Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Can Russia Save the Day?

by Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich

"You are my creator, but I am your master—obey!" So said the Monster to its creator Frankenstein(1). As with the monster and its creator, we witness once again Israel telling America to obey – to start yet another war of choice and massacre Iranians.

For over six decades, Israel has demanded full obedience from the United State. Every U.S. president, pressured by the pro-Israel lobbies in the United States and the Congressional members whose primary loyalty is to Israel at the expense of America’s national interest, have been forced to comply with the ever-increasing bellicose Israeli demands. No wonder Benjamin Netanyahu imagines himself unstoppable.

Netanyahu, one of the most dangerous Israeli leaders, is demanding another war so that he may continue the aggressive usurpation of Palestinian and Arab lands uninterrupted by public opinion and disregard for international laws. The thuggish Netanyahu came to Washington to demand surrender from its puppet master, America, like every other Israeli politician before him. He demands sacrifice from Americans in the firm belief that all sacrifice is justified having witnessed his own brother Yonatan Netanyahu get killed in a 1976 Israeli false flag operation in Entebbe, Uganda.

Lending support to his conviction is the American cover-up of US servicemen murdered by Israel. When the USS Liberty was attacked by Israelis and the servicemen deliberately massacred, the Johnson Administration’s cover-up of the tragic event send a clear message to Israel: American leaders have your back, even if you murder our citizens.

However, the Soviet message to the Israelis and America was different -- as one hopes Russia’s will be.

In January 1970, Israel’s deep penetration raids into Egypt, prompted Nasser to plea to the Soviets for help. The Soviets sent a warning to President Nixon who dismissed it (thanks to a faulty Israeli intelligence analysis of the Soviet intentions and capabilities). By March, the Soviets had provided Egypt with air defense and Soviet troops equipped with advanced weaponry arrived in Egypt. In addition to the 10,000 Soviet technicians, Soviet pilots were flying Egyptian planes in combat (Ball ’92). The firm action taken by the Soviets forced Israel to modify its tactics and stop its deep penetration raids.

Perhaps it is time for Russia to once again stop this aggressive madness so that balance and sanity may resume.

The Israeli plan to wage war on Iran, will, by necessity, drag in the whole region and make the conflict global in scope. But how important is Iran or the other Islamic countries devastated by US-Israel? As Azar Gat, Ezer Weizman professor of National Security at Tel Aviv University opined (Foreign Affairs, July-August 2007), “radical Islam” poses “no significant military threat to the developed world..” The significant challenge, she contended, emanates from China and Russia operating under “authoritarian capitalist” poised for a comeback.

This self-serving portrayal has been coupled with absurd religious zealotry in the same quarters with devastating effect. Powerful Jews and Christians (such as AIPAC) who believe in a "final battle" of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel (38:1 - 39:29) preceded by a period of violence, chaos and war, view Israel’s expansionist agenda and America’s imperial ambitions through ideologically tainted lenses.

This mindset was well demonstrated when in October 2007, President Bush remarked that a nuclear Iran would mean World War III, at which time Israeli newscasts on channels 2 and 10 featured Gog and Magog maps of the likely alignment of nations in that potential conflict: on one side were Israel, the United States, Britain, France and Germany; on the other were Iran, Russia, China, Syria and North Korea. (The current GOP Presidential debate (with the exception of Ron Paul) point to this dangerous mindset).

It comes as no surprise that in 2008, the influential pro-Israel Dennis Ross, had a meeting with the Syrian “opposition group” chief, Anas al-Abdah (see here) to discuss “Syria in-transition” – years before the current uprisings, but without a doubt, a major contributing factor to the current unrest - a policy that continues today. 

While Iran (and Syria) is the direct target of an immediate attack, it is not the ultimate target.

Russia’s policies have been based on Realpolitik. As such, in the interest of its national interest, Russia must place a premium on preventing an Israeli/US led war with Iran, and the prelude to such a war – the illegal and immoral “crippling sanctions”. Although Russia and Iran have had a tainted history in the past, it must be emphasized that preventing the disintegration and upheaval of the countries in the region will serve both nations and strengthen the resistance barrier to the planned global domination, future wars, and help avert the potential for a catastrophic world war.

Such deterrence is possible under the strength and resolve shown by Vladimir Putin. Perhaps aware of Putin’s strength prompted America to increase its aid to Russian dissidents. In 2008, Congress provided an additional $6 million for “human rights defenders and political activists in Russia.” In line with these tactics, attempts were made to delegitimize the election results in Russia and create chaos in order to weaken the nation and its resolve – the usual NED and Freedom House tactic.

There has never been more need for Russia to demonstrate its resolve. As elected president, Mr. Putin would do well to draw his own “red lines” by addressing the UN Security Council and stating firmly and irrevocably that a preventative/preemptive attack on Iran (or Syria) is illegal, and unacceptable, which will draw reaction from Russia. Mr. Putin should ask that the United States firmly, openly, and honestly (without giving Israel the green light privately, which the US has done many times) reject the notion that Israel has the ‘right’ to launch such and illegal act.

Perhaps with a show of strength from Russia, other countries will join in to resist wars of choice, ushering in a new era of renewed hope for the future of humanity and this planet.

Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich has a Master’s degree in Public Diplomacy from USC Annenberg for Communication and Journalism and USC School of International Relations. She is an independent researcher and writer with a focus on U.S. foreign policy and the role of lobby groups in influencing US foreign policy.

(1)There is a common misconception that Frankenstein is the monster; it is in fact the name of the creator.