Iran's Treachery--What Are We Missing Here?

Iran’s Treachery—What Are We Missing Here?

By Bill Breakstone
September 29, 2009

Twenty-four hours ago, the Cable News Channels performed a “full-court press” with their coverage of Iran’s disclosure [under immense pressure] of a second nuclear enrichment facility near Quom, and the brief statements made by President Obama, French President Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh.

This news hit the wires far too late to be included in Friday’s East Coast newspapers; thus, the first reportage we saw was in today’s New York Times and Washington Post. And the news articles, opinion pieces and editorials were indeed excellent. I read through them all, word for word. But in all those pages and columns, something was missing! A six letter work that begins with “I” and ends with “L”. Not one mention!

Now, imagine you’re a citizen and resident of that Country. [Note bene: Following in the footsteps of these illustrious newspapers, I will not spell that out for you either!] Practically on your doorstep is another Country that has lied and cheated its way toward acquiring the capabilities of producing a nuclear weapons capability. And this Nation denies that the Holocaust ever took place, denies the legality of your State, and is pledged to its destruction. How would you feel? Threatened? Paranoid? You bet your butt!

Yet not a word or even a hint of concern in these two leading newspapers. Are we missing something here? I think not. Harsh sanctions will work, IF they can be unanimously be adopted by the UN Security Council. They might even lead to a popular revolt in Iran that could topple the Islamic Government. But I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for this to happen.

No, there’s something else at work here. This “secret” Nation has shown great patience over the past 10 years as we have all been lied to by Tehran. Now, on the eve of the first meaningful talks to be held with it in a decade, there they go again—caught with their hands in the cookie jar. My guess is that patience noted above has now worn out. It was only nine months ago that their military conducted an extensive exercise to prove that they had the long-range capability to do what may have been needed in the long term. And our World’s leaders are fully aware of that fact, and may well have pressured the media to “keep hands off.”

Whatever, the gathering clouds over the Middle East will surely darken, and do so quickly. The experts seem to agree that Iran could have nuclear weapons within three years if they continue at their current pace. What’s the old saying? “Time waits for no man?” I would not feel so secure right now if I were living in a palace in Tehran.