Chicago Tribune editorial ‘Israel’s rationale for change in Iran is clear. But the American rationale is murky indeed’ is a masterclass in deflection from the unfolding catastrophe in the Middle East

Chicago Tribune editorial ‘Israel’s rationale for change in Iran is clear. But the American rationale is murky indeed’ is a masterclass in deflection from the unfolding catastrophe in the Middle East

 

It starts with the title. Calling a horrific war that is killing thousands, destabilizing the Middle East, possibly crashing the US economy, even risking nuclear war, “change”. is astonishing in its denial of reality.

 

The Trib defends Israel’s rationale for launching all out war on Iran as “self-evident” national security concerns. What is self-evident is that for decades Israel has been calling for destruction of the Iranian regime, if not the entire country, to remove Israel’s last hegemonic rival for Middle East supremacy.

 

What is also self evident is that Israel has been plotting this war with President Trump thruout his second term. They sucker punched Iran last June by attacking while conducting fake negotiations. Iran’s tout defense forced Israel to demand Trump affect a ceasefire.

 

They both tried again by infiltrating the Iranian protests over the economy last December. Provoking a violent government response was to be the fuse to justify a second attack to achieve regime change. But the government quickly quashed the protests and regime change 2.0.

 

Three months later the US and Israel once again used the cover of negotiations to launch all out war that has backfired spectacularly.

 

The Trib errs in quoting local Israeli official Elad Strohmayer that ”the military bombing of Iran by Israel and the United States enjoyed very wide support among Israeli citizens” Nonsense. The Israeli populous is fractured by Iran’s devastating response causing widespread destruction. Military morale, already degraded from endless deployments to in Gaza and Lebanon, will only get worse due to all out war in Iran. The outlook for a stable Israeli citizenry and government is bleak.

 

The most outlandish statement in the long editorial is “only a fool cannot see that the vast majority of Iranians wanted this regime to be removed from their lives.” But only those not fools can see a near totally united 90 million Iranians who are successfully punishing the US and Israeli war mongers determined to destroy them. 

Nether the US nor Israel has an exit strategy for their impending failure in Iran short of totally destroying it, possibly even with Israeli nukes. That, and not narrative devoid of reality on the ground should be addressed in the next Trib editorial on this unfolding catastrophe 

Walt Zlotow  West Suburban Peace Coalition  Glen Ellyn IL