Iran Opens the Door to Retaliation (WSJ Editorial)

[elleng]

Its nuclear and military assets are fair game after another attack on Israel.

'Iran unleashed its second direct military assault against Israel on Tuesday, this time with 181 ballistic missiles. All Israeli civilians were ordered into bomb shelters, and most missiles were intercepted. But this is an act of war against a sovereign state and American ally, and it warrants a response targeting Iran’s military and nuclear assets.

This is Iran’s second missile barrage since April, and no country can let this become a new normal. Israel reported a few civilians injured and one Palestinian may have been killed near Jericho in the attack. A terrorist shooting, possibly coordinated, killed six Israelis. The work by the U.S. and Israel to shoot down most of the missiles was spectacular, but it shouldn’t have to be, and next time it may not be.

After April’s attack, the Biden Administration pressured Israel for a token response and President Biden said Israel should “take the win” since there was no great harm to Israel. Israel’s restraint has now yielded this escalation, and it is under no obligation to restrain its retaliation this time.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at a stronger response in a statement to Israelis: “Iran made a big mistake tonight—and it will pay for it. The regime in Iran doesn’t understand our determination to defend ourselves and retaliate against our enemies.” He cited the Hamas and Hezbollah leaders who have been killed since Oct. 7, adding “and there are probably those in Tehran who don’t understand this. They will understand.” >>>

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/iran-missile-attack-israel-benjamin-netanyahu-hezbollah-biden-lloyd-austin-c33889c5?mod=opinion_lead_pos2

(((WTF???)))

[lapfog_1]

1. factually incorrect

no matter what one thinks of Iran... and I personally wish the government would disappear in a puff of smoke, but it was NOT "Israel’s restraint" that caused this, but rather the missile strikes by Israel against the Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in recent weeks plus the killing of a few dozen Hezbollah commanders by planted pager bombs that created this tit for tat.

Israel does not seem to be able to "take the win" when it comes to this exchange of missile strikes.

It all seems timed to inject a poison into our politics... with one pundit on MSNBC calling it "Biden's war" as if Biden had his finger on the Iranian military launch button. This is the thanks from the Likkud wing of the Israel political spectrum Joe gets for a) staunchly supporting Israel with weapons and b) trying to get to a ceasefire and hostage return. Support which thousands of Palestinian refugee supporters here are now using to punish Harris by either sitting out OR voting for Trump in a few battleground states where a few thousand votes could cost Harris the Presidency.

what would the WSJ or the pro Palestinians want the USA to do instead? Launch a real military invasion of Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran lead by the US and Israel... or alternatively cutting off all aid TO Israel and then invading Israel?

Either way, for Israel to ratchet up the "eye for an eye" warfare for a missile attack that killed one poor Palestinian man and injured a few others is not warranted nor prudent. Just as Iran needs to stop their nuclear program and arming proxies in the region because of their religious intolerance of any person on earth who doesn't believe in exactly their form of religion. But I have no answer to make either side stop.

In a few months Iran will have enough 90 percent enriched uranium ( or possibly a few weeks ) that 1 missile flying over Tel Aviv, whether it is struck by an missile defense system or not, will cause untold death and destruction to Israel. And that will very likely lead to WW3... a nuclear WW3. Will the WSJ call that "Trump's war" since he tore up the deal we had with Iran to slow down or stop the pursuit of nuclear weapons?