its no big deal to sit in some CNN studio in the US and tell Israel not to worry. Perhaps if Fareed's wife and children and extended family were living in Tel Aviv he might be a bit less cavalier
Here's what Obama's diplomats are saying to Tel Aviv right now: we have more nuclear weapons than even Isreal. If we believe Isreal is a threat to the United States, either directly or through its military action, we can destroy Isreal 10 times over.
They do not have enough weapons (or the delivery capacity) to destroy the U.S.
So in the end, the U.S. is more powerful than Isreal. You can't have a toy poodle pull a horse. Sure it can yap a lot, and wag its tail back and forth all it wants. But at the end of the day, the decision is ours. If Isreal thinks we will be their steadfast ally, no matter what their military decision, no matter what their course of action, they are DEAD WRONG. They are a nation with a mere 7 million people. That's smaller than just New York City.
I'm sorry, but you can't lead by being a charity case.
For the Zionist Reader
The Reader , seemes need to read a lot more about exactly what it wrote, look the communist china and russia today and see where the USA and its western allies are vs them who we demonized for decades, Reader should notice this convoluted commuist of 50-60 have the best educated and smarter population and look at their economy vs USA....though I must admit we have the most sophisticated war machinary and thugs, selfish hypocrite and zionist, all in the most sensetive jobs in the country that are trying to bring about war.....war, war, war, for control, rub, oil and yet they talk about Democracy......what a hyporacy......
Normally you make a little sense.. this post is goofy! The Soviets were nothing like the extremists who are in charge of Iran today. While there are certainly many level headed people living in Iran the people in power are not afraid to die and in fact believe that they are hastening the return of some Islamic messiah... Since you have forgot the lessons of history during the cold war both sides knew that an attack would bring about mutal assured destruction upon the other. Both the US and USSR lived in fear of this. The nut jobs in Iran welcome it.
Mike, you're wrong again. Ahmadinejad has a PhD. Stalin was a butcher. Who killed more of their own people?
staline of course !!!!
It's true that Iran is not "officially" involved in any direct attacks to Israel or the West. But it's know funding of Hezbollah and Hamas show a potential path of leaking a device that could inflict real damage to Israel. I think Israel has been incredibly coward for not having acted sooner, as it was done against Iraq in 1981 and Syria in 2007. Now it may be too late to ultimately stop the process as Iran has built extreme redundancy in the nuclear program.
Wow, extremely obtuse article. Iran is in Israel's backyard, and the threats upon them hearken back to those of the Holocaust. Comparing it to the Soviet Union, and somehow trying to dismiss Israeli fears...the tone and feel of this article is very disappointing. Poorly written and thought out. Very disappointed in this article.
Communist Russia was not "officially" involved in any direct attacks on the U.S. or its allies. But it funded many through its own allies. So your argument doesn't hold water.
What Fareed's analogy to the USSR lacks is a factoring in of the non-state actors... Hezbollah and Hamas...which Iran uses as proxies, arms, and finances through its Revolutionary Guards, and with unclear level of central control.
What symmetric response could Israel make to a suitcase bomb, or a tactical weapon fired from Lebanon?
Would the world ever be sufficiently convinced days/weeks later -when nuclear forensics might point to Iran – that such an attack had Iran's fingerprints on it, and warranted what at that point would be seen as an "eye for an eye" revenge attack without 100% certainty.
This situation did not exist with the USSR in the late 1940s.
PS- Fareed- The next time you interview Ahmadinejad...or Erdogan...please ask them some hard questions, and don't cower and shrivel instead of pushing for real answers.
The USSR financed non-state actors, too. And had nuclear weapons (suitcase nukes, too) at the time. Get over it.
I guess ignorance is bliss.
Suitcase nukes did not exist in the 1940s.
Nuclear weapons miniaturization did not begin until the Polaris period in the late 1950s, and did note come into its own until the 1960s.
Can you cite an example or two terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah that were sponsored by the USSR, given intermediate range missiles, etc?
The USSR financed non-state actors DURING A TIME WHEN THEY HAD SUITCASE NUKES. Yes, it's true.
And as for sponsoring terrorism, what do you call what's happening in Syria? I believe they have missiles too (from the Soviets).
Syria is, in fact, a state.
Also, Fareed's argument/analogy was to the situation in the late 1940s.
Perhaps you missed that part.
By the 1960s, or 1980s, it would have been a bit late for preemptive strikes to prevent a Soviet nuclear weapons program..
1. The Soviets, despite seeming crazy were still very much aware that they would suffer the same fate if they fired nukes at the U.S.
2. Stalin didn't sacrifice 26 million Russians in a fight against the Nazis. He murdered almost all of those people AFTER WWII.
3. The Iranians aren't just seemingly crazy, they are in fact delusional. No holocaust ever happened?
Israel faces a totally different situation than the U.S. faced with the Soviets.
Get your facts straight Zakaria. The fact is the Iranians have said they want to exterminate Jews (namely Israel) and they are pursuing the very weapon that can help them do it. And they have proven themselves to be Muslim extremists which means they don't care if they die in doing so. The Russians did care about dying. There's a main difference.
Sorry, but the Iranians care about selling oil, so they can buy Western luxury products, the same as their Arab neighbors.
That is a hell of a lot higher priority for them than sending their people off to die killing Isrealis.
Zakaria has the right to say what he thinks, if you do not like it, u change planet
Hey Stan,
You can see fit to go to hell too. The problem is that Zakaria is stating facts to support his opinion that Israel shouldn't attack Iran ... unfortunately his "facts" are not true and he's using them to get people to try to believe his opinion.
That would be like me saying "I don't think Mitt Romney should be president so I think people should know that Mitt killed 700 people last year". Just taking random numbers and passing them off as facts doesn't prove that Zakaria is right, it only proves that he'll say anything to bolster his opinion and knows that most people won't know that his "facts" are in fact inaccurate.
if we had the capability to have halted or delayed the Soviet nuclear program would we have done it? We didn't then, but between the US and Israel we do have the capability to disrupt the Iranian program.
Iran is not the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was guided by philosophical principle and so rational argument and a policy of containment eventually works. Iran, however, is guided by religious fundamentalism, which does not compromise. They are also geopolitically and culturally different, making the kind of comparison Zakaria makes null. We see how uncompromising religious fanatics are in our own country, now image them running a country and you would have a situation similar to that of the government of Iran. You can compromise philosophic principles but not religion.
On another note. The statement Zakaria makes about there never being a suicide bomber from Iran is absolutely and basely false. One recent example, an Iranian in Thailand blew off one of his legs in a suicide bombing attempt. Iran also trains, aids and abets Hezbollah and the Palestinian resistance, both known to commonly use suicide bombings as a weapon of war. Whether or not the suicide bomber is ethnically Iranian or not is irrelevant if Iran uses the above mentioned proxies like it has in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Lebanon as well as other countries.
Hey ReaganFry, surprise, the Soviet Union sponsored terrorists and suicide bombers too.
What school did you learn this? Any known facts? Please share.
Edward I suggest you Wikipedia "Vietnam"
I asked you about the 'school' and the 'facts'. Oh, I just did Google 'Soviet terror in Vietnam' – no references worthy of mentioning, sorry.
You should be very careful bringing the words 'terrorism' and 'Vietnam' together. It's a very gentle subject.
Are you saying Ho Chi Minh was not financed by the Soviets? Are you saying he did not try to destabilize South Vietnam through terrorism (including the use of suicide tactics)?
Edward, how can you take anyone seriously when they suggest Wiki?
This is like me saying "Hey, Fareed Zakaria don't pen anymore articles !"
You are going to do whats in your best interest as is Israel, end of story !
Oh yeah. I'm sitting here while my neighbor is building a dooms day machine to murder us and I'm just supposed to ignore his verbal threats while his work goes on to destroy me. Kiss my ass.
The naive thoughts of Zarkaria are enough to mortify his readers. Quite literally. He says, "...even if one day Tehran manages to build a few crude bombs, a policy of robust containment and deterrence is better to contemplate..." Good Lord, man... are you aware of how much information exists that would allow any nation with any brainpower at their disposal to create briefcase/backpack sized nukes? Are you even aware of how easily such devices could be smuggled into the heart of American cities? ALL THEY REALLY NEED IS A PROGRAM TO CREATE THE RAW MATERIALS! And that is exactly what they are involved in doing, right now. Your comments, Mr. Zarkaria, are potentially as deadly as mass poisonings. Hopefully, no one will swallow what you're dishing out.
Yes, and anyone who does so (or the state that sponsors them) will cease to exist. So it's not going to happen.
That, littlebird, is an idiotic reply. Not meant as an insult, just a fact. There would be zero way to trace any such device after it exploded. Fingers around the world could and would be pointing in every direction, and every lunatic shadowy terror cell in every part of creation would be claiming responsibility.
Wrong, Primus, it's called a "nuclear fingerprint", and I suggest you Google it.
Littlebird, littlebird... please. Since you're throwing around google-based science as though it is gospel, you need to be aware that there is more to the subject than you can snag off a blog post or even a more scholarly seeming article. Nuclear fingerprinting requires a whole lot of assumptions... First, are you aware of the variability possible in the creation of fissionable materials? Are you aware of exactly how many sources currently exist of such variables? Are you aware that there are sufficient samples of already existing missing materials to create formidable decoy scenarios that would be profoundly puzzling to even the most competent analyst? Are you aware that Iran has sufficient financial resources to either obtain – or have already obtained – such samples? Are you aware that the only surefire way of preventing untracable materials are to prevent their manufacture in the first place? You just keep on googlin, my friend... right up to your bedtime, please.
Primus, I think you're getting your "scenarios" from a John Grisham novel. You know as well as I know that if there were ever a NUC-FLASH event on Western soil it would be analyzed to .0001% of a doubt about who caused it. And retaliation would be swift, and certain.
Littlebird, you can't sugar-coat this science and pretend everything is ok. Without getting into even a tad of the deeper science involved, which could and likely would make everything much less discernable: 1) It takes only a tad of "unburnt" decoy material to create a very confusing scenario 2) It would take a lot of time to sort any such scenario out, in which the presumed "leader" of an assault could have met his demise, leaving an innocent population to bear the brunt of retaliation 3) Second, third, and more such devices could have already been installed in "sleeper" locations in numerous US cities, giving rise to blackmail possibilities way beyond anything of historical precedent AND THIS LIST GOES ON AND ON! The ONLY way to prevent this rapidly evolving threat from reaching the stage of present day reality is to cut the very root of the horrifically noxious plant that is already growing. That is not an easy solution... But it is the ONLY genuine solution.
Well it didn't take them long after 911 to point the finger at Afganistan, and just look at the kind of retaliation that caused. Most likely, any act of terrorism will be blamed on Iran anyways.
DEATH TO AMERICAN, THE GREAT SATAN!!!!
Zakaria has shown his muslim bias over the years over and over again. When one behaves as he has...he loses the right to have an opinion in the matter at hand. Israel will not wait for Zakaria or any other muslim to give it the green light to obliterate Iran. Israel will not wait for its number one enemy in the world...obama in the White House...to give the green light either. As a matter of fact, I would advise Israel to do exactly the opposide of what that bstrd obama suggests they do...he's shown himself to be a pro muslim anti Israel and antisemite from day one. As an American Jew, I will amongst the first people at the voting booths on election day voting against democrats and the anti-semite obama. I will contribute heavily to all candidate who disavow obama and block everything he tries to do in congress. Never in my lifetime, have I ever seen someone who hates Israel and Jews as much as obama does. Any American Jew who supports him is a traitor to his heritage and to Israel.
Bingo! Where does CNN dig up these liberal fools. Obama is a muslim sympathizer at best, and at worst a muslim in disguise (his own words) in one of the books "they" wrote. Israel can, should and will defend itself. Remember how well appeasement worked with Hitler. Madmen must be stopped and walls must be defended. It usually comes down to soldiers and sailors, not some liberal muslim journalist.
We won't stop until we have as many nuclear bombs as the great satan. And we are working on intercontinental ballistic missiles to that we can wipe the great satan off the map after we get Israel off the map. hahahahahahahaah!!! God is great. yeeeehhhaaaaaawwwwwwwwww!!!
Infidel Imposter dont you mean Allah is great
the omnipresent anti-semitism and anti-Americanism of Zakaria on full display. His faulty comparison of the US-Soviet and Israel-Iran situations predictably fails to acknowledge the nature of radical Islamic regimes. Radical Muslims don't sweat mutually assured destruction. And if the reckless and threatening rhetoric coming out of Iran for the past 30 years has taught us anything, it is that they are truly radical. Do it now, Israel.
If they really thought that way, they would not have spent vast sums of time and money building Dubai and Abu Dhabi and their other new cities. Think again.
We're going to bomb Israel with 73 nukes as soon as we get them. One for each of the sweet lovely virgins we will have when we go whisling and fishing in heaven. I can't wait to be lovin on me some sweet lovely young virgins when I die as a martyr. God is great. God is fantastic for passing out virgins so freely. yyyeeeeehhhhaaaaawwwww!!! lovin virgins...
It would be completely foolish of Israel to attack Iran first. Right now most of the arab world is against Iran. If Iran is attacked first then the public sentiment will go against Israel not matter what PR they spew out. Iran then would become even more unpredictable and would use that excuse to forge on to make nuclear weapons. And once Iran gets nukes, every other filthy rich arab country is going to race to get nukes and then Israel itself will be surrounded by arab countries with nukes.
It's heartening to hear something besides "We're all gonna die" when the discussion turns to nukes. I lived through the scare fest of the fifies and I take it one step further than Fareed does. As he correctly points out, mutually assured destruction actually worked to prevent real conflict between the Soviet Union and the West, saving untold millions from the REAL horrors of war and In the meantime, the press had a grand time scaring the pants off anyone willing to listen. But what the heck, they gotta make a living too. The additional factor that goes untold is that in order to rise to a position of power sufficient to command nukes one must rise through a process, whether democratic or autocratic, which thoroughly weeds out all but those with the very stongest will to survive. In addition to this survival instinct the winners must have keen insights into assesing the strength of any and all rivals and how to keep them in check. All rulers understand this & accept that they must be ever vigilant, for "Uneasy rests the head that wears the crown." Of course the rulers are glad for the press's cooperation in keeping the pot boiling. Is it all Kabuki theater or should we worry? Bobby McPherin just might have it right: "Don't worry, be happy."
Buzzk- is there a more stupid person in the whole world than you? Enough said.
Zakaria, you view current events with such a narrow lens. You are comparing the Soviet Union of the 1940s to Iran of 2012??? Iran's government is an extreme religious organization and the former soviet union was everything but. Soviets wanted to compete with the United States on the world stage strategically, something Iran will never be able to do. Iran gains nothing by building a bomb, except for wiping off their religious opponents off the map. Oh...instead of having two countries competing in the numbers of nuclear bombs it builds...we will have multiple countries of the middle east competing...countries far less stable then the Soviet Union ever was. If Iran truly intends to use nuclear power for useful purposes, I'm all for it. But they will have to prove that that is what they are doing. As for you Mr. Zakaria, your view of the world makes me nauseous.
Adam
We're also going to secretly give a nuke to a terrorist group that can set it off in manhattan asap. We want to help the american people get back at the criminal wall street bankers that destroyed the world economy. Then I'll run for pres of the US and win. Then like clinton and kennedy I'll have plenty of white house intern virgins for myself. I won't even have to die a martyr before I get plenty of sweet young thangs!!!
I forgot to add that God is fantastic for giving us martyrs so many sweet young thangs!!! yyeeeeehhhaaaawww, tappin vegans.
I'll vote for you if you can get back at those sorry sobs that stole my money.
Thats funny.
When WE are FORCED to NUKE the City of QOM and the Nearby Underground a-Bomb Factory; to Keep Hezbollah and HAMAS from Being Equipped with NUCLEAR TRUCK BOMBS – There will be a RETALIATION – So We Can't STOP There. We Will Need to CRIPPLE IRAN . We will need to BOMB All Dams and Power Plants and Refineries and Ports and Bridges. IRAN will Have to Be Sent Back to the Middle Ages where its Clerics want It.
Fareed – you sound so naive! If Iran gets a nuclear weapon – there will be a nuclear arms race in the Middle East – Every country, including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Bahrain, Lebanon, Yemen, Palestine, and Qatar, etc... – would also want their own nuclear weapons!
When we have seen that Middle East countries are tending to become more and more unstable, with demonstations, and riots almost daily – when we have witnessed these demonstrations, and violence overthrow governments in spans of just a few months (ie. Yemen, Egypt, Libya) – and be replaced by even more unstable ones – and often more hardline islamists ones. When we know that AlQueda is moving, and populating many Middle East countries, and even joining forces with other terrorist groups (as they have recently done with AlShabab) - Do we really want these types of irrational, murderous types of people to have access to nuclear weapons, in a newly unstable country! Well this could easily become a possiblity with 10 to 15 more countries in the Middle East, including some even in Africa – deciding that since Iran has nuclear weapons, now we want one. This would be a disaster for the world! Look at the trouble that North Korea is causing, look at the trouble, and concern that Pakistan is causing because they are a country harbouring many terrorist groups within its borders. Fareed, you may be blind to the danger that Iran getting a nuclear weapon, and an arms race that would erupt afterward in the Middle East – but thank Godd President Obama sees the danger an Iran nuclear weapon would pose! President Obama knows that we CANNOT sit back and simply cross our fingers and allow the spread of nuclear weapons across the Midlle East.
Don’t worry Israel won’t strike Iran. AIPAC will just get the US to do it.
Zakaria the liberal terrorist doesn't know his history from his a–! ragheads in the middle east have been the scorn for wars for centuries and have made up reason to attack the Jews that long and longer...they have been over run and enslaved and have been the victims of the h i t l er boy in WWII and they are tired of being pushed around...the Russians knew that if they attacked this nation with nukes they would get the same in return...nobody won. Iran has denied the holocaust ever existed...they have sworn to get rid of Israel off the map...they want to be a power in te region and they can't with Israel around and be the ego manics that they are to the rest of the moslem world...Iran doesn't like arabs...they look down at them as s c u m (and I agree with them on this point) but they still think of themselves as something special...and want to join in the modern world of weapons with 4th century technology and ideas...Zakaria is nothing more than a passive organic minded liberal living liar liberal from India and we don't need him or his lying ideas that he thinks matters and they don't...deport this terrorist and do it now...
Zak, does the term "martyr" ring a bell. The cleric despots in Iran would use proxies, Hezbollah, Hamas or Al Qaeda to do their dirty work and insulate them. The bomb would be portable not launched, with Iran proclaiming innocence. The fanatics would sacrifice any number of martyrs to eliminate Israel. An Israeli attack is no doubt imminent. Iran will not sway from it's desire to eliminate Israel along with it's allies, the terrorist groups mentioned.
"The efforts to delay and disrupt Iran's nuclear program are working. But even if one day Tehran manages to build a few crude bombs, a policy of robust containment and deterrence is better to contemplate than a preemptive war."
I knew Zarkarian was al apologist for the Fundamentalist Islaqmics but if he believes what he wrote above he's an idiot.
He gleefully dismisses any notion that the nut jobs in power in Iran would actually use one of their "crude bombs". Note to Zarkarian, if allowed to continue Iran will have more than a crude bomb or two.
Iran has openly stated hostility towards Israel's eixtence and the Iranians are less than friendly to the US. Zarkarian woulld have been the imbecile who would have stated before 9-11 that such an attack would mnever be carried out against the US.
One can just read the article and the posts that follow and quickly figure out the level of cluelessness that led us to elect what we have for a President now.
bombings in thailand last week were done by the israelis themselves, noone was hurt and they used it as an excuse to win some votes to attack iran!
I say let the iranainas and the syrians & lebanese & palestinians bomb israel into oblivion. They are the real source of trouble and shouldnt even be there in the first place. let them go suck america dry. They are not wanted in the middleeast nor do they belong there!
Having said that I hate the iranian regieme, but i hte what israel stands for much more!
We all see HISTORY the Way we want to – But MUSLIMS Invaded Jerusalem and Built a MOSQUE on 3,000 Year Old Temple Mount which they MADE UP a STORY about – Much Like How GEORGE WASHINGTON Ascended to Heaven from QOM in Iran (Which is Why AMERICA owns that city)
This is not only about Israel but the risk to our freedom and whether you appreciate the threat Iran is to Europe and America.
Iran is not a democracy but an authoritarian theocracy controlled by Islamic religious fanatics.
Russian never had the religious fervor of Iran to justify their domination. Iran’s Supreme Leader and Iran’s President Ahmadinejad are Islamic fundamentalists who believe nuclear war will be instrumental in bringing about the return of the savior of Islam, al Mahdi and the establishment of Islam throughout the world. The establishment of Islam throughout the world is also what Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, The Muslim Brotherhood and other Muslim fundamentalists want.
Their objective only starts with wiping Israel off the map and killing all Jews. Western civilization is their target because we are the infidels that have to be defeated to usher in their Islamic takeover of Western civilization.
Remember England’s famously naive Prime Minister Chamberlain negotiating with Hitler before WWII. He thought he had adverted war with Germany by getting a Peace For Our Time agreement with Hitler. Not stopping Hitler sooner cost tens of millions of lives. Can you imagine a Hitler with nuclear weapons? Now picture Iran with nuclear weapons. WWIII.
European and the USA governments understand this. The problem is so many American’s including Fareed Zakaria and Ron Paul are willing to sacrifice our freedom for the short term naive benefit of ignoring reality and what has to be done to deal with the Iranian threat.
Fareed has no problem playing Russian Roulette with Israel and our freedom. If he is wrong…. Oh, sorry.
Fareed, I have to disagree with you when you compare the ideologies of Communism with those based on the Qu'ran.. I also have to disagree qhen you equate fundamentally realistic people like Stalin, however paranoid he may have been, to fundamentalit personalities whose psyche is a lot closer to schizophrenia in terms of impact upon behavior : Hallucinations are the trademark of schizophrenia and the religious leaders of Iran claim that all they do comes from Allah's messages to them, in one form or the other.
Ultimately, Stalin was fairly cognisant of the MAD doctrine...I am not sure that the Ayatollahs and other leaders have this perception, and if they do, I am afraid that they might welcome it...
NUKE THEM ISREAL
I'll delivr the nuke to the manhatan so I can be a tappin me some sweet young vegans! But can I have 74 instead of 73 since I'm going to have to go to wall street?
The writer of this article clearly does not take into consideration the effect Religion has on someone's decisions. The Soviets didn't destroy the world because they wanted it and their ideology ascendent. Hardline Iranians could be said to want to destroy the world to bring about the 13th imam.
1956, if France and Britain do not leave the sinai, we will burn london and paris. mao, we will sacrifer 300 million Chinese, but we will defeat the united states. you do not know these statements?
Israel will strike Iran if only to provoke the West and make them bow to Israel. Israel is bold and brash because they know the entire west will dance to their tunes. The world will pay dearly for Israel's actions says http://www.sci-burr.com. The world seems incapable of ever telling Israel to stop its aggressive right wing agenda.
I don't remember the Soviet Union calling for the elimination of the USA and questions its right to exist....
There are very few similarities between the two periods and two conflicts, if any at all !!
Iran must, and will be stopped, one way or the other; the alternative risk for Israel is just not acceptable.
We shouldn't forget about Israel, but Israeli's shouldn't rely on the US. If Israeli's are going to strike, they should strike soon now that Syria is unstable. Al-assad has his hands full and helping Iran right now is not in his best interest.
And times are very different from that in WWII. I wasn't alive at the time, but I never read anything about the Soviets saying they wanted to wipe the US out of the map.
Despite my dissent on this article. I think this country is very lucky to have a Journalist like Fareed Zakaria. His reporting to truly insightful, thought-provoking, and with respect to his "take" on matters, -unopinionated. Very rare for journalists these days where everything seems to be subliminally left-wing this or right-wing that. I can certainly see him being appointed ambassador to many countries.
Lets see Fareed interview Netanyahu!
Let's not forget that Iran has supported and armed extra-national groups dedicated to hostility toward a number of their neighbors, Israel included, in efforts to undermine or destabilize. Plus there's too much evidence of internal struggle within Iran, reflecting the kind of political instability that we would want to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into.
Wrong. I trust the instinct of Israel that it is wrong for Iran to have atom.
Whatever, the Iranian regime must pass from this world right now!!
WHY ARE PEOPLE GIVING ISRAEL TOO MUCH CREDIT??
If the israelis carry on the way they do, soon we will have another Hitler figuer appear from somewhere. They are the most hated nation in the middle east...with all the uprising in those areas at the moemnt they are 1 mistake away from being attacked from all corners....attack iran and israel will create much more unstability and worrys!
ISRAEL will be destroyed...
I have lived in the US all my life. The vast majority of people in the US view Israel as level-headed and non-aggressive. The vast majority here view Iran's leadership as irrational and aggressive, and very very dangerous. Iran's leaders call the US "the great satan" and for the most part they lose most of us Americans right there. Also, Iran's leadership says that Israel should be "wiped from the face of the earth". Those are fightin' words around here. Israel's leadership never says crazy stuff like that. Iran's leadership is certifiably insane as H. And that's a fact.
John, North Korea has for years threatened to turn the Korean penninsula into a "Sea of Fire"–their words, not mine. They have nuclear weapons. Has it happened? No.
Get ahold of yourself.
Hi LittleBird: NK hasn't said that God told them that the US is the great satan and Israel needs to be wiped off the map. But, it may turn out that the rest of the world letting NK get nukes may end the world some day.
John, I believe North Korea has called us far, far worse things than "the Great Satan". But perhaps you should use CNN's search tool to get the exact phrases.
Israel and the US will never in a million years let Iran get nuclear bombs. The leadership of Israel will do anything to keep this from happening. They may even nuke Iran. Israel will hit Iran within a year. The US will help them too. God just told me that and he told me he ain't handing out any virgins either.
yes, israel has the power to prevent the world from turning, you did not know that? a small country can block the desires of a huge country and populated by 80 million people?
keep dreaming man ! get real
if israel attack iran with nuclear weapon it becomes a rogue state genocidal Iran can replicate with chemical weapons, bacteriological and radiological, and put an end to the Zionist dream? and make israel uninhabitable for hundreds of thousands of israel killed.
several former head of mossade and senior officers has said several times iran will one day have a nuclear weapon just a matter of opportunity
God just told me to tell you all that you martyrs need to keep it in your pants because he isn't giving out virgins and never did.
The Muslims can't get along with anyone. They kill each other, they kill those that are not Muslims. IMHO they are a race/religion that should be wiped off the face of the earth.
Yeah sure...Almost like the cold war, except then the theory was that their ECONOMIC system would conquer ours. Now the Arabs want to wipe out/destroy a CULTURE!!! Big difference.
Right no Iranian suicide bombers because they're all cowards who train other people in their own backyards to go blow themselves up.
But the leaders of Pakistan, North Korea and the USSR are/were sane enough to care if their country lived or died. I am not so sure about Iran.
Consider the suicide bomber analogy. The bomber believes the he will:
A. Strike a blow for whatever his cause is, and help his people win their goal.
B. Go to Paradise.
If the leadership of Iran is willing to "take one for the team" and see their country destroyed in order to take Israel with them, MAD will not work unless there is enough deterrent to completely obliterate ALL of the Arab nations.
Leaving the moral problems of killing hundreds of millions of people for revenge, it isn't very practical for a nation the size of Israel to build that kind of force.
The comparison between Iran & soviet union is R I D I C U L O U S !!!!!!!!!!!!
Iran's government is an extreme religious- fundamentalist organization! the situation we facing now is different, and Im afraid that before you (all those who dont) will understand that, it will be too late.
actually its not so hard to understand, FOLLOW:
IRAN: "WE WILL WIPE OFF ISRAEL FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH" + NUKEs = HOLOCAUST.
And I, as an IAF soldier promise you all: THERE WILL NOT BE ANOTHER HOLOCAUST!!!
We, ISRAEL, will do anything we can't to protect the people of israel (jews, christians & israeli-arabs). The last thing we considering is to take a this CNN reporter advice. History is our compass, we well remember the 30's. NEVER AGAIN.
God bless you all, from Israel
AMEN
Comparing Israel vs. Iran to the old U.S. vs. U.S.S.R. of post W.W. 2 is a real stretch of similes and metaphors. The Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact was a real, proven, brutal power (with a high percentage of Jews in high places, one might add). Iran has been nothing but a peaceful nation avers to kowtowing to outside corruption.
The comparison of Israel to the old Soviet Union is much more cogent, particularly noting that many of those who were formally involved in Soviet subterfuge, corruption and assassinations now reside in Israel and not a few of these have risen to positions of high power, i.e. Avigdor Lieberman.
Israel has been fomenting trouble among all its neighbors from before it was officially founded. It has engaged in systematic lying, corruption and the whole regime of criminal behavior internationally and applies, as its only 'diplomatic tool' irresponsible use of force or the threat of it to get its way. Stalin would be proud to be an Israeli.
You may have allowed yourself, for the sake of 30 pieces of silver from CNN, to be convinced by sophistry and twisted metaphors that Israel is simply doing 'what the US did in the 1950s'. But those of us who lived through that Cold War period are not fooled by sophistry and rhetoric.
Even though Fareed is an Indian Muslim he sure has some false convictions and facts stated.. especially centering around his thesis that Iran is harmless compared to Soviet. Soviets were fighting NAZIS .. awe poor Nazis, and yes, indeed, poor Russians. Russia was never a terrorist Nation yet Iran has supposedly been arming and financing terrorist arms especially in middle east and asia for years. Fareed.. no more falseness just because you're a blind Muslim sympathizer who uses rhetoric rather than fact to argue.
Mr. Zakaria, you are a traitorous fool, Iran is our enemy, get that straight, they are our enemies, they are a designated terrorist state and sponsor of many terrorist organizations. Their proxy Hezbollah murdered 241 Marines in their barracks in 1983 in Beirut, highly likely with direct aid from them. They armed and trained (at the very least) insurgents that killed our soldiers in the Iraq war (still ongoing). They also aid and arm Taliban and their allies, these facts are all well known and verified.
Fareed, do not treat us like fools, you cannot even compare this crisis to WWI. More like WWII, when the craven appeasements made to an aggressive Nazi Germany like the one UK PM Neville Chamberlain made throwing Czechoslovakia under the bus. Appeasement never works, the aggressor just sees it as weakness and becomes even more brazen. We're dealing with mullahs who's thinking is in the 7th Century, not the 21st. The problem is THE CRAZIES ARE BY DEFINITION NOT LOGICAL AT ALL. Fat chance that another Iranian revolution will happen soon, let alone in time, if another regime would even consider stopping the nuke program. THESE CRAZIES IN IRAN, HEZBOLLAH, HAMAS, ARE NOT RATIONAL. . It's too late in any case for these halfhearted sanctions on Iran to stop their bomb program at this point. israel and possibly the US need to strike NOW and eliminate a greatly strengthened Iran that is already wielding its nefarious hegemony over our allies in the region.
rzzzl, the USSR's proxy NORTH VIETNAM murdered 50,000 Americans during the Vietnam War. Should we have attacked the USSR?
Did we? Why or why not?
We couldn't BECAUSE THE USSR HAD NUCLEAR WEAPONS. If they didn't, it would have been possible and logical to attack the USSR in such a scenario, or at least seriously impede them from supplying N. Vietnam. However, that was a totally different situation. The N. Vietnamese at least were logical and somewhat pragmatic, but they did what they could get away with. You cannot compare suicide bombers and Jihadi crazies to that though, because their thinking, ideology, and most important of all ACTIONS – terrorism. The Islamist crazies don't have limited aims like N. Vietnam did ("liberating" and uniting their divided nation) They want to murder Israelis, Americans, Westerners in general. They want to turn the world back to the 7th Century. Iran just tried to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador (not that I like that barbaric frenemy). They just attacked Israel's embassies in Bangkok and New Delhi. Do you realize what they could do with nuclear weapons? If they get the bomb they could get away with much more dangerous actions and threats. Are you nuts?
rzzzll, so you're saying there was no "terrorism" going on in Vietnam? you're saying that nuclear weapons are an effective deterrent? Hmm.
I suggest you look a little deeper into the Saudi Arabian ambassador assassination attempt and the incidents in Thailand and India. They look "shady", at best.
I really don't think the Muslim nations want a world without Dubai and Abu Dhabi... so, 7th Century? No, I don't think so....
No, we were content with mediating a war through the Vietnamese and perhaps elsewhere. More importantly Russia and U.S. arrived at nuclear capabilities by defeating the Nazis then sharing / stealing nuclear weapon constructs secrets.. becoming the alpha nations of nuclear weaponry.. and thereby the keepers of such destruction. Its called MAD (mutually assured destruction) and is the reason why we fought a conventional proxy way against Russia without minding.
I believe Isreal did not exist in 1920 (a hundred years ago or less). Was the world getting along OK then?
I'm afraid the nut that understood these nuts (muslims) best is no longer on TV at his own discretion: Glen Beck. His theorizing went something along the lines of Islamic Empires of past and global caliphate aspirations. Like Nazis. Unlike British Empire or American Empire which is more realistic and pluralistic than extreme Aryan ideologies or Islamic Caliphate globalists.
You are completely ignorant. Jews have lived in Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel for over 3500 years. Whether a imperialist oppressor like the Romans, Arabs, Turks, or the British controlled the area or not, Israel, the Jewish homeland and nation has existed, if not in practice, at least in theory continusly, it's written in the Tanakh. It's our land, it always was, is and shall be, no matter what evil tried to crush us. THERE CERTAINLY WAS NO "PALESTINE" IN 1920 TO BEGIN WITH? That's a fake nation by a fake people who are only a ploy to murder Jews and eliminate Israel. There was no "Philistia" to begin with in 1920 either, that nation was conquered in 703 BCE by the Assyrians and disappeared. This invented people and their insane ideology only started to emerge after the so called "Greater Syria" project by Arab nationalists failed when the British and French took over most of the Middle East. And even then the so called Filastine "nation" was only a ploy in the greater movement of Arab nationalism.
Exactly.. Palestinians are an invasive species and Jews the native. Philistine biblical scholars often trace the word to the Semitic root p-l-š (Hebrew: פלש) which means to divide, go through, to roll in, cover or invade,
However I don't think they were necessarily an Arab invention or conspiracy entirely any more than Egptians are Muslims conspiring to overthrow Western and Israelie influence/friendlieness via Muslim Brotherhood. A group that definitely existed hundreds of years ago might be a more transient tribe trying to lay claim to valuable real estate they did partially and briefly throughout history occupy if not periodically. It isn't clear though if you read Wikipedia's take on Philistine meaning - however I think its globally established and believed Jews are a native group of Israel region and have largely been defending themselves only since their inception 90 years ago.
Wait, let me understand this, you're comparing the United States and the Soviet Union a half a world away to Israel and Iran who are less than 1000 miles apart. Throw in the religious distane that Iran has for Israel that has been in place since the state of Israel was formed. I think many twist the truth into what they want you to hear. If I were Israeli, I would certainly not wait for anyone else to stem the direction that Iran is headed
Fareed Zakaria is not only irrelvant but he is worthless and weak. Now drop and give me 20!!
Russia, North Korea and Pakistan don't have impact on oil as much as Iran. The problem that lots of people tend to ignore about Iran getting nuclear bomb is how they will be able to bully their oil producing neighbors to jack up the price of oil as much as they want. If they want to block off oils, how many nations, including the U.S. are willing to test Iran's resolve in using the bomb or not. Sure, there is a mutual assurance of destruction, but how many nations are willing to take the risk. They will end up paying the price of oil however high they are and that will impact all the economies. Until the U.S. and the rest of the western countries can find something else other than oil, they better worry about Iran getting the bomb.
I heard a country called SAUDI ARABIA has a HUGE IMPACT on oil. And they're led by religious lunatics! I even heard they financed 9/11! Maybe we should attack them!!
Saudi don't have a government sponsored terrorism like Iran and they are not trying to obtain the bomb. Don't be so ignorant.
Wrong, Saudi Arabia wants nukes very badly. Google it.
you have my full support.
If israel bombs Iran, they make 68 million iranian against 6 million Israleis, not saying other countries. Long term one person does it to Israel and that is enough. Israel keep threating other nations, who their own nation is a question in begining. Why Israel illegaly developed 250 atomic bombs. Is he planning to explode all world?
78 millions iranians, not 68 !!
Wow! Our hearts are so full of hate for each other!!
Another Muslim apologist. Instead of asking Israel to reject an attack, how about asking Iran to comply with UN Policies.
Like!
The Soviet Union was led by people with at least some form of logic, Iran is run by Islamist crazies who want to re-establish a Caliphate, dominate the Middle East, threaten and possibly crush our allies, and pose an existential threat to the US.
What we said about the USSR was correct, Iran is even worse, they are a rogue state with nothing to lose. BELIEVE WHAT IRAN SAYS, THEY MEAN IT! They have given cruise missiles to Hezbollah for G_d's sake, what makes you think they won't arm them with nukes? Zakaria is a traitor, arrest him for appeasing the enemy.
pretty dumb hysteria. The ones wanting to establish a caliphate are SUNNI ARAB radicals who get their theology from Saudi Arabia. We do not need to become embroiled in the Saudi Arab-Sunni vs. Persian Shia battles based on old rivalries. Get your facts straight and not from your pastor in rapture land.
Saudi Arabia is the nation that fosters Sunni terrorism and gives aid to fostering Wahabi Sunni radicalism Al Qaeda and their affiliates hate the Shias. Saudia Arabia will love it if we destroy Iran. Iran does foster some terrorism by aiding Hamas and Hezbollah as a bulwark against it's enemies. Iranian leaders maybe crazy but they certainly do not have a death wish. Israel is not a poor nation. it is a very well armed, with the best trained and motivated military in the world. It developed its nuclear weapons with the apatheid regime of South Africa long time ago. Even US estimates it to having at least 200 nuclear weapons. And they also have submarine based nukes now. So if Iran has a death wish on it, it will be vaporized off the face of earth in a jiffy. What Iran wants is a deterrence to its arch rival the Saudis. Saudis and Israelis are our puppet masters in the region. Our rightwing christian whackos want a nuclear war too. Why? because they believe in some crock of poop called Rapture and they want to achieve this rapture via the Israel. They want to use Israel to hasten their end. i worry more about them winning the US elections than of iran.
I don't believe that rick Santorum believes in The Rapture. Not at all.
I think many people are missing the reason the U.S. has been drinking the Israeli Kool-Aid for so long, that legendary book of fairy tales, the BIBLE! Christians believe that if we protect "God's chosen people," God will be protect us and we will be a prosperous nation. The whole reason we recreated the nation of Isreal is because in the Bible it says that the generation which sees Israel reborn as a nation, will witness the second coming of Christ. It sounds crazy, but you have to remember this was during an era when religion and politics were very intertwined in the U.S. Pretty sad that there are so many ignorant Christian sheep out there, living by the instructions of a book written by Jews, thousands of years ago, with the sole purpose of advancing the Jewish agenda. If you read the Old Testament, the whole theme is basically, "We are the good guys, Arabs are bad guys, we can kill whoever we want and God is ok with it."
Tell me what sells more copies today, the Bible or the Wall Street Journal.
Your point is what?
Point is, money rules people, not "God". Watch a movie called They Live.
So you believe there is no God and you are trying to force your atheism on us? The nation of Israel was formed because the Jewish people desired to return to the homeland. They were promised a homeland by the British in the Balfour Declaration of 1917 for fighting in WWI. That they survived a war with several Arab nations after their founding in 1948 without a standing army is nothing short of divine intervention. They didn't get weapons from the US then.
no, Joel, there is no God except for money, and that's why none of this Middle East crap would even matter if it wasn't for all the OIL there, duh.
Al Qaeda are Sunnis. They hate Shias.
Fareed Zakaria is obviously not living in the real world. How can he even compare US Soviet relations with the Middle East? Bottom line is FZ is pro Iran. How in the world are sanctions working? Iran is progressing rapidly even as we speak. Iran is using the same techniques that India, Pakistan and N.Korea used to get Nukes. Deny and stall for time and deny some more. Ahmadinejad has publicly stated he intends to Nuke Tel Aviv. Rhetoric? Israel is taking the threat seriously. What about the concept of MAD? It doesn't wark either. Ahmadinejad said that he would sacrifice Iranian cities to destroy Israel because the price would be worth it. This is public record taken from his speeches. So FZ what happens when Iran Nukes Israel? You apologize to Israel for being naive? If you cannot personally guarantee Israel's safety, stay out of their way and keep your mouth shut.
What happens when North Korea nukes South Korea? Or Pakistan nukes India? Not going to happen.
Then Israel and US will retaliate. All intel reports in the US assumes Israel has at least 200; and now they also have submarine based nukes. Israel developed its nukes with the apartheid racist South Africa long ago.
If Iran obtains nuclear weapons, the Saudis, Egyptians, and Turks also are likely to build them. As these weapons proliferate, the likelihood of their use increases. Iran is building nuclear-capable missiles with ever-increasing range. Before long, that country will be able to deliver nuclear weapons to North America. The Iranian regime has been killing Americans directly and indirectly in Iraq and has funded and encouraged terrorist attacks against America around the world. Iran threatened to attack the U. S. Navy in the Gulf of Hormuz. A "sane" Iranian leadership would not threaten a country as powerful as the United States. QED: the Iranian leadership is not sane and cannot be trusted with nuclear weapons. Fareed, whom I greatly respect, is wrong on a number of points. For example, he says that the sanctions against Iran "are working." Not one iota of evidence exists to prove that statement. As pointed out by others above, the Soviet leaders were atheists who did not believe, as do the Iranians, that God was ordering them to commit genocide. Fareed's comments serve merely to encourage the Iranian leadership to believe that they can develop nuclear delivery systems with impunity. My advice: hit the Iranian nuclear sites now and hit them hard!
Basically Shias are more like the Catholics where there is direct “divine” power and the pope is infallible. Sunnis do not have that.
Shia Muslims believe that the Imam is sinless by nature, and that his authority is infallible as it comes directly from God. Therefore, Shia Muslims often venerate the Imams as saints and perform pilgrimages to their tombs and shrines in the hopes of divine intercession.
Sunni Muslims counter that there is no basis in Islam for a hereditary privileged class of spiritual leaders, and certainly no basis for the veneration or intercession of saints. Sunni Muslims contend that leadership of the community is not a birthright, but a trust that is earned and which may be given or taken away by the people themselves.
There is a lot of naiveté going around in this thread.
Folks: There are no good guys and bad guys, alies or foes, righteous of evil. There is only National interest and National security. Period.
Israel will do what it has to do based on its own evaluation of risk and interests and they won't give a rat's ass about what you or Obama think. The US will also continue doing what it is best for their interest. Right now the Israeli and American interests may not be 100% aligned. Who cares. This will not stop the israelis from pursuing their strategy and national interests for a second.
Finally Iran, which has huge internal and external threats to the current theocracy in power, will also continue doing what it sees fit to preserve itself and survive.
Everything else are 'opinions' and pundits making a living by talking about things they have no clue whatsoever.
FZ is an ignorant, opinionate person who has no access to critical information that both Israelis and Americans have.
If Isreal disobeys the U.S. we can nuke them til they glow. And that's what we're telling them right now. Netanyahu is like a spoiled little child crying to his mother now.
Nuke Iran until they glow
this guy should be taken off the air. him and obama hate this country
This is not a concern for us right with our Prius, Sonatas, and Volts?
I don't know where Fakir
is from, but this guy is always telling us that Muslims, Arabs, Persians, Palestinians, etc, etc, are really good people, they are just misunderstood. That the West is always thinking way too much of this and that, and that everything will be taken cared of by simply letting them do whatever it is that they want to do. I don't know, I don't remember Russia blowing things up here in the US, I don't remember Russia blowing up our embassies, or decapitating our journalists (although that may have happened), and as far as we know, nobody has 100% verified that there are no Iranian nut jobs out there willing to blow themselves up. If they are Muslim religious fanatics, everything is possible. And, I don't remember Russian sending/backing Chechen terrorists to launch rockets are U.S. cities continually, either. So, although I'm not a proponent of violence for the heck of it, I think we ALL know, except Fakir, that unfortunately, the similarities end with the nature of the enemy, Russia as messed up as they were, there were not religious nuts, Iran vs Israel is personal, religiously personally. Fakir wants to be above criticism and above violence, but he shouldn't be so one-sided, so bias... it's like democrats pretending that they actually want to help Latinos, didn't happen, hasn't happen and it will not happen, and I'm not talking about immigration neither... let illegals deal with the consequences of breaking the law... So, I guess if the Israelites decide to handle it on their own, I would only shed a tear for the Iranians who actually want peace, but for those Iranian religious nuts, I'd say they had they day...let them go and have fun with their 72 Persian virgins... but let it be known that they never specified virgin women, it could be virgin men too... 
People, we all are human beings. No jew is better that other one and vice-versa. Unfortunately our own beliefs (or point of view) are different, and all of them have something right in it. We won't coincide on this topic, not even by being aggressive, ironic or intimidating with each other. It's very sad we are still discussing on the same irreversible topic each time, instead of bringing decision making to the table. Whoever brings hate without a solution, he or she is simply a mischief-maker aiming to cause damage with nothing else in mind than making annoying noise. So please, try to be impartial for once in your life and make you best to put something which clearly has an aim to solve such a profound issue. We won´t ever find a solution if we cannot be able to concede something. Every deal has to have a win-win result. Many will think I am a simplistic nonsense person, but believe me, if we do not start from the basics, we won't get to a solution, EVER. Think of it.
Regards
We do have different beliefs. Fortunately, most religions are tolerant of each other. The exception, of course, is Islam who believes all infidels must die. and infidels are everyone else.
Zakaria please note that Iran said that they will destroy Israel. They never said, as Israel did, that they will never be the first to use the atom bomb. Why did you omit such importants points in your excellent report?
It's not going to make any difference if Israel goes to open war with Iran. The Israelis couldn't control all the Muslims there even if they had military control of the entire middle east. IE U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan. And the Jews are not going anywhere. The sooner the 2 sides figure that out, the sooner the middle east will be at peace. The superpowers just need to stay out of it, and let the chips fall where they may. Personally I'm sick of their wars.
Mr. Zakaria, I would suspect if Israel had taken advice from you and others like you they would have been blown to smithereens long ago. Therefore please don't waste your time advising them what to do, they understand the mentality of their enemies far better better than you or anyone else. Thus they will make the correct decision in the end that best soldifies their survival whatever that may be.
Fareed, I have, up to this point, considered you the ultimate cool-headed thinker. I have much admired your intellectual and balanced arguments BUT stating Iran has not bombed anyone? Please, this is completely false and unsupported. Not only have they planned and executed many, many bombings but have been ultimately responsible for hundreds of US soldiers deaths, scores of innocents and have openly stated the total destruction of the jewish state and it's population. Fareed, you have in one single misguided article runied an extraordinary career.
This is a very poor evaluation; Iran is not the USSR, the Iranian regime is a fundamentalist messianic one, this comparation is out of place and not objective at all, Israel is the size of New Jersey with a small population, Iran is fundamentalist regime with 8 times the population and many more times their size, they just don`t care of killing or to be kill.
I disagree with Zakaria, and based on his own recitation of history. Had the Soviets and Red Chinese been crippled very early on – if Patton and MacArthur had been allowed to crush a rising Soviet and Red Chinese army as they wanted – then we wouldn't have spent trillions of dollars and millions of lives on proxy wars, the Cold War in general, nor allowed a military build-up that has only strengthened the very military-industrial complex President Eisenhower warned us about upon leaving office. So, if the Iranian regime and army was crippled now, it would deter and defeat any notions they have of being a regional power for a long, long time.
And if the Federation Starfleet had just wiped out the Klingons in the very beginning, there wouldn't have been a TV show! C'mon Eric, my Dad got rich building Patriot missiles for Raytheon! This country (and Isreal) needs an enemy! Otherwise what is going to fill the pages of the New York Times? All advertising? I don't think people will buy it then!
You forget that if a nuclear bomb drops on Israel, the entire Jewish State is destroyed. If a bomb had dropped in the U.S., the entire U.S., minus one city, would still be in existence.
And you forget that if we time-traveled back to 1920 the entire Jewish State wouldn't exist either!
Please do not distort history. Just hop onto wikipedia and look up the Jewish presence in Israel. Nation after nation, kingdom after kingdom, Jews were there. Well, that was until their temples were destroyed and they were kicked out. There seems to be a pattern with that ...
I agree with FZ.
when the hysterical israelis start a war with iran lets just hope their shiny new nuclear war heads mounted in the drones obama gave them are pointed at tel aviv instead of nyc!
He is right on target to compare Russia to Iran...PROPAGANDA stays the same...it's the BS that changes!!!
It´s idiotic to think that as soon as iran developes an atom bomb , they won´t use it on Israel .
Why put off the inevitable , Israel is going to have to do it sooner or later . BOMB iran back into
the stoneage ! They think in terms of cavemen , they´ll be happier there .
Fareed, three comments on your article:
1) You are misleadingly naive. Just because Iranians are not reportedly blowing themselves up in terrorist attacks against others does not mean Iran is not sponsoring terrorism. Have you heard of Hezbollah perhaps? How about Hamas? Where do you think these terrorist organizations get their arms?
2) You are ignorant. Either you have been to Israel (in which case you were not paying attention) or you have not, but comparing the cold war between the then USSR and USA many decades ago is far removed from the situation on the ground in Israel, a sliver of land very close to Iran with nowhere to run. Try living there for a while and then second guess the Israelis when they worry about their lives and talk about preemptive strikes against Iran (a country on record saying it will wipe out Israel).
3) You are prejudiced. I guess your Muslim roots and true colors come to light in your frequent dismissive comments about Israel and your 'suggestion' to Israel to hold its horses and not attack Iran preemptively. I guess a few million Israelis dead due to an Iranian nuclear bomb will be a step in the right direction to further Islamic imperialism, right? Besides, a nuclear blast in Israel will kill all those pesky Palestinians as well, so what can be wrong with Iran raining some biblical fire from the sky?
Sincerely,
Oscar, in 1920 the "Isrealis" had "nowhere to run" either. And they didn't. Why? Because Isreal didn't exist then.
Jewish people faced far greater danger (and death) in Europe than they ever have in the Middle East.
Zakaria, shut you ignorant mouth...
I believe middle east hate the iranian regime- but dont forget they hate israel more!
can't believe this article was published
Stop all the arguments. One: America should not engage in any war. We have had enough to bring 14 trillion dollars of debt to our country. If we have any role in any war where Iran is evolved and even if Iran IS destroyed, we will have to face decades of terrorist attacks and regional hatred. Stop giving our taxes to Israel, have a diplomatic relationship, not a bribing one. Two: We don't look at Hitler and say Christianity is the religion of destruction and hatred. In the same way, we should not look into any bad example and relate its people's belief. In fact, the ones who are ignorant are those who look at one point of view and not the other. Three: If Iran is really wanting to engage in a war with Israel, then so be it. Its their business, let them figure it out.
I am glad for the Cold War analogy. So many of the younger generation have been brought up on the threat from "Islamic Fascism" You even have people here ignorant enough to call the Iranians "Arabs" never having learned that the Persians are actually "Aryans" (real ones, not Hitler's version). They are an ancient "Indo-European" language speaking culture which subscribes to one of the actually fairly soft versions of Islam (compared to Saudi Arabia).
No matter what happens in a war with Israel, Persia (which is huge) will still be there, aided by its neighbor Russia. Don't know how tiny little Israel will fare. Keep a spare room made up for your Israeli-American relatives I always say. When push comes to shove, I doubt they'll be sticking around to fight Armageddon.
Let me take you back to Oct 1962. Does the Cuban Missile Crisis ring a belll?
The US announced that it would not permit offensive weapons to be delivered to Cuba and demanded that the Soviets dismantle the missile bases already under construction or completed.
Why was it OK for the USA to demad removal of these missles or the USA was going to attack Cuba, and it's not OK for Israel to do the same thing with Iran? Iran has called for the distruction of Israel, Israel has every right to defend itself. Should Israel depend on the UN to resolve the nuclear threat. The same way the UN is protecting the Sriyan people from being slaughtered?
Netanyahu is like a spoiled little child crying to his mother. He needs to be smacked, and sent to his room. Stop giving the child candy, and he will stop yelling so much when he plays G.I. Joe.
In 1992, John Kennedy used the words "ashes in our mouths" when describing the risk we would take by allowing a nuclear threat on our doorstep. Today, that threat is in the form of bombs that can be placed into even briefcase sized-packages. And nothing, short of preventing the necessary nuclear material production, can keep such devices from being secreted into garages or storage lockers in the hearts of numerous American cities, waiting to be set off individually. This is a terribly real possibility. No opinion writer or his blog supporters can conjure up enough wishful-thinking science or sociological philosophy to make this somehow seem OK. The only solution is to agressively and without hesitation remove the production facilities where such materials can be produced from any and every terrorist-sponsoring nation. Difficult? Yes. But not nearly as difficult or irreversible as the "ashes in our mouths" scenario would be for ourselves, and for our children.
Gee I don't suppose the nations you have in mind for blasting just happen to be Isreal's enemies. We just spent $2 trillion in Iraq and got 5000 of our guys killed in a war largely for Israel's benefit and pushed on us by Israel's friends here. Isn't that doing enough for Israel for awhile?
I am tired of being used and manipulated by the Israeli nation. At the end of the day, one state solution or two state the Israeli's are racist. One state leads to formal apartheid, the two state solution only appears to be viable to Israel once they have taken the choist bits of Palestinian land.
Israel needs to grow up and learn to live in its neighborhood. If the want to nuke Iran, god bless them and let them face the consequences alone. Iran in a minor threat to the US compared to the hot headed tools in Tel Aviv.
Who are you to tell another Nation what to do. You think to highly of yourself. Believe me, John Doe and Susie Q public doesn't care one bit about your OPINION... XOXOXO...I LOVE YOU ISRAEL...XOXOXO
Fareed, the differenct between US vs USSR and Israel vs Iran, is that the USSR did not have as part of its goal as a country to eliminate the existence of the US. Yes, they didn't like us. Yes, they would have taken over our country had we let them, but Iran publicly wants to eliminate the entire existence (not to mention every Jew) of the Israel nation. These idiots DENY the Holocaust! REALLY? Any country that has as part of it's mission to destroy another country is evil and is a threat to everyone.
I suggest you search YouTube for the phrases "Kruschev", "shoe", "U.N." and "we will bury you"
Holocaust Deniers and Palestine Deniers are two peas in a pod
Fareed, the only problem with your argument is that we were not even sure how much of a capability Russia had at the end of World War 2. Israel knows precisely how much of a nuclear capability Iran has. Besides, do you think that it was a good choice to allow the cold war to happen? It arguably led to the nuclearization of the modern world. Do you really think that it is a good idea to allow the same to happen in the middle east? You know..the whole arms race occurred. Resources were squandered by both countries continuously through the cold war in an effort to combat the growing threat from each nation. Besides the fact that the Cuban Missile crisis nearly led to world war anyway. Do not pretend that the cold war was a smooth, peaceful period that was good for the world. Your argument is terrible.
Lets forget for a second the question of whether Iran should be bombed for the sake of moral or ethical grounds or whether Israel itself has even the right to even make such a claim when it itself has already nuclear capability. But solely on the matter of military strategy and if you're Israel. Well firstly, Israel by itself won't be able to take on Iran. The best it could do its delay its development of nuclear capability. Despite its sophisticated military strength Israel cannot launch a ground-approach preemptive strike as would be the case of Lebanon or Egypt. Israel cannot take the Sinai or the Golan Heights. So it would be left to air attack and the Iranians themselves could inflict the amount of damage on Israel. Israel's best chance is to get full support of the U.S. and its European allies. Yet what would this do? How can Israel guarantee that it would stop Iran's nuclear program? There are only two options: 1. A debate/dialogue in which Iran is somehow provided with lucrative incentives and it accepts international monitoring agencies so that it is ensured that its nuclear program (whether for energy or military purpose) is eliminated. 2. A full attack that topples the regime as was the case in Iraq. A full attack is highly unlikely. Firstly, Europe is now in a recession so getting support would be extremely difficult. Secondly, even if you get support from a few nations like Britain as was the case in Iraq this military alliance would need a sure hell more resources and manpower than was the case in Iraq to even ponder the idea of stabilizing the country. If the U.S. just pulled out of Iraq and its still fighting in Afghanistan how can its government argue to its people that now they're going to another war but not even that that it would requite probably twice or 3 times the resources and manpower as in Iraq. I understand all the rhetoric from Iran that it is going to wipe off Israel from the map, but right now whatever military action Israel pursues against Iran would only be against its self-interest.
The article "Zakaria: Israel, don't strike Iran" by Fareed Zakaria, CNN is another example of Zakaria's anti-american stance. This article also shows his anti-semitic leaning as well. Enough Jews have died and Israel is the only safe haven. Iran has fought Israel through Hezbollah and Hamas. Iran has already killed many Israelis with these two organizations. I would also like to remind Mr. Zakaria that the Soviet Union was destroyed by the United States under the leadership of Ronad Reagan. His comment that "Everything that Israel says about Iran now, we said about the Soviet Union." shows his ignorance or refusal to layout the facts because he fails to note that Israel has a population of about 7,000,00 Jew and Iran has over 70,000,000 people. One Holocaust was enough Mr. Zakaria and I have had enough of your pro Muslim extremist views.
You said Israel is the only safe heaven for Jews. Don't you know how many Jews live in Iran. Don't write about things which you don't know.
Ronald Reagan did not destroy the Soviet Union...SHEESH!
Fareed zakaria, i wonder if your middle name is Hussein ! why don't you go and live closer to Iran when Hussein Obama allows it to have nuclear weapons. You are counting on the mullahs to be rational. May be you should put your own existence on the line rather than Israel's. To make a long story short my reply to you would be Israel has no choice but to use maximum force against the backward mullahs and send them 100 years back in history so they don't even dare to think twice about having a microwave not a nuclear bomb!!!
I agree that Israel should not strike Iran, mostly due to my hoping another war poisons the globe, not pragmatic reasons. There was a good article in Foreign Policy in the past week, which was drab and logical not emotional (which is what I like in analysis). They argued not why the Israel's own internal logic would dictate that they should strike. A major reason – one that I hadn't really thought about in the years my friends and I have been debating this – is Israel is too small for mutually destroyed destruction. It is widely believed that Israel has nukes but their borders/geography are so narrow, they don't have nuclear subs nor do they have bombers and refuelers on the level of the US which could hover about and reach Iran's power centers thus would likely not be able to retatliate. So if Israel were hit first they'd essentially be done. This is why I understand the reason Israel would strike even if I hope they don't and Iran becomes a peaceful power.
Fareed Zakaria is naive.. There is an extremly large difference between the cold war and the current situation in the middle east. Risk is much higher with the Iranian theocratic rulers openly preaching to wipe Israel off the earth over and over and over again. One nuclear bomb will destroy Israel for the next 30 years. Israel is the size of Delaware.
More importantly Iran can conspire with terrorist to launch an attack inside the US and make it look otherwise.. It's not worth the risk allowing a government like IRAN to exist much longer.
Even more shocking is your long failed idea that you can compromise with this dictatorship. Iran is playing the world with it's interest in more talks. It is playing us for suckers to buy more time to build it's nuclear program.
Mr. Zakaria: you are wrong. Iran is a radical Muslim state, whose leaders have threatened to "wipe Israel from the face of the earth". Iran's hatred of Isreal knows no bounds, and it you don't think Iran would use a nuclear weapon on Isreal, I believe you are sadly mistaken. Israel should attack Iran's nuclear facilities as soon as possible.
I think I have read something like this somewhere. Powerful!
Why doesn't Fareed preach to his own country about their nuclear weapons? Israel has the right and must abolish Iran's nuclear program not today but yesterday. it would do the whole entire world a favor !
When oil goes to $250 per barrel as the result of an Israeli attack on Iran we will see whether the world thinks the Israelis are doing us a favor.
Iran has done little to warrant the vitriol typical Americans obsessively spew. Iran has no campaign to illegally expand its borders, Israel would be best served by doing likewise and getting back into its legally recognized territory. Until there is a Palestine State, side by side with Israel, the continued injustice will translate into no peace and everlasting insecurity.
Why? Because even MAD did not imply the complete destruction of the U.S and it's population. A few "crude bombs" could virtually wipe out the entire population of Israel thus allowing the crazy Iranian leadership their self-proclaimed goal of "wiping Israel off the map." The area of the U.S is 9,826,630 sq. km compared to 445 sq. km for Israel. For you math junkies the areal size of the U.S is 22,000 times the size of Israel. If you lived in such a small area with the threat of weapons that could literally devaste the entire 445 sq. km, I am sure you might be sleepless too.
Correction! Israel is small but not 445 SK. It is bigger than Lebanon which is 10000 SK. That is not the point. The point is no one in that region can afford Iran getting nuclear weapons. Our problem in this country is that we have president Hussein Obama flurting with the mullahs waiting for them to have the shiite bomb !
I stand corrected!! I read the wrong part of the Google search. Israel's area is approximately 20700 square kilometers. Regrdless, a "few crude bombs" could easily reach evey square cm. Thanks Justice766
"Everything that Israel says about Iran now, we said about the Soviet Union."
Here's one minor difference that Mr. Zakaria doesn't mention.
During WWII, 6 million Jews were murdered, Iran denies the Holocaust while threatening Israel with the next one. The American people thankfully never endured a Holocaust and were never threatened with one.
So, Eliot, for you the fact that the Nazis killed thousands of Jewish children during the Holocaust gives Israelis the right to murder thousands of Palestinian, Arab, Persian and African kids? Is that your position, sir?
You are missing the point. The issue is whether Israel should launch a pre-emptive strike against Iran and FZ was comparing the situation post-WW II with the US and Soviet Union. I was making the point that the situations are totally different because today Iran (a) denies that the Holocaust happened and (b) threatens Israel with annihilation. The lesson of the Holocaust, Sir, is that when someone threatens you with annihilation, believe them. As for your point that Israel is murdering Palestinians, Persians, Africans, etc. I commend to you any decent history book. As for wanton murder etc., I assume you are protesting the murder of 5000 Arabs by Arabs in Syria?
Eliot
Whenever the zionist enterprise embarks upon some gross violation of international law or other conduct beyond the norms of accepted international conduct, it routinely invokes the holocaust to justify its outrageous conduct. For example, MP Gerald Kaufman observed while the zionist war machine was killing hundreds of Palestinian children in Gaza that his grandmother had not been killed in her bed by a Nazi soldier so that Israeli soldiers could justify murdering Palestinian civilians.
Absent a genuine and demonstrable threat to Israel, the so called Iranian "threat" you cite is subject to several possible translations and you have chosen the MEMRI version, folks who are not exactly a disinterested party, an attack on Iran would be an illegal war of choice with incalcuable consequences, especially for the USA, to say nothing of significant civilian casualties in Iran. All this assumes that Iran actually has a nuclear weapons program; remember Iraq?
A more probable reason for the stream of threats the zionists are directing against Iran is that an Iran nuclear weapon would rob Israel of its nuclear monoply and its ability to blackmail and threaten states across the Middle East. I love the way Israel alleges Iran has violated the NPT when Israel is not a signatory and holds 200 or so nukes!
If Israel does attack Iran and the world economy is plunged into depression, I dearly hope we will all remember who pushed for this war.
You still don't get it. I long ago decided that arguing with people like you is a wasteful exercise. Have a nice life.
The holocaust was definitely not done by Iranians.So what is the point in bringing holocaust in this matter
Please read my response to Joao.
FZ WANTS TO SEE A NUCLEAR THEOCRATIC IRAN, THAT IS NOT A VERY SMART MOVE. TO LET AN ACTIVE ENEMY OF FREEDOM TO HAVE A NUKE IS INSANE. IMAGINE NAZI GERMANY WITH A NUKE...THIS IS NOT A THEORTY PRACTICE MAN, THIS IS HISTORY. THE QESTION IS DOES OBAMA OR THE EUROPEANS WILL SHOW LEADERSHIP. ISRAEL MUST IGNORE POLITICAL PRESSURE, THIS IS WAY TO BIG FOR THEORY, THIS IS THE REAL THING. IN 2009 OBAMA DIDN'T SUPPORT THE PERSIAN PEOPLE. THE RESULT IS THE SITUATION TODAY. A NUCLEAR IRAN IS NOT AN OPTION. THERE IS NO DEBATE HERE. NO DEBATE AT ALL..
Au contraire! Iran has done little to warrant the vitriol typical Americans obsessively spew. Iran has no campaign to illegally expand its borders, Israel would be best served by doing likewise and getting back into its legally recognized territory. Until there is a Palestine State, side by side with Israel, the continued injustice will translate into no peace and everlasting insecurity. AND STOP YELLING!
I tell you when peace will happen. It will happen when the mullahs are obliterated off the face of this earth and Bashar the babykiller meets kaddafi, then Hamas will beg to sit at the table and say what ? did we really not recognize the right for Israel to exist ? that is the time when peace happens. And by the way add Hassan Nasrallah to the meeting with Kaddafi and Bashar !!
Israel expanded it's borders slightly and strategically when they were attacked by all the neighboring Arab countries who declared they would eliminate Israel. The attack did not work out well for the Arabs, now they want the high ground back so they can attack again.
Add mine to the column that USSR vs USA is NOT ...neeeeewewwwaaaaayyyyy not anyway near to compare with religious zealots who perceive that death, when resulting from killing 'infidels' , is honorable and assures one an eternity with the 70 virgins ...um....well...do I need to say more...they are tribal bozos playing with half a brain waiting for eons of evolution to turn them into more or less fully outfitted members of a modern world which left them and their half wit religiousity somewhere before the ICE AGE. Sorry Fatwah Man, yo'r WAaaaay off base now.
g'nite loopy loo
Religious zealots? Israel and Iran are quite equal when it comes to this detail.
Mate, you kiddin' ??? Yes Israelis are zealots in one respect but when your religion denies others the right to LIVE simply because they don't wanna play in your yard from a religious perspective THEN you are in an entire NEW league of zealotry bordering on insanity. No, Muslim fascists are the SOLE KNOWN RELIGION with this notion that all others need to die who do not believe as they believe. That's the facts.
Have you spoken to an Iranian Jew lately? Obviously not.
why don't you bozos post the most current post at the TOP instead of the dang bottom so that when the page renders you don't have to SCROLL for a week to get to the latest posts...feh.
I don't know why CNN has appointed Mr Fareed to represent the views in an American newspaper. He cannot understand the American thinking.He should suggest things the ways American think because it is an American news paper and not an Indian newspaper.
agree111
Dear Fareed Zakaria
You forgot to mention that Soviet Union never, never claim to destroy USA.
Yes they did, " They will sell us the rope to hang them with. "
Fareed, your swastika is showing.
Of course Israel knows about MAD.
Its real problem is that once Iran attains nuclear advancements which would enable it to assemble a nuclear weapon quickly, the Palestinian side will negotiate with a position of relative strength. This would ensure that Palestinians will get a fairer deal. Thus Israel could not be able to dictate its terms and impose its own version of peace by throwing crumbs out of the Palestinian's own land and the Palestinians would be less willing to take whatever little they get.
Also one should keep in mind that the Iranian religious leadership has issued fatwas against Nuclear Weapons saying they are unislamic and they have avowed time and again that they will never develop nuclear weapons. They have signed the NPT and have inspectors on ground checking their facilities.
Israel is opposite of that. It has armed itself to its teeth with more than 300 nuclear weapons according to previous US president. It is not signatory to NPT.
While Iran has never attacked any country in last several hundred years. Israel attacks its neighbors willy nilly and had occupied Palestinian land against UN resolution 242. It has displaced millions of Palestinians and other countries are bearing the burden of those refugees which are in their 3rd generation.
Now it wants to drag the whole world in a war that wants to fight so that it could continue its expand its racist settlements without any hindrance. So other countries will be dragged into this horrible war which Israel may start but would have no control over and other countries would have to pay for with losing their civilians.
The whole world will be dragged into a recession the likes of which we have not seen before and all the middle east will get involved.
Say a clear NO to pro war candidates. We had enough wars for land, oil and occupation which only tend to bring misery to us and create hate against US and send us to bankruptcy.
Israel has no choice. What would be quite interesting would be Israeli pilots piloting United States aircraft "sausage link" bunker bombing Iranian nuclear underground sites as the first step in eliminating the current regime. As an alternative tactic "gamma ray" bombardment of the processing sites would suffice, eliminating all life within the sites and leaving them uninhabitable for lifetimes.
FZ misses on many accounts with his comparison, but perhaps the most notable omission is the complete lack of the Religious element. One cannot compare a Communist govt, with a Theocracy. Religion is Emotion. It can not be proved, or disproved. That is why it is called faith, perhaps it should be called blind faith. Religion is a fine thing most of the time, but it should not replace reason when making decision. It is especially dangerous in this context. The Theocracy in Iran believe in the return of the 12th Imam, and seek to facilitate his return. The Supreme Leader actually had a press conference where he claimed that he had a private meeting with "Mahdi" where he was instructed that he must remove the Jews from the lands of Mohammed before he can return. No one in Iran can even call bull on his story with being labeled an enemy of God, and executed. Even as crazy as Stalin was, he never claimed that he received his orders directly from God, and that those orders required him to wipe out an entire country.
Are Israeli zealots wiping Palestinians off the map? Of course they are. More than enough religious zealots in Middle East to go around...... plenty here in the USA too.
FZ AS FOR TODAY YOU ARE OFFICIALEY A CLOWN
I don't know how Israel tolerated this hateful backward iranian regime for so long. They should not waste one second in dealing with them. If Hussein Obama allows them to have nuclear weapons we will pay the price in this country for years to come !!!
Are Israeli zealots wiping Palestinians off the map? Of course they are. More than enough religious zealots in Middle East to go around...... plenty here in the USA too.
Iran may not directly strike with a nuclear weapon but they are not above using their proxy Hizbollah to do it.
I hope and can't wait for Hizbollah to start an attack. I will be delightfully watching its demise. This time Ehud barak will not stop at litany. He will not stop until the last Hizbollah fighter is dead.
Okay, here's history according to BubbaG, Zionists get a country b/c we all felt guilty that Hitler massacred them by the millions, that was bad and anyone who suffers like that deserves their own country if they so desire. SO...we looked around and said "okay, look, here...you can go have this country land here and if you can make something of the gawdawful place then it seems it once was a place where your ancestors hung out so ... yeah... okay just quit the killin' and murderin' and we'll say you can have it. BUT LOOK...you really do have to make something out of it.
SO then the Zionists went about taking all the money they had and they went to these folks who owned big...I mean BIG swatches of the country side. Sorta like if some carpet bagger came down and told Lyndon Johnson (LBJ) he'd buy all the LBJ ranch there on the Pedernales river for gazillions o' dollars. LBJ he's thinkin' to hisself..."well this land is pretty and it's been in my family for a LOooooong time but hey, I can have gazillions o' dollars and they can have this lanky hunk of leftover scorched earth" and he sold it to them. But for one thing...a good deal ... the Zionist get the land, LBJ gets filthy rich and doesn't any longer have to worry about illegal immigrants livin' on the land....uh oh...immigrants, WHAT IMMIGRANTS...???
Well lyou see WAaaaay back in the biblical times old AL abba muhammad whatiznut his family was allowed to LIVE on the land, grow some crops, and well sorta look after stuff when the LBJ equivalent took a hike to Turkey or wherever.
SO the Zionists buy the land then tell the illegal aliens who lived there for centuries with generation after generation ekein' out a subsistence on land that wasn't really theirs but well..sort was by custom but not law.
SO the Zionists toss 'em off the land and they become the bad guys and the illegal sorta aliens become the landless and lost in Gaza and Palestinian thing begins. It ain't pretty, it probably wasn't right but then according ot MODERN law it was.
And so now 80 years later the Zionists need to die and the illegal aliens need to get 'their' land back and all us who thought it a good idea need to NOW think it a bad idean and the Iranians need to think they can just go kill the Zionists b/c well that's what their silly a** religion tells them to do. It's a helluva mess and I jus' wanna have a drink when I think of it.
BubbaG
No one wants Iran get the nuke .How to stop it,some wants war some wants diplomacy.I prefer diplomacy.
It takes time but will work.
A strike on Iran will happen if sanctions do not work soon. There is no way that Israel will live in any world in which Iran obtains nuclear weapons. Because if Iran gets nuclear weapons, it could give them to its proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, not to mention other terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda, who it has been secretly supporting and giving weapons. Israel would be doing the world a monumental favor if it conducts a successful attack. It has taken out Iraq's nuclear program and Syria's nuclear program. There is no way they are going to let Iran get a pass. Yes, there is likely to be consequences at home in Israel, but it cannot sit by while Iran gets nukes and the potentiality of them giving them to terrorist organizations. Hopefully Israel (and others e.g. U.S.?) can reduce the amount of retaliatory damage by hitting all aspects of Iranian government and military, and not just the nuclear sites.
The only problem Hussein Obama has a records in Ilinois of voting abstention 90 % of the time and he thinks that Israel should go back to the 1967 borders. You would think that was Arafat reincarnated if you didn't know his middle name !!!
Sorry zakaria but you are dumb when it comes to national security. trust the iranians not to use the bomb !!. How come you didn't trust pakistan with a nuclear bomb ?
"There is no way Israel That Will Live In Any Which world in Iran obtains nuclear weapons" then they should change the world, I see only this solution for israel, if israel does not want to live in a world with a nuclear Iran. I do not see any, physical means, or other, strategic, economic, for a country of 6 million Jews in a strip of land to deni definitely deterrence to Iran, absolutely nothing. mossades, officials, and Americans agencies have more than once declared: the only solution is a long-term occupation. can Imagine you imagin israel occupy iran ? are you serious ?
"There is no way Israel That Will Live In Any Which world in Iran obtains nuclear weapons" then they should change the world, I see only this solution for israel, if israel does not want to live in a world with a nuclear Iran. I do not see any, physical means, or other, strategic, economic, for a country of 6 million Jews in a strip of land to deni definitely deterrence to Iran, absolutely nothing. mossades, officials, and Americans agencies have more than once declared: the only solution is a long-term occupation. can Imagine you imagin israel occupy iran ? are you serious ?????
who said "There is no way Israel That Will Live In Any Which world in Iran obtains nuclear weapons" ? then they should change the world, I see only this solution for israel, if israel does not want to live in a world with a nuclear Iran. I do not see any, physical means, or other, strategic, economic, for a country of 6 million Jews in a strip of land to deni definitely deterrence to Iran, absolutely nothing. mossades, officials, and Americans agencies have more than once declared: the only solution is a long-term occupation. can Imagine you imagin israel occupy iran ? are you serious ?????
strike, does not mean, succeed. israel will not succeed. it will take the iranian missiles on the heads, and downed planes, for nule result, Iran will continue its nuclear program in. anyway
The United States, via recommendations froma 1975 blue ribbon energy commission headed by Dick Cheney,advised Iran to embrace peaceful nuclear energy in the face of its dwindling oil resources.Now the United States threatenes the very life of the Iranian nation by waging cyberwar, assasinations, and devastating sanctions against Iran. We have seen this American calousness and duplicity before in the devastation of Iraq via sanctions. Some 500 thousand Iraqi children died as a direct result of those sanctions. Iraqis are suffering from the effects of depleted uranium munitions dumped on the Iraqi landscape in much the same heartless manner as we saoked Viet name in Agentt Orange.
It is a Human Rights 'crime' what we are doing. And if Isreal attacks Iran it cements it's image as a rouge state. No peoples can live free if we and Isreal harbor (thus far unfounded fears of an 'ISlamic Bomb.(Does this fear arise perhaps from our guilt?)
Look out Germany, Isreal hasn't forgotten what you did. Is Germany next?
OH poor Iran !! they haven't done anything wrong !! how about all the murders of lebanese people by Hizbollah, how about sending mercineries to kill syrians, how about supporting the mehdi army and supplying IED's in Iraq and don't forget supporting the babykiller in Syria. i could go on and on. Poor Iran! It is all our fault in the US.
don't strike Iran ... it will destabilize the region... let's just wait until they have nuclear weapons and they can destabilize the region themselves.
I have full and absolute confidence in the State of Israel's ability to make it's own decision and defend itself. The opinion is definitely a valid one.
bomb those pieces of sand crap into oblivion. should've nuked russia back then too.
We all need to study the lessons of Vietnam
I think you mean WWII.
Zakaria, belonging to "that" world has always a distorted and biased view of the world. The guy forgets that Israel already bombed a wanna-be nuclear power in the 80s: Saddam Hussein's Iraq. The world cryied murder at that time (and probably young Zakaria was one of the screamers), but the things turned out OK and Saddam never acquired a nuclear bomb.
Sorry Fareed, you make far too much sense for all the warmongers to bother listening.
why don't you join Hussein and Fareed in their diplomacy with a regime that only understands force!
It is not us their pushing around. it is Hussein Obama who is not willing to take them on.
Value and articulate points from one who has the luxury to discuss an opinion in which he is not directly involved. For all the educational merits, Fareed is not in Isreal, and has not been under the constant threat and struggle as Isreal has. Despite who's right or wrong in this issue, Fareed has sought to establish similarities between the state of mind and relation with America and Isreal. I think the argument is invalid in that A) Americans have a very short attention span B) It was an entirely different generation that experienced that dread. Fareed, give your opinion on whether Isreal should or should not protect itself, but don't try to throw into your points that "you" or "we" understand their anxiety because we've experienced something similiar. Iran has made some serious threats in the past and present, and you are not privileged to the behind-the-scenes intelligence. It's a luxury to be able to cast an opinion without taking responsibility for the well-being of a nation as a bystander...the world is full of tyrants, and whether their rants are meant to shock or be carried out, it is irresponsible to make statements that threaten others. Iran has the attention on the world....next time they should choose their words and rehtoric more carefully. As of now, Iran has said they want to wipe Isreal off the map, who are we to think that's not what they meant?
Well written!
If you think for even one minute that Israel will not hit Iran and that the US will not in MANY clandestine and covert ways support them then you are no doubt a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard or you are Ahmadenijad himself.
Iran is not the USSR, they are not China, they are a theocracy led by "men who stare at goats" and learn from them. They are as loony as a ringtail and will not hesitate to hand over a nuclear 'pouch' or two to their agents of death to be dumped on Manhattan and Tel Aviv as easily as they will eat a bowl of porridge. They are unconcerned that the US and Israel will analyse the resulting 'signature' decide it was Iranian and turn Iran into a glowing pile of plasmalytic poop. This because in their goombah world view they will be hangin' with the virgins and that ain't a bad way to end it here. They have taken the notion that there ain't ANY of us gettin' out of this alive and made it a way of life, a primary tenet of their religiousity and their life, albeit short, here on earth.
FUGGGGGeddaboud it...they, no, they cannot have a nuclear weapon if it takes all our money, all our bunker busters and all OUR nukes to wipe our THEIR intent. THat's it, period, point and paragraph. Bring on the madness it's time to get it over with.
Bubba, you are wrong. If you think for even one minute that Isreal is stronger than the U.S., and will be allowed to set off a regional war in that part of the world it is you who are as loony as a ringtail.
At the end of the day Isreal is the servant, and the U.S. is the master, not the other way around.
We may let the two dogs bark at each other, but we're not going to set up a dogfight. To Iran, a nuclear weapon is a bargaining chip, a way to assure their political parity with Saudi Arabia and with Isreal.
The only true religious fanatics in the MIddle East are poor ones, and they are tools of the rich Bentley-driving princes, sheiks and sultans. >:O
uh ...yeah right. Littlebird, go get your little poster and your stick and go sit outside some office of some govt agency somewhere and just hope that Israel will EVER do ANYTHING that America tells it to if they decide for one minute it ain't in their best interest...uh uh hunny ain gonna happen
Have you seen the coverage a few months ago-or even now- about how Obama isn't looking out for Israel's interests? That the news has reported a strained relationship between both cabinets of Israel and USA? And how it affected Obama's numbers and public opinion? Isreal can manipulate our government just as easy...that's the proof...especially during an election year. If you've ever served in the military or intel....you'd know that Israel is it's own master and marches to it's own drum beat....we are in no way their master or their puppet.
I'm just tired of these little Iranian bas*a*ds pushin' us around like a wheelbarrow. Done, shoot 'em, move on.
fareed will do and say anything to give cover to his buddy obama...
fareed...obama said in his 08 campaign; "i will never let iran acquire nuclear weapons"...
that does not mean contain fareed...
man, are you a muslim wackjob.....go home! leave us americans alone. We dont want you here.
Attacking would just cause more problems in my opinion. Nobody is thinking of the consequences if the Iran regime is toppled. If the Iran regime is toppled, more likely than not a civil war will break out, causing more problems in already volatile region. Look at Iraq, the west thought if we got rid of Sadaam by the crap out Iraq, everything would change for the better, now look at Iraq, its still a hell hole there, so the West or Israel should not think war is the answer to this problem.
in order to isolate iran and kill it slowly you have to hit the regime in syria and its twin in lebanon. Then you need to demolish all their nuclear and non-nuclear installations. that is the smart way of doing it.
Instead of comparing them to the USSR, perhaps you should compare them to Hitler and the Nazi's. Both are good studies of the past, and we can learn from both. Comparing them solely to the USSR is like putting on the blinders, and picking and choosing our lessons of history.
Reasoning by analogy is a logical fallacy. I could easily do the same and mention Chamberlain and the pacifists who believed that war with Nazi Germany could be prevented.
Is Iran another Nazi Germany? Or is Iran another USSR? The truth is that we simply do not know. What we do know is that Iran is likely trying to acquire nuclear weapons.
Is Zakaria another Chamberlain?
If you read Zakaria's articles he has always sided with Iran. i sent him email about 6 months ago about a satement he made on CNN defending Iran and advocating passive dealings with it, encoureging it to continue its path to nuclear weapons. He should move to tehran and practice his journalism there to see how long he would last !!
@Chris, come out of your cave. Israel is worst than Nazi that is killing palestinians whereas Iranis are not killing anybody. Israel was established illegally whereas Iran has no such history you morons.
FZ is not "reasoning by analogy", though I fail to see what good there is in throwing out analogical reasoning as a "logical fallacy."
He is saying that Americans can be worked up by a threat and told they should make a first strike against it. If there is any failure in the analogy with the Soviet Union, it is only in who is assumed to be the target of the threat. The US is acting like Israel is the 51st state, and anything which happens to Israel happens to us. But during the Cold War, Western Europe occupied a similar role as surrogate for the US that Israel now occupies.
A lot of bluster happened, but the Soviet Union fell from within and sank into irrelevance, giving rise to today's Russia. There may have been surrogate wars but never the Big One.
Can the present regime of Iran sink into irrelevance from within? I imagine it very well could do that.
But nobody will help the ayatollahs more than people who attack Iran.
Bad example Fareed. The Soviet Union is literally half a world away. Iran practically next door to Israel If Mexico had been a threat to us, had they lobbed rockets into CA, AZ ,NM, and TX, Mexico would STILL be glowing.
Time to put an end to the Iranian world threat. Couldn't happen at a better time since most of the surrounding Muslim states are just as afraid of Iran as Israel is.
SUGGESTION: A U.S. nuclear missile shield in the West Bank (leased-land); additional time for political thinkers to arrive at a peaceful solution for the Middle-East's problems.
Killian, think for a minute about Iraq before you speak. Do you think that MAYBE, just maybe, the freedom that is experienced in Iraq for the first time in literally CENTURIES had ANYTHING AT ALL to do with all the movement in the middle east as it pertains to the Arab Spring? Do you think it even REMOTELY possible that all those young men and women in Iraq who sat and watched as the AMerican and other allies brought a semblance of modernity to their land and they saw men and women giving their lives besides their family members to bring them something they had never seen nor had, FREEDOM to act in away that was not totally controlled by despots?
Well you may disagree, but I, for one, see the Arab Spring as the uprising of the young seeking the freedom and libert they learned from their Arab brothers and while it may not turn out exactly as we wished it is turning out exactly as THEY wished. They are now learning and we are watching while they learn that FREEDOM is NEVER free and it cannot be BOUGHT by the blood of others. NO, you must bleed yourself if you truly and sincerely want it bad enough to nourish and protect it with your life and that of your family for ever for your children and theirs. It is truly a sight to behold and if I died tomorrow I'd have lived long enough to see freedom born among a world of religious zealot despots and just totally evil despots. THAT is the good of the entire sacrifice we have made over the last many years.
Stand and watch it evolve. Iran is not a part of it and will become the victim as sure as you and I type here.
Israel should just destroy Iran whenever they are ready. War between the two is inevitable so just do it now and get it over with.
There is great wisdom in history, yet people seem determined to forget it.
“When people criticize Zionists they mean Jews, you are talking anti-Semitism.”
-Martin Luther King Jr
Go ahead folks, don't believe it ? Look it up. MLK himself was a ZIONIST, he supported the right of Israel to exist and the right of the Jewish people to live there with self-determination
It's refreshing to hear a voice of reason. Thank you.
Israel is going to do what it does best, to trick America into doing their dirty work. Watch and see, did you fools not learn anything from the war with Iraq. Where were your precious Weapons Of Mass destruction. Everyday American soldiers are being killed for the safety of Greater Israel. Lets go and strike Iran before they strike us. Isnt that the same as saying Im going to go across the street and slay my neighbor because I have a hunch he might attack me in the middle of the night. That type of logic does not work in a civilized society and it certainly wont fly in a court of law. Wake up you idiots and see who your true enemy is!!!
Even better, let's strike Isreal and get that annoying beehive out of the world for good so we can have some peace in that region finally! God!
I think this is the reason why Israel is terrified of Iran. There are people who want to destroy Israel outright. You are a dangerous mind Littlebird, never forget that.
Believe silly Fareed, Iran wants Isreal much more than the former USSR ever wanted US. Bad analogy.
Though I am religious, I must point out that the Soviets had no burning religious hatred for America. They did not want to push America into the sea. A better example brought up would be the Nazis and their hatred for Jews which transformed from talk to action.
The only reason Israel should not attack Iran is because of the Major Powers. The world does not want to see the US, EU, Russia and China square off over this issue.
The plight of the Palestinians might be relieved if people stopped hating the Jews. Hard to trust a neighbor when their son wants to blow you up because of your race. It is not impossible to blame the descendants of concentration camp survivors for their heavier definition of human suffering, but it is difficult. Still, though there are o gas chambers for Palestinians, Israel must defend their hearts against the transformation from talk to action. It leads to evil.
Actually you're right Josh, they didn't want to push us in to the sea, they wanted to BURY US, or maybe you didn't see that clip of Kruschev yelling it and banging his shoe at the U.N....
"We'll catch up, we'll surpass you." You mean in context of the Soviets wanting to race against the US, possibly to space... or maybe just to "top dog" status? Two competing systems of government, democratic capitalism and communism, are a far cry from an ideological hatred for a certain race like the Nazis hatred for the Jews. So far, though it has not come into fruition, Iran has expressed similar hatred for Israel and the Jews.
It is NOT ok to take statements out of context Littlebird.
I appreciate the comparison with what the U.S. went through during the Cold War, but I'm very worried about Israel's push to bomb Iran. I'm afraid they have an agenda that's larger than what they're saying, which I wrote about in a blog a week ago, "Saying No to Israel" at http://thepoliticali.blogspot.com/2012/02/saying-no-to-israel.html. I don't think Iran is nearly the threat that it's being made out to be and they can be brought into a balance of the interests in the region.
Why don't you go live a couple of weeks 2 miles from barbaric Hizbollah in northern Israel and when you come back will ask you about your love for Iran !
krieg ist keine lösung man müsste mehr in die probleme von Iran angehen um das zu lösen:http://eremit20.beepworld.de
not been a single suicide attack by an Iranian..... HOG WASH .......... Feb 14 2012 Bangkok Thailand
stop this bullying beat of the war drum.
Leave Iran alone. America should not be following AIPAC's dictats.
Fareed Z. is an ignorant corck pot. Knows nothing about Middle East, USSR, etc. Just an overpaid pseudo-journalnist /mouth piece for the incompetent Obama administration.
There would be more long term peace if war was taken to the front door of our enemies civilian neighborhoods, smart weapons are great tools but level major cities and see how fast complete submission is secured. We see the damage our war vets come home with, we're not advancing peace by surgical military strikes that destroy military facilities alone. Begin dropping bombs on Tehran and see how fast Iran's centrifuges come flying out of their nuke facilities.
Fareed Zakaria is a fool and the most dangerous kind of fool at that. He tries to rationalize away Iran's motives and persistence in gaining nuclear weapons. He actually empowers them with his rhetoric. He is Chamberlain prior to world war 2. His nonsensical approach to the subject leads one to believe that he is totally unaware of the psychology driving Iran or he is just plain malevolent in what he wants to see as results of this conflict..
Once more Fareed shows how biased he really is. He glosses over the fact that Iran's leaders have already said they want to wipe Israel off of the map.
Why the concern over this journalist's opinion? He mentions no suicide bombers have been Iranian. I'm sure he believes Hamas is simply a philanthropic organization. Other than a buried time slot show on the third rated cable news organiuzation, what credentials does he have to make the comments he does? Military, diplomatic experience? Lived in Iran or Israel so he knows the system?
don't forget about hizbollah and the babykiller in Damascus. lets try to appease those two as well ! Fareed zakaria is more ignorant and not very intelligent rather than malicious.
One important point that Zakaria missed; the Soviet Union was not run by people who thought that they will get 72 virgins in paradise for wiping out our nation. The people who run Iran do believe this about wiping out Israel (and possibly us). Big difference.
1. No Iranian suicide bombers >TRUE
2. Iranian-proxy suicide bombers (Hamas, Hezbollah) >TRUE
3. No USSR suicide bombs >TRUE
4. USSR-proxy suicide bombers (Viet-Cong, others) >TRUE
Littlebird, go take your meds please...your slippin' ...
If Israel want to attack Iran, let them but don't bring the USA into your conflict.
I feel that way in my heart, because I do not want another war. However, this world is too interconnected. I do not see how it is possible that the US would not be brought into a conflict between Israel and Iran.
The US always faces existential questions and questions that are slightly preliminary to that. This question is preliminary: Can the United States of America afford to have Iran defeat Israel in the Middle East?
Looking at everyone saying "nuke 'em Israel!" needs to turn off the TV and think for a minute. As soon as the nukes go off, everything is off the table. Chances are that there wouldn't be that many smug comments when the mushroom clouds start appearing over your horizons.
Anyone who lifts the middle finger to Uncle Sam is demonized and a potential target for a preemptive war. No WMDs, Iraq. OK, how about some "shock and awe" to put it in its place?
All the more reason not to give Uncle Sam the finger. Wouldn't you agree, Faizal?
I'm so sick of Fareed's pro-Arab idiotic positions. Did the Soviet Union openly threaten the US and offer to support any country that attacked the US. CNN is equally complicit in this ignorant article as they provide him with a forum to post his narrow minded, racist, anti-American rants.
If anyboyd is a narrow minded racist sounds more like yourself. You have no idea what would be reaction of Iran if they were attacked. It would be an act of war and they will be in their right to retaliate. It sounds like the right-wind media that you listen to, have not told you what it would mean in ther region to hold a war with Iran. You will not be able to disarm the without a grouind invasion, if you think that Iraq and Afghanistan were hard wait until you have a war with Iran. To attack Iran is simply madness.
actually, fareed is being very anti-arab here!
the arabs want israel to attack syria because a nuclear iran will pose a greater threat to the arabs than to israel; with nukes iran can simply own all the oil and expand its territory without a challenge. Remember, iran is not like the soviets during the cold war but more like the soviets in 1946 when they did not have the bomb yet. For israel its the chice between fighting one short attackwar with iran alone or 30 long wars with iran's proxies backed by iran who are bent on killing the peace process. if the USA had the option in 1946 to avoid 50 years of fear and trillions and trillions of spending on defense with just one strike....
Not one suicide attack from the Iranians? Are you insane? Do you forget the THOUSANDS of children they used for mine sweeping in the Iraq war? They did it willingly since these kids immediately went into the bossom of Allah. And you want to compare this mindset with the Soviets? Sorry Fareed... I don't see the analogy.
When the Iranians get nuclear weapons, they will use them. They will sneak them into the US and detonate them or fire them from a barge off our coast with a short range missile. They will probably do the same to the Israelis now that they have access to the Suez canal. These fears are justified.
this shmuck zakaria is comparing Russia and USA the cold war days. Russia never said its gonna wipe the unites states off the map and Russia never denied the Holocaust. what an imbecile
I as alive when the USSR said they would bury us. You, clearly, were not. Stalin killed at least 20 million of his own people. More than Hitler. Your post is clear evidence that our secondary schools have failed.
Iran is a police state run by insane mullahs. Does anyone have any idea besides bombs which will change what they're doing? They've already said they want to wipe Israel from the map. We know they never need nuclear energy, so they're making a bomb. Telling Israel not to bomb Iran is just silly. Israel can't afford the risk if they don't.
Fareed's comparison of the post WWII cold war mood and the current mood of Israel versus Iran is not sound. In the post WWII, anti-communist propaganda was a useful tool to justify a large peace time military buildup. The press worked real hard to paint the USSR is the most hostile light possible. For example when Khrushchev said "We will bury you." it was not just the wingnuts who insisted that this was intended as a threat. Khamene'i language seem quite a bit more threatening. While Fareed's discussion of no Iranian suicide jihadists is probably accurate it is not real comforting. On the other hand, the choice of a 28% enrichment technology fundamentally unnecessary for any nation not contemplating developing nuclear weapons.
Iran's political, military, and spiritual leaders have all publicly stated their goal is to 'wipe Israel off the map'. Why shouldn't Israel protect itself? Even during the cold war, the soviets said their goal was world domination, not obliterating the US. They were basically rational, like the US; any Russian with money can get 72 virgins. Iran is not rational. They have 13th century mystics for leaders, nuclear weapons, and are the 'oversee-ers' of global terrorism. I'd say they are a threat to every person in the world, including their own people.
Fareed zakaria has always been antiamerican. He was even defending Kaddafi before he was toppled. he was agreeing with Lavrov that the war in Lybia was "unwinnable" and there was a civil war there. I supported Mccain on Lybia. We should've interfered in week 2 not later on and let it drag on for 9 months. of course Hussein obama wasn't excited about bombing a muslim country. Now Fareed is back to square 1. he did not learn. regardless of his opinion. it is in the best interest of this country and the innocent people in the middle east that the iranian regime and weapons be wiped out for good !!
I agree with Fareed completely.
Good boy. You get an Obama Bump from CNN.
Fareed you conveniently left out the constant barrage of rhetoric from the Iranian leadership concerning the eradication of the Israeli people...we didn't have that with the Soviet Union and it is intellectually dishonest to ignore the fact that the Iranian President regularly calls for the killing of all Jews. Additionally, we did ignore and try to negotiate with Pyongyang and now they have nukes...that clearly worked out well.
I don't think Fareed Zakaria knows what he is talking about. Is Mr. Zakaria really trying to compare the integrity of the Iranian regime with how many suicide bombings there are in the Iran? Please!!! Likewise his comparison of the conflict between Israel and Iran with the US and the former Soviet Union are not valid for a variety of reasons. 1) The Soviet Union never said they were going bomb the US like Iran has stated. 2) The square miles of Israel is MUCH less than the US, meaning that one 1 nuclear device could do much more damage. The Iranian regime wants nuclear weapons to stay in power, much like the North Korean regime. And I notice how Mr. Zakaria totally ignores the fact that Iran is the largest exporter of terrorism in the world. But all this opinion rangling really doesn't mean anything. Iran will NOT OBTAIN nuclear weapons period, and I for one am not even worried about it.
you are wrong, mr. zakaria!
iran loves proxy wars and it loves to spill arab blood to revenge the support arabs gave to saddam. A nuclear bomb will give iran and its regime immunity while simultaneously engage israel in an all out war through its proxies in lebanon and gaza and syria and sudan etc. Khamenei knows that where two (arabs & israelis) fight, a third (iran) will walk away with the spoils!
Iran has engaged in suicide missions like in lebanon and the iraq-iran war. Its revolutionary guard is all about self sacrifice and self mutilation. The shia revival is nothing but a plan for a revival of the glorious persian empire under ayatollah leadership. The soviets at least knew their boundaries in europe; Khamenei thinks iraq and bahrain and syria are persian empire territory!
Very poor article.
1) The cold war had 2 players, eahc feared from the other.
today u have multiple players: Iran can deliever the bomb to Hizbollah, and israel could not strike on iran for respnse. iran will be immuned
2) the russans were secular. The iranians beilve that israel MUST be eliminated as part of thier religion, which they are fanatic to it – even at the cost of their lifes, just like jihad. The russians were relatively rational idioligist, the iranians are fundemenlist. very different, very poor and shallow thought by the author.
They are shaking in their boots and people like Zakaria who hate Israelis will support these primitive lunitics in whatever they do, they have sent a letter asking to talk “as soon as possible”, they are like all the Arabs and the Turks, dogs that bark but CANNOT bit… no equipment, no smarts and certainly not courage. Israel faced these type of primitive butchers for 65 years and will not contract its defense to others, we saw what happened 70 years ago, NEVER AGAIN means NEVER AGAIN and whatever it takes, it will be accomplished. We have heard the same claims and ignorant statement by the Arabs and their supporters for 65 years. And every time, Israel beat the hell out of all of them. When Israel were surrounded by 100 million people who tried to eliminate it they (the Arabs) ended up taking their shoes off and run from the mighty Israel people. Israel Never threatened to wipe Iran off the map (like they do over and over again), Israel do not blow busses, coffee shops and schools full of kids, women and the elderly, Israel doesn’t kill its own citizens like all the Arabs, Iranian and Turks leaders do, AND Israel will not Just wait for them to execute on their threat. Ain't going to happen, they will not have nuclear weapon and if Iran, Syria or Lebanon will launch one missile towards Israel, they will be no more. Israel will take care of it like they did for the past 65 years-defending the only small homeland of the Jewish people. In spite the constant attempt to eliminate Israel for 65 years, Israel built a strong economy, the most educated people per capita on the face of the earth, more noble prize winners per capita, more high tech companies per capita, more inventors and inventions than any other country. What these butchers than kill and abuse their own people accomplish NOTHING beside terrorism. Israel will prevail and will keep with it progressive and advance democracy and the Arabs and Iranians will stay primitive and backward people living in a country that none of the full hatred ignorant posters here will dare to reside in.
Rational thinking people have long ago discredited and disregarded FZ, and only the likes of CNN or MSNBC would ever consider employing him. His articles are only worth the great humor of the many comments that roundly and completely destroy his lame and biased arguments.
Israel should bomb Iran regadless of Hussein Obama's opinion and that is what will probably happen and Iran doesn't dare lift a finger or it will be wiped out completely. the mullahs know that. it will be like when Israel bombed the Syrian reactor. what did the coward in Damascus do. NOTTTTHHHING !!! instead he is killing his own people now. Fareed's opinion doesn't matter. Don't waste too much energy on him
Well, Iran finances Hezbollah. Hezbollah or the Islamic Jihad bombed the US Marines. Iran has been credited with funding and supporting both.
I am not convinced that Iran is a docile lamb.
Remember the USS Liberty. Israel is the real enemy.
Sanctions are great, but the delaying mechanism has already made the sanctions self-defeating.
The governments Washington seek to harness to its oil embargo, as well as such opponents as India, China Russia, Turkey, South Korea and the Europeans, realize the Obama administration is not planning to stiffen sanctions but more likely to ease them in the coming months of negotiations with Iran until they disappear. So why play along with them? Israel will eliminate the Iranian nuclear program in spite what the scared world is saying. Israel won all its wars by itself and never asked anyone to fight for her and are stronger, smarter and courages enough to do what needs to be done in order to defend its people and all the Jewish people around the world. The appeasing world set quietly 70 years ago and 6 million Jews were murdered. When Israel said NEVER AGAIN, IT MEANT NEVER AGAIN.
Agree. Hussein Obama will never bomb Iran voluntarily!!
I pray—and I don't normally pray—that Israel does not strike Iran or vice versa.
Let them blow each other of the map. Being doing the world a favor.
why don't you go live in Iran. They will give you some virgins at the end of their time.
Israel has the right to defend itself. Comparing this to the Cold War is silly. Millions of Jews were exterminated because the world fumbled around and did not act decisively to Hitlers actions. Iran's president has stated numerous times he will wipe Israel off the map. Israel should defend themselves. People who are against Israel acting in their defense are obviously ignorant of history or living comfortably away from any threat. Should Israel wait until they are nuked?
fareed, what you forgot is that Iran welcomes death. they think they go to heaven if they die fighting, it is called Jihad in case you forgot. What would prevent some extremist acting on his own working for the army firing a missle into another country?? Do you really want iran to become a major power in the middleeast? I used to like your views. I am now very disappointed in you. I am a muslim and I support Isreal attacking iran and destroy it's nuclear future
Fareed Zakaria is absolutely correct on his assessment of this situation! Ron Paul 2012!!!!!!
I agree, but I find it quite ridiculous that at the same time that the whole world seems to be committed to having a nuclear bomb free world, we let country after country develop the capibilities.
Zakaria is a terrorist in ugly clothing.
one profound difference
The communists didn't want to die for their cause....
Why wouldn't Iran preemptively attack Israel's military capability. Iran could avoid Israel's population centers which is a redline for us. On European oil purchases, Iran has recently taken preemptive action.
Why would Iran let Israel strike first?
I can't wait to see that. I will get some popcorn and a recliner and enjoy watching the Iran movie called being wiped out off the face of this earth!!!
Why would Iran let Irael attack first?
Israel is a big boy, they can make their own decisions about their countries interests. I say, stay out of it and let them fight it out. I am not anti-Israel, I just think we should treat them like any other ally, no special treatment. If they are attacked without provocation, then by all means, help them. If they want to start a war? Stay out of it.
Israel has always fought their own wars, and has never asked for any help.
Ha! Without American fuel, bombs or money, Israel would dry up and blow away.
In retrospect it may seem that our cold war fears were unjustified, that the Soviets weren't really crazy. But this perspective is incorrect. A hot war with hundreds of millions of dead was in fact possible, even probable. If this possibility had been realized, we would now be thinking that preemptive strike had been the obviously preferable option and that we were crazy not to choose it.
Iran cannot and will not attack Israel as they are a bunch ignorant, primitive butchers that have the courage to kill and abuse only their own.
Well the point is that when you have nuclear weapons and are convinced that you will get 72 virgins in paradise by using them to wipe out another nation, then the fact that you are ignorant and primitive only increases the odds of it happening.
Primitive? The Persians have been around for a couple of millenniums. Israel is an artificial state created some 60 years ago and populated by Jews flocking in from Russia and Poland, their true homeland. As for butchers the term best applies to what the IDF does to defenseless Palestinian innocents. Cast Lead resulted in the murders of over 350 Gazan children. White phosphorous bombs were dropped on civilians.
Frank: Israel had its God-given land until the Romans relocated them due to a revolt. Iran may have been around for a couple of millennia as you claim, but at least their leaders still live in the Dark Ages. If Iran is not considered to be of Arab ethnicity, why do they act with more hatred and violence toward Israel than most of the so-called Arab countries? Iranians should have no biblical or ethnic quarrel with Israel; in fact, they should be glad they are not Arabs in the sense that they do not have to make any divine lineage or land claims against Israel. Therefore, Iran should have no reason to hate and sponsor attacks on Israel. nevertheless, the Iranian government is foolish enough challenge the people of God.
Pulido has so low self esteem that he is a sad case. We are ALL God's people. Who told you that only Jews are special?
Sorry but 2012 Iran is in no way comparable to 1940's Soviet Union. Iran is much worse and more capable of doing the unthinkable with nukes. Take them out now Israel since our president doesn't have the stones.Please hurry and do us all this favor.
Your wrong, USSR and Iran are very similar BUT the USSR did not openly state that they planned to wipe an entire nation off the face of the earth, unlike Iran whose holocaust denying dictator openly stated that he planned to obliterate the country of Israel.
i dont know why everyone is so afraid of iran, after america gets through with that country the maps would all have to be redone to show a big crater of where iran used to be.
Iran finances terror so much, one could argue that terrorism is its second greatest export just a few percentage points behind its oil. Fareed Zakaria is wrong on Iran being innocent concerning terrorism.
He is correct though that Iran's very bad leaders could be contained. He is correct that Iran's hate-mongering leaders who have no ability to govern could ultimately self-destruct their legitimacy as leaders.
Fareed Zakaria should reconsider his position and refine it because he may be on to something regarding containment; otherwise Fareed's current stance as written absolves Iran of all wrong doing and this is unpalatable.
One request to the Israelis when they bomb Iran, please please fly over Syria for good luck!!
Fareed, dont tell Israel what to do, you dont live there and you dont face the threats they face. PP
Fareed.Seriously, why would anybody heed your advice on foreign policy?
Fareed's comparison is insulting. The Israeli people emerged from WWII a shattered race that had lost a vast portion of its population. There are Israelis who remember the camps to this day. The fear of annihilation is a real fear to Israel the way that it was always imagined for America. The Iranian president stated before the UN that he would happily sacrifice 3/4 of the population of his country to remove Israel from the planet. It would take far fewer nukes to render Israel a wasteland than it would to annihilate Iran. This Mutually Assured Destruction deterrent only works with rational decision makers in power, and BOTH sides of this conflict have serious factors impacting their rationality.
Zakaria, once a gain you are wrong. Iran is a Muslim Theocracy with a philosophy that death by suicide attacks against non-believers sends you to heaven. The Soviet Union was a pragmatic state with leadership that had no intention of sacrificing themselves in a fiery nuclear exchange. For 30 years Iran's clerical leadership has made it clear that they are willing to sacrifice Iran in a nuclear suicide exchange with Israel and possibly also the USA. Israel for sure. With Iran's history of suicide bombings and bombers, trying to determine what is rhetoric and what is reality is truly Russian Roulette when you have atomic bombs in the gun. Israel has little choice other than to engage Iran and its supporters in a full regional conflict to remove the Iranian regime before they have a nuclear weapon.
Bruce is correct to point out a distinction with a difference: Iran's clerical leaders have an apocalyptical vision in which the destruction of Israel combined with their own martyrdom leads to joining Allah.
The Soviet leadership had no such goals for a posthumous reunion with Marx and Engels.
Soviet leadership enjoyed live more than they hated their enemies.
Israel, a plague? Seriously? I have to laugh. You DO know where we get all of our top notch military equipment and technology dont you? The money we're sending over there is not just for show you know. Even Warren Buffet invested. And for everyone's complaining Israel is probably the best and closest ally America has right now. without them there as a buffer how long would it take before an Arab Hitler or Pol Pot came onto the scene and made us enter a WWIII? You guys gotta think beyond your trailers and look at the big picture, not the cross on your wall.
Fareed.
Congratulations on your article. As usual your piece has attracted much hate, so we can see what we are all up against.
As for Israel: Imagine a new neighbor has moved in to the house next to you. He has not purchased the property. He has been place there by UN mandate, and the the people who lived there have been either killed or driven out violently.
These occupants are now nervous. They are frightened. They do not even want to plant a tree in his back yard because they may not be there to enjoy its fruits.
Stone throwing is daily occurring. Windows are broken. Rockets are fired, killing or wounding the occupants. The occupants, in retaliation, attack some of the neigbouring houses, maybe including your own, killing militants and a few good men women and children as well.
Understand the Israel is frightened. That is why it is acting that way.
Also, I find it hilarious to have some one named FAREED ZAKARIA commenting on Israel. Just saying.
Mr. Zakaria, you are a very intelligent analyst. In this case, though, you are advising a country to not defend itself against a country that (1) continually expresses anti-semitism, (2) has stated that it wants to destroy Israel, and (3) is on the verge of developing nuclea weapons. Israel would be foolish to heed your advice to ignore an existential threat to its existence. I must re-think every thought that I have ever had where I thought you were a reasonable analyst and commentator.
Folks: Iran has NO nuclear weapons and may not have any, not even crude ones, before a few years years, if they decide to weaponize. Israel has over 200 – 300 nuclear bombs AND occupies another country (Palestine), while maintaining an abhorrant Apartheid regime.
Palestine rightly considers Israel as an existential threat. This is not a theoretical use of the term, as Israel does. After all, Palestine is a fraction of what it was pre-1948, when the native Palestinians of the Holy Land were dispossessed of their Homeland.
What the US and Europe should be calling for is turning the Middle East into a Nuclear-Free Zone. As long as Israel is allowed to hold a monopoly in this field, then the carrot will keep on dangling for all key Mifddle East countries to ballance the equation.
Iran is moving its enrichment facilities inside a mountain in the next six months that can not be damaged by Israel's capabilities. Israel must attack before that happens or forever be at the mercy of Iran and Hezbollah.
Screw Israel.
Iran is a terrorist state run by a Religious Fanatic . Russia with all her previous evil ways was not run by religious tyrany . Iran sponcers terror all over the world and with a nuclear weapon in the hands of this terrorist regiem it is all but certian that Iran intends to use its nuclear capability to destroy Israel and other targets in Europe... Death is The only thing the Arabs Understand and they have no problem murdering their own people ,what is to stop them from the mass destruction of Millions Of Innocent People ......Charles Bowen Solomon Stone
Tell that to the sailors of the USS Liberty. Israel is the true enemy of the USA.
I never claimed that Israel does'nt have blood on her hands she is just the lesser of two evils....I would trust an Israeli long before i would trust an Iranian Not Much changes in the Middle East I was there in 1970 for the Jordan Crisis (Black September). It's far too Tribal to ever be effectively gouverned Charles Bowen Solomon Stone
Big difference. Israel has already successfully bombed/disarmed two countries with nuclear facilities; Syria and Iraq. Iran president has outright stated Israel should be wiped off the map. Don't see diplomacy working there. Why wouldn't Israel try to stop them?
Don't Believe Fareed Zakaria... he is a Muslim propagandist trying to defend his brotherhood. He was born in India as a Muslim and his father is a Muslim Cleric. Google/Wikipedia him and you will see. * * This article makes no sense! There is absolutely no comparison between the Cold War of the 60's an the clear danger of a nuclear Iran when Iran's leaders have publicly vowed to "drive the Jews into the sea" and "destroy the State if Israel". Iran is well known to support Hezbollah and other terrorist groups and is a danger to every democratic country in the region. The comparison Zakaria makes here is STUPID !!
[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[Pakistan]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]] is always a big threat to US... Don't supply fighter jets to them. Let India can handle Pak alone...
Let these Hateful People on both sides blow them selves off the face of the Earth, so we can FINALLY have world Peace. The War Industry will triple bill the Tax Payers and besides our Chinese Credit Card is MAXED OUT.
You are wrong, Zakaria, as you so often are. Those in power in the Soviet Union were rational beings, and we knew that. However, they actively and blatantly called for the demise and overthrow of all capitalist states. In fact, Chairman Kruschev said, "We will bury you."
Don't just strike them...finish the job once and for all.
"Crude nuclear weapon"? That's an oxymoron if ever I heard one.
Reading most of these comments I think Israel should cease its perpetual whining and attack Iran now. The entire region would go up with Israel being written off as collateral damage.
I really liked your analysis The comparisons with the Cold War were particularly good. However, I do disagree with your statement that Iranians having never personally committed a suicide bombing somehow exculpates them. The Iranians directly finance and arm terrorist groups that do personally commit suicide attacks. And even if it did, Israel's fear of Iran's use of a nuclear is not that an Iranian will utilize it in their own suicide bombing. An attack that is not a suicide attack is an attack nonetheless. Besides, we can't really trust Iran in securing that nuclear weapon material is not stolen or lost.
1 or 2 nukes popped-off in American cities would do great damage and kill a great number of people but America would still go on. 1 or 2 nukes popped-off in Israel would effectively kill that nation, altogether.
Anyone who doesn't believe that a nuclear-armed Iran would supply a nuke or 2 to Hezbollah or Hamas or any one of a dozen other groups of idiots who are willing to blow themselves up in the hope of killing a few unlike-minded non-nutballs is a moron. Unfortunately, all the Israeli military can do on their own is enough damage to set the Iranian project back a few years. It'll take the combined efforts of Israel and the U.S. to cause enough damage to the infrastructure of the nation and enough deaths of Republican Guard soldiers and crazed Ayatollahs to bring about a regime change and the complete removal of any residual nuclear capability.
Anyone remember the Iran-hostage crisis hit from Vince Vance & The Valiants?
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb,
Bomb Iran
Let's take a stand
Bomb Iran
Our country's got a feelin'
Really hit the ceilin', bomb Iran
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran
Went to a mosque, gonna throw some rocks
Tell the Ayatollah, "Gonna put you in a box!"
Bomb Iran. Bomb, bomb, bomb,
Bomb Iran
Our country's got a feelin'
Really hit the ceilin', bomb Iran
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran
Ol' Uncle Sam's gettin' pretty hot
Time to turn Iran into a parking lot
Bomb Iran. Bomb, bomb, bomb,
Bomb Iran
Our country's got a feelin'
Really hit the ceilin', bomb Iran
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran
Call the volunteers; call the bombadiers;
Call the financiers; better get their *** in gear
Bomb Iran. Bomb, bomb, bomb,
Bomb Iran
Our country's got a feelin'
Really hit the ceilin', bomb Iran
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran
(Let's nuke 'em! Whoo!)
Call on our allies to cut off their supplies
Get our hands untied, and bring em' back alive
Bomb Iran. Bomb, bomb, bomb,
Bomb Iran
Our country's got a feelin'
Really hit the ceilin', bomb Iran
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb,
Bomb Iran
Let's take a stand
Bomb Iran
Our people you been stealin'
Now it's time for "keelin", bomb Iran
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran
I Hope Lucifer comes to gather all you wicked people from the Earth, you know the majority of "Christians" you have served your Dark Master well. You cant do the things to Humanity that you people do and truly believe in a God of Love.
When a regime (the same one behind the taking of American Hostages in its embassy), that supports Hizbolla and other Islamic militants all over the world and one which Continuously threatens/brags to wipe out Israel, the only modern democratic state in the Middle East – it takes some audacity from Mr. FZ to bring cold war examples and just tell everyone to "just live with it", live with a nuclear Iran. If a nuclear Iran is created it will not only be Israel's nightmare – the entire Western world will under threat. Imagine a dictator under threat in Iran of an Arab Spring like uprising – no deterrence will work, they will happily pull the trigger in the name of Islam and the Jihad to wipe out the Christian and Jewish heretics.
Feel free to ignore this and go back to your naive la la land. We will all live with the consequence.
1. Ms. Zakharia is confusing Iran's threat to America with Iran's threat to Israel. These are two threats of very different magnitude. U.S. is hated but Israel is hated much more. U.S. is big and is far away, but Israel is tiny and a lot closer. At least in one of the comments somewhat mentioned 300 warheads that Israel has as a "proof" that Israel is a nuclear threat to the region, not Iran. With this kind logic, the biggest threat is U.S.A. itself. A reasonable and not completely ignorant or bias against Jews person understands that Israel does not have any ambitions to take aggressive actions against anybody who is not a threat to it. But his 300 warheads (assuming this figure is more or less accurate, and I really don't know if it is) might not help Israel if the nuclear Iran attacks Israel first.
2. Mr. Zakharia praises the West and U.S.A. for not giving to the impulse of attacking U.S.S.R. when it had obtained nuclear technology. He states: "We saw Moscow as irrational, aggressive and utterly unconcerned with human life." If we throw away the word "irrational", then "we saw" it exactly the way it was. And the same applies to Iran almost to the same degree. A lot of Muslim fanatics are irrational simply because fanaticism is irrational, but the Islamic Statesmen are very calculating people, with a well defined goal, and they encourage the fanaticism of their people and use it to achieve their goal. Being rational does not make neither U.S.S.R. of the 1950th nor the today's Iran any less dangerous. Mr. Zakharia believes that it was wise not to strike U.S.S.R., but his belief is very debatable, to say the least. The world paid for this restrain with over 30 years of the Cold War. The Western Europe and especially the U.S.A. paid a high financially price for that, but they still were able to survive and prosper, especially the U.S.A.. These countries and especially the U.S.A. also paid dearly in human lives (Vietnam war, Korean war). However, that was almost minor (forgive me if the word "minor" sounds cynical) relatively to the price the Eastern Europe had to pay. The Eastern Europe was cynically betrayed by the West. On top of it U.S.S.R was supporting murderous terrorist regimes all over the Third World, etc., etc.. In fact, if the U.S.A. had made a decision to strike the Soviet Union if needed, it would've been highly unlikely that it would need to strike. This is exactly for the reason that the Soviet leaders were not irrational – facing the strike that they could not match would have made concessions. If not, the strike would've been the right thing to do. Now Mr. Zakharia suggests that the same is done with the Islamic Fundamentalism, which actually means sacrificing Israel like the West sacrificed Eastern Europe in 1950s (and earlier in Munich – it all stared with sacrificing Checkoslovakia to Nazi Germany). Of course the the destruction of Israel would be even more radical. Thank you very much, Mr. Zakharia, but "no, thanks ". If the U.S.A. does not strike Iran, Israel will have to.
Glancing through other comments I, of course, encountered a lot of attacks on Israel. I will comment only at one of them : the author denies that Israel is a faithful ally of the United State and suggests to look at a Lavon Affair case as proof.
Here is my response. Just like any other state including the U.S.A., Israel government was occasionally committing highly cynical acts. The purpose of the Lavon Affair was not to harm U.S.A., but to defend Israel. Unfortunately the means were awful. The plan failed, though. Well, the truth is that the Western countries including U.S.A. throughout their history also committed a lot of awful, cynical acts, pursuing its policies, not any less awful than the Lavon Affair. Unfortunately that is the reality, but discussing it is clearly beyond the scopes of this comment. It is also worth mentioning that the Lavon affair is almost 60 years old. The bottom line though is that Israel is a natural faithful ally of the United States of America simply because U.S.A. is extremely, perhaps, vitally important to the Israel's existance.
There are camparisons being made to the Cold War, but that was a fight between two superpowers.
"Joseph Stalin had just sacrificed a mind-boggling 26 million Soviet lives in his country’s struggle against Nazi Germany"
Correction, 26 million Russian people sacraficed themselves to protect their country and the ones they loved. Please pay respect to these people, Mr. Zakaria. Stalin was mad, but not for this page of history that you have rewritten.
Iran is a dictatorship controlled by ideologues. The majority of it's people are in dissent with their own government, and have been supressed, while the dictatorship spews hatred of Israel and the United States. Do the people of Iran have a reason to hate the United States...Yes. We removed an elected official over 50 years ago and installed a puppet to our liking. However, this isn't about the people of Iran anymore, they aren't allowed to say anything. This government that took control in a moment of chaos, with a regime over thirty years old has lost touch with it's people and is on it's own course of hatred.
This runaway government is hellbent on destroying Israel whether Iran'sown population supports this action or not.
"......but not been a single suicide attack by an Iranian" Really, Mr. Zakaria? Besides the obvious in recent weeks, how about the proxy war in which these same terroris directly and indirectly get training and funding bu this very same regime?
Israel will attack Iran's nuclear facilities as they attacked nuclear facilities in Bagdad and Syria for the simple reason that Israels survival depends on it. As in the two previous cases the world will be safer for it. Of course you can disagree, and unlike each citizen of Iran, you are free to disagree.
Well said. I simply don't understand how Fareed can talk about no suicide bombings when Iran is behind bombing of embassies, the attacks last week in Thailand and India and we have seen how they massacre their own citizens in cold blood. Can Mr. Fareed at least mention the Iranian atrocities before painting everything rosy?
Let everyone simply do what they think is best to defend the boundaries of their religious divisions. I just think that looking at the results – financial and otherwise of the super powers' escapades post World War II, no one really learns from the past mistakes, but just goes on to make new ones. Religion, the ultimate divider.
Iran: President Says Light Surrounded Him During UN Speech
President Ahmadinejad made the comments in a meeting with one of Iran's leading clerics, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli.
Ahmadinejad said that someone present at the UN told him that a light surrounded him while he was delivering his speech to the General Assembly. The Iranian president added that he also sensed it.
"He said when you began with the words 'in the name of God,' I saw that you became surrounded by a light until the end [of the speech]," Ahmadinejad appears to say in the video. "I felt it myself, too. I felt that all of a sudden the atmosphere changed there, and for 27-28 minutes all the leaders did not blink."
Ahmadinejad adds that he is not exaggerating.
"I am not exaggerating when I say they did not blink; it's not an exaggeration, because I was looking," he says. "They were astonished as if a hand held them there and made them sit. It had opened their eyes and ears for the message of the Islamic Republic."
who in their right mind would want Ahmadinejad to control a nuke or nukes ..only a muslim
Before thinking about launching an attack on Iran, we should know the historical facts. These guys have been the members of one of the major races, Persians. They have been around the civilization for more than 4 thousand years. One should know this and understand that this quest of vengeance and jealousy is not going to work in Iran. They're far more united than any other Arab country. For Israel? They may try their chances yet it will be a mutual destruction as I fear.
I strongly disagree. I am not a Jew, but there is historical background which I think is being ignored. The Israelis better help themselves because Europe is going to help them. We are not likely to go to war to help them, though I would support just such a war. I also would add that the biggest mistake we ever made – and one we may yet pay for – is allowing the Soviets to gain a weapon at all. The world would likely be much better and safer had we destroyed their regime in the 40s. Yes, it is warmongering. But how much treasure was lost over the Cold War? How many people's lives made miserable by Soviet communism? How many will die in the future from fissile material that was beyond our control when the USSR collapsed? Iran has long made its position clear and its rhetoric is repeated constantly. This is NOT a matter of equals (in power) as between us and the atomic era soviets. This is the time BEFORE it became equal and the Israelis should take the threats at face value and destroy the nuclear works and as many in the ruling regime as it can kill quickly.
a muslim wearing a suit and tie is still a muslim
Muslim theology is violent, because violence has always been a tool of its expansion. When we ask Muslims to disassociate themselves from violence, we are really asking them to disassociate themselves from Islam. And this they will not do. not even Fareed Zakaria
Perfectly said!
Most people don't realize Islam is not a religion. It is a political, military, and brutal totalitarian fanaticism.
Coexist, my a$$.
This article is based on a completely ignorant view of this current situation, making absolutely erroneous analogies and ignoring historical fact. It's hard to believe that Zakaria had the nuggets to even pull it off.
It's actually hard to find even one part of the opniion that is based in fact or reality.
Imagine during the Cold War that Russia did not even recognize the US as a legitimate country, saying so over and over. Imagine that Russia had already attacked Israel by proxy – funding and supporting the countries around the US to suicide bomb in US cities – nightclubs and restaurants – and we had proof. Imagine the US was surrounded on all sides by countries closely allied with Russia – Canada, Mexico and S. America were all communist governments. Imagine that the US had already had multiple wars with these countries.
THEN the current situation would be closer to Zakaria's analogy.
Here's the more appropriate analogy. Imagine going back in time now that we see what happened and telling Poland and France to just be patient with Nazi German. Just ignore a Nazi pursuit of military strength and the rhetoric – everything will be OK. After all, attacking Poland and France would only hurt Germany, too – right? And the German people don't support it. Nazi Germany has a right to self-advocate – if they say that their machinery build up is not for military purpose, we have to believe them.
As stupid as we know that would be (in hindsight) – that is the same amount of dangerous ignorance that calls for being complacent with Iran, who have been banging their war drums for a long time. They're just getting a little louder now. Maybe Zakaria is mistaking it for dance music...
So this idiots sole argument is based on history comparing the USSR to Iran. 6 Million Jews should gamble their life and future based on this moronic notion that the Iranians will behave as did the Russians during the previous cold war? No. History tells us the only the Jews can defend themselves, Only the Jews can take responsibility for acting on direct threats to eliminate the Jewish state. Only the Jews can stop Iran dead in its tracks. This is all water under the bridge...the wheels are already in motion.
Zakaria shows his complete ignorance by comparing the Cold Nuclear policies and politics of the Soviet Bloc and the West to Issureal and Irant.
Zakaria needs to be educated that during the Cold War both the Soviets and the West knew enough to avoid coming to blows directly against one another and so fought it between lesser proxies. Both sides alos knew enough to not cross certain lines and understood the rules of engagement.
Issureal and Irant have nosuch controls preventing them from coming to direct blows
We have been at war for 10 years! We dont want to get involved!! Let Israel take care of Iran themselves!
isreal needs no help, but when iran trys to fight back they will strike the UAE and all our forces in the Med.
the air war wont last more then an hour for iran , iran will be in a postion to fire everything have or loss it all , going to be a blood bath , irans going to glow , if iran trys to hit israel lets hope they take out the palestinians plus , leb, syria , jordon eygpt gaza , west bank , ...
When Israel clicks its heels, the US snaps to attention. Just wait.... when Israel attacks Iran, and Iran defends itself, the US will jump in. And the UK. It's a done deal.
Sorry, something is going to happen with Iran. They have been asking for a fight, and it is not just about the nuclear energy. Just wait for the day that Iran shuts off the oil again, or one of their cute stunts go wrong and people die because of it. Their arrogance will bring about war. Count on it.
Just wait until Iran has a nuclear crisis either from a natural disaster or a bomb of some sorts. And they will be looking for the international community for help. Then see how proud they feel.
GO HEAD ISRAEL, STRIKE IRAN FOR YOUR SAFETY. OBAMA KNOWS IF HE SUPPORTS YOU THE ROMNEY WILL WIN THE ELECTION FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT. OBAMA AND USA WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR YOU FOR POLITICAL REASON. GO HEAD INVADE AND STRIKE ALL URAN NUCLEAR REACTORS, IFYOU DON'T STRIKE NOW, LATER WILL BE TOO LATE....IRAN WILL HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON IN A COUPLE MONTHS AND WIPE OUT ISRAEL....GO HEAD ATTACK NOW
FOR SURE WITH ROMNEY THE PEACE WILL COME. HE SAID IN FLORIDA HE WILL SUPPORT ISRAEL. OBAMA DOESN'T SUPPORT ISRAEL, HE SUPPORT MUSLIM BECAUSE OF HIS BACKGROUND
It is Israel that is the problem. First the invade the Palestinean homeland and claim it for themselves, Threaten the Arab world, by pushing the Palestinean people around. What do they expect from the Arab world. A pat on the back and welcome to the neighborhood. I believe it is their issue and we are Americans, need to keep our noses out of it. If Israel so great, then why do you see so many Israelies moving to the US. Go home and reform your own government. Get out of the United States, most of us are tired of your friend.
The U.S. Congress is owned and operated by Israel. They will do whatever they are told to do by Tel Aviv because they know their careers will be finished by the kosher controlled media if they do what is right for America. Meanwhile, the fifth column of tribesmen extort your tax dollars to send back to their kinsmen. And they send your kids to die in the wars they start for profit and hegemony. Figure it out folks before they get us all vaporized.
The reason that Israel doesn't listen to opinions such as this is very simple: they go to war on american taxpayers money, so it's kind of fun for them to do it! Things would have been much different if they had to pay for their own war!
If I am not mistaken today the US joint chief of staff Martin Dempsey said Iran doesn't have a military nuclear program but is capable of one if it chose to do so. Certainly launching an attack on someone just because they have the technology is not justified. Iran was smarter than Israel, it invested every dollar wisely for peaceful and energy purposes while Israel stacked hundreds of nuclear war heads that are costing her billions yearly and are for nothing.
Yes please Israel, don't do this. When those muslim zealots drop a nuke on the white house I'll thank you again.
Hmmm.... should have talked about US scripted "fear" of the threat of non existent WMD in Iraq. What a joke, a real tragedy for our brave troops who are no longer here. Fear Mongers unite!
Who cares what you think, Zakaria? I disagree with most everything you say. No wonder CNN is in the toilet.
Israel does not want war and that is why they are asking somebody to stop Iran.. The reason why they released all of those Palestinian prisoners earlier was to show the world they were willing to work with others. And it is right that Israel should allow Iran to make the first move or it will be said that Israel started it. How sad that terrorists rule the world without compassion for their fellow man.
These are starting elements to something big... like WW3! with Iran, South Korea, North Korea, and the US already in more war than we can count. It's just a matter of time when it's going to boil over.
Fareed Zakaria gets it ENTIRELY wrong in this piece. The most glaringly obvious example is his claim that "Over the past decade, there have been thousands of suicide bombings by Saudis, Egyptians, Lebanese, Palestinians and Pakistanis, but not been a single suicide attack by an Iranian." Mr. Zakaria, just WHOM do you think is SPONSORING those suicide attacks, hmmm? It's IRAN. They are using other countries to fight proxy wars via suicide bombings.
Mr. Zakaria also gets it wrong on intent. The Persian culture is ENTIRELY SELF CENTERED. Persians (Iranians) believe that they are the most important culture in the world, and also that no other culture is even worth acknowledging. This is why you CAN'T negotiate with them. They will LIE TO YOUR FACE if it gives them an advantage, because they don't respect you as an equal. Because you are not Persian, you are automatically inferior to them.
Finally, Mutually Assured Destruction will not work with Iran for the simple reason that they believe that they are impossible to defeat. To use a colloquialism: They read and believe their own press. With a nuclear weapon, they will believe themselves invincible, and will thus USE said weapon if they believe it gives them even the smallest advantage.
So, CNN. I'm not exactly sure WHY you put up with someone as a commentator who either doesn't understand the culture he's commenting on, or worse is actively attempting to demagog the debate about military strikes by purposely misleading your readers. I look forward to the explanation of your editors choices.
Well it seems to me that Iran is trying to provoke someone to attack them, so they can justify a retaliation attack on Israel. That would make the attack on them seem so justified that other countries may see them as the innocent ones and start siding with them and it could end up world war III.
This is a tough call. Iran needs to be taken out. They are the thugs of the middle east. Israel would gain alot of leverage and respect in the middle east if they take the nuclear production area out. Either that or Iran will destabilize the area for years to come.
Why is Isreal always threatining to strike Iran. They must think we are going to finish the job if they stat the war. NO, think again. We are tired of caring that little country, time for them to pull their OWN weight !
Israel is very capable of pulling their own weight. Their air force rivals ours, and some say their pilots are actually better.
LOL!!!
Ha! Even their Astronauts suck a$$. That is why our space shuttle went down in flames. Maybe it was a Godly act.
Israel should strike Iran before it is too late.
Then they're "the bad guys" and still more terrorists are created.
Iran isn't Iraq; they have a SERIOUS army; they're well-equipped,
modern, and they won't go the other way as much of the Republican
Guard did in the second Iraq war.
This CAN'T end well. . . .
Unlike Mr. Zakaria, I was around during the cold war. The big difference between the Russians and the Iranians is that the Iranians are a bunch of whack jobs following a religious code to destroy all infidels. These zealots have already shown they will use anything they have to commit acts of terror. Give them a nuclear capability and they will use it indiscriminately and at their earliest convenience. Mutually Assured Destruction only works if both sides fear destruction. The Iranians do not fear it – they welcome it.
I also see in one of the blogs that a writer doesn' think Obama likes Israel. What are you smoking?? The region has destabilized because of the bag of lies war from Bush who should have had his Texas butt in jail along with Cheney. The Iranian people don't like this guy and number of Arab countries don't either. Believe it or not Muslim hater not all Muslims want war. Christians seem to provoke it and invade countries with no reason. Typical Repuke party member.
Fool.
I'm sorry Fareed, I'm going to disagree with you on this one.
Whilst elegant in your articulation, we can see how the administration wants to play this out.
You, are forgetting 2 key holes in your strategy for expanding the 'hand of peace';
1. The other player is not playing by the same rules. Unfortunately, Diplomacy requires both party's cooperation and Iran's historical, religious, social and almost patriotic motivations, vastly outweigh their respect for Diplomacy. Completely ignoring the fact that Iran is a direct threat to Israel, the surrounding Arab nations and the United States, being a state sponsor of terrorism – cited again, again and again – and has no issues in verbally expressing it. They perceive their nuclear program as a feat in their progress as people of a 'rising' nation, having told the world numerous times it will steadfast, hindering such a feat in progress for them would be seen as a failure. Adding yet another motivation to the repertoire.
2. What you're suggesting, what you're trying to convey to us, in your opinion – the right decision to make, OK. You've looked around the region, you've looked into history, you've seen how similar situations, countries, conflicts have been dealt with, you've looked at the long term solution rather than the short, you've presented credible evidence to encourage that Iran based on fears of an 'mutually assured destruction' – again ignoring the clear fact they're a state sponsor of terrorism thus giving them windows to attack Israel and other areas of the western world without even giving us long enough to find out where we're being hit from and by whom – ignoring all of that, going ahead with accepting a nuclear weapons active, 'manageable'.. Iran, you're willing to accept the further activation, of the Arab League, primarily its major states, attainment and development of nuclear weapons. Who, rightfully out of concerns for the safety of their own, would employ to 'deter' Iran. You have allowed your noble quest for a peaceful solution to overshadow your logic on the matter.
In the long term this 'gateway' to a much larger nuclear weapons active Middle East has completely untold and more horrific consequences of a possibility we should prevent NOW before allowing the climate for it exist to happen in the first place! You know, I know, everyone knows preventative is leagues better than cure and whilst we're on the topic of nuclear warfare, a cure becomes next to irrelevant – however way you look at it.
Wake up! Please. The American people, understand that this has manifested at an inconvenient time for Obama during his re-election campaign, but the world understands the paramount risk of just letting this go and we are and have been for too long now, letting this go. As you know, an Iranian Destroyer and supply escort docked at Syria days ago in the Mediterranean Sea, promoting according to Tehran 'military training for the Syrian untrained forces' – meanwhile we are seeing first hand accounts of the daily brutal murdering of the Syrian people under Assad's regime.
The time for peace talks are nearly over, the world has met an enemy who did not understand peace before.
DO NOT be so naive in our vast achievements as a human race, globally for our rights, to forget that some people... are just not interested in peace.
Israel would be foolish to over-estimate American support for their war-mongering.
WWII is 2 generations past.
The Cold War is a generation past.
Young Americans want our troops out of the Middle East ASAP – not involved in another quagmire
Fareed pontificates too much any more. He cannot understand the history of the Jewish people (BC, AD, and especially during WWII) nor the situation they face next door to a madman and surrounded by more than 100 million Arabs (whose radical religious leaders try to stir them to eliminate Israel). The US has never been as threatened.
The U.S. dog must stay out of this fight, clear and simple. The Israeli's must be on their own if they act on their own!
That will not happen. There is an election and lost votes to be won. Obeyme has ticked off too many Jewish voters. This will be his scam to get them back. Attack in Sept?
Is the the US joint chief of staff Martin Dempsey doesn't understand the culture or purposely misleading the audience! He pretty much said the same thing. The only explanation to why Israel is getting crazy about Iran's nuclear program is because Israel considered using its nuclear weapons on its neighbors as mentioned in Kissinger's memoir from the 1973 war and wants to do so in the future without thinking that someone has the technology and can make the decision to retaliate. It's the potential that bothers Israel not that Iran has a military nuclear program and everybody knows it.
seantor1, Now you CIA guys have better things to do than to troll the Internet. Your coffee break is over. You get back to work now before your superiors catch you.
Eliminate their nuclear facilities and take out the leadership. Then give the Iranian people whatever help they need to get back on track. The Iranian people are mostly good folk. I wish them luck.
Let's just pretend everything's OK. And that Iran didn't murder half of the American soldiers killed in Iraq.
Fareed Zakaria is an Islamist sympathizer. He doesn't want Israel to strike Iran. He wants Israel to wait for Iran to get the bomb, and then nuke Israel.
I hope Iran nukes Israel. The world would be better off without them.
Problem: Jews are God's chosen people, they are not going anywhere. Your comment puts you in the company of Hitler.
The Canaanites were the Original chosen people.
The nuclear threat against the US by the Soviet Union is not the same as the one of Iran against Israel. Leadership in Iran believes that Israel has no right to exisit and has stated outright that he will destroy Israel. Also, is Fareed forgetting the Cuban Missle Crisis? We came pretty close to launching a few big ones but the Soviets backed down. Iran is not backing down and in their minds "are on a mission from god".
No Needs to "Strike" iran>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
They will self destruct in no time at all!
Very true that the US said that about the Soviet's and also about China. But in the late 40's and into the late 50's/early 60's the Soviets did not have a well developed delivery system. And so, in the early years of the Cold War, a balance was kept but that didn't stop potential game changers from happening based on a thought that a nuclear war might be winnable. The Cuban Missile Crisis happened as a result and it did take a combination of US Naval resolve plus an advantageous nuclear deterrent to stop the missile basing. The other difference with the Israeli's is geography. The nation is so small, that a successful strike does wipe it off the map, and so normal rules of "deterrence" (MAD) don't apply – is anyone ready to extend that protection to Israel?. The real question is how to balance the soverign needs of a state for peaceful nuclear power uses with some sort of trust but verify system given that Iranian rhetoric makes protestations of peaceful use difficult to credit
Fareed – how about "Iran – don't strike Israel"??
Agreed.
Great point. And don't you love the way CNN runs Fareed's headline on its homepage? Makes it look like it is a world opinion that Israel should not strike Iran instead of the opinion piece of just one man.
Wow, I didn't know Russian war ships were in the mediterranean port of Syria as well..
Consider this: The people who built the Russian nuclear bombs are now the citizens of Israel. How do you think Israel built about 100 bombs? What goes around, comes around. Just relax, it will blow over. Iran is not suicidal.
As far as Bertrand Russell is concerned, his writing discovered after his death called the black of Africa the greatest menace to the existence of white people. So much for philosophy and understanding.
Zakaria's comparison to the US/USSR cold war situation doesn't work for several reasons, primarily because of geography. At any moment, Israel could be only minutes away from extinction due to its small size and geographic proximity to enemies that have sworn to annihilate it. Not one of its enemies is in such a precarious position. Plus, Israel is essentially surrounded on all sides. This is significantly different than the US/USSR situation during the Cold War.
Zakaria quotes a figure of 26,000,000 Russian lives lost in WWII. It's a significant number until one considers percentages. 35% of European Jews were exterminated in WWII, compared to 13% of the Russian population, roughly 3 times as many Jews. Israel's people were on the brink of extinction once before. Russia's were not. This has to affect one's worldview.
The tensions of the Cold War were real, but neither side was driven by religious animosity dating back to biblical times. And neither side used state-sponsored terrorists to launch attacks inside the other's borders.
During the Cold War each side had a red phone hotline with which the leaders could communicate in an emergency to head off an accidental war. Does such thing exist between Israel and its enemies today? Doubtful.
Zakaria picked an ill-suited analogy that seems chosen more to support his own biases instead of making a logical point.
Hardliners in Iran are anxiously waiting for Israel to strike, they want it so bad, to destroy the apartheid system in Israel (what media refers to as wipe Israel off the map). Look Iran has Jews in its Parliament, don't you think they would start with those if they want just to kill Jews for the sake of it.
ISRAEL SHOULD ATTCK RIGHT AWAY. OBAMA WON'T DO ANYTHING IN BEHALF OF ISRAEL BECAUSE HE WON'T TAKE THE RISK TO LOSE THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AS DEMOCRATS. ISRAEL SHOULD PROTECT ITSELF REGARLESS USA AND ONU. IF OBAMA GETS INVOLVED, MOST LIKELY MITT ROMNEY WILL WIN THE NEXT PRESIDENTAIL ELECTION FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE COUNTRY