FM: John Whitbeck
It should be evident to all that it would not make sense for any
country to possess nuclear weapons if that country would never
consider using them even if it were facing a humiliating
military defeat.
This was at least theoretically relevant to the war in Ukraine,
where European "leaders" initially hoped -- and some appear
still to hope -- to inflict a humiliating defeat upon Russia.
Have these "leaders" never considered that, were they ever to be
close to "success" in achieving this objective, it would be
entirely rational for the Russian leadership to use
Russia's nuclear weapons -- potentially not against Ukraine but,
rather, against their own countries?
Fortunately, this was never a serious threat, because inflicting
a humiliating defeat upon Russia, which is vastly larger than
Ukraine, patient and certain to prevail in any long-lasting war
of attrition, has always been inconceivable.
However, there is ample cause to be worried about the threatened
or actual use of nuclear weapons arising out of Israel's current
war of aggression against Iran.
Israel is vastly smaller than Iran, impatient and unlikely to
prevail in any long-lasting war of attrition.
Israeli leaders are already quite frank and open in arguing that
Israel cannot hope to achieve its declared objectives in this
war unless President Trump decides, contrary to international
law, the U.S. Constitution and the wishes of a substantial
majority of the American people, to participate directly in
higher-level military action against Iran.
It is not unreasonable to imagine that, if Trump continues to
hesitate in the coming days, Prime Minister Netanyahu will tell
Trump that, unless the United States actively joins the fight to
"finish the job" and "end the war" with its bunker-buster bombs
and other massive destructive capabilities, Israel will have no
choice but to use its nuclear weapons against Iran in
order to do so.
A bluff? Who would know? Who would wish to find out?
Netanyahu is fond of biblical references as justifications for
his crimes. "Amalek" for the extermination of the people of
Gaza. "Operation Rising Lion" for his war against Iran.
For decades, the "Samson Option" has been evoked with respect to
Israel's nuclear weapons arsenal.