It is just a matter of time before the tinderbox that is called the Middle East explodes, and when it does happen. The world will see a war unlike any other.
People, we Americans, do not understand how fragile the peace in the Middle East is. There is Israel, a Jewish State that is likened to in westerner invasion in the eyes of the Arab population. Then there are the extremist nations of Iran and Syria. Both have a deep hatred of the United States and Israel, and would rejoice if one or both fell. Of the two extremist nations, Iran is what I would consider a major threat. Not only is Iran seeking to become a nuclear power and is rattling its sabers.
I can tell you right now that if the United States doesn’t do anything to reduce the threat of Iran, Israel will strike. Just today Iran tested a long-range missile that has the ability to hit US bases in Iraq and targets in Israel. Combine that with Iran’s uranium enriching for “nuclear power” and you have the deadly situation. Because of this deadly potential, Israel might have no choice but to launch a pre-emptive strike against Iran. The major targets will be military facilities and nuclear plants.
Then Iran will claim that civilians where killed in the strike and whip up its citizenry into a war frenzy. Israel will attempt to justify its military strike. By this time majority of the major nations would issue public condemnation of Israel’s actions. Iran, however, cannot directly assault Israel since it must go through Iraq and Syria. I can foresee a missile barge from Iran followed by a military invasion by Syria. With Israel distracted it would give Palestine the chance to launch its own rebellion. Thus Israel will be faced with a dangerous two front war.
The only unknown factor is the USA. With Obama in the presidential office I cannot see what he will do. I understand that if Israel did launch a pre-emptive strike that Obama will join the rest of the nations in issuing a public condemnation; however, if Israel is attacked would Obama come to their aid. Most conservatives and right-wingers will agree that we must do something to help, yet this might actually be a bad thing. Remember we have military in Iraq and our military is stretched too thin. If USA does support Israel, Iran might just send its soldiers through Iraq on its way to Israel.
With this in place, the USA will be in a war just as devastating and long as Vietnam. Except the soldiers are not fighting for a socialistic ideology but for their god, and that is what will make this war far different. If American people thought that the 4,888 (4,300 in Iraq, 588 in Afghanistan) casualties from the Afghanistan and Iraq war are high, a war with Iran would cause deaths in the tens of thousands.
