US strikes on Iran: Point of no return?
The American-led strike took many by surprise since Mr Trump had, just on the eve of the strike, talked of giving Israel and Iran 15-days to negotiate in Muscat, Oman, an agreement on Iran's nuclear programme. Yet I say it was no surprise, given that lies have recently gained ground as a modern means of strategic deception in conflict management, and promises of peace are made while preparing for stabs in the back. I see no excuse for the Iranians to have swallowed the US bait a second time, following the initial strike by Israel on 12 June.
Now, with the second strike on Iran that targeted three nuclear sites, have we reached the point of no return? Does Iran have any power to avenge itself against Israel? And will any other country rush to support Iran just as the US supported Israel? As I write this, I see the coming days bringing on severe hazards that do not point at any peace between Iran and Israel. There are fears that Iran might, in desperation, execute some irrational retaliatory action; it brings to mind the saying: the hero is the one who's lost everything.. who has nothing left to lose.
Today, I bring to my readers excerpts from a rich dialogue that, even if it took place prior to the US strike on Iran, introduced arguments that are still valid. The dialogue, which was broadcast on 20 June on Judge Andrew Napolitano's podcast 'Judging Freedom' under the title 'What if the US does attack Iran', took place with John Mearsheimer, 77, American political scientist and international relations scholar, R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor at University of Chicago.
Judge Napolitano started by asking: Is Israel prevailing in its war against Iran, as the mainstream in the West claims?
In reply, Prof Mearsheimer said: 'No, Israel is in serious trouble… President Trump said Israel is winning… but the question is: what does winning mean?' To win, the Professor said, is to have a goal and the strategy to achieve it. Israel, he explained, has three stated goals: to eliminate the nuclear capability of Iran, to bring about a regime change and, as articulated by President Trump himself, unconditional surrender by Iran. The first goal cannot be achieved by Israel without US support, and even then Irans's nuclear programme, the uranium enrichment cannot be eliminated. As to the second goal, he said, regime change can never be achieved without invading Iran, something no one in his right mind would do. The third goal of unconditional surrender is laughable, because Iranians will fight till the last person before that happens. So Israelis have no way of achieving the goals they set out to do.
Do any serious players actually believe that Iran has nuclear weapons?
'There's no evidence now that Iran has nuclear weapons… but there's no question that Iran has significant nuclear enrichment capabilities that takes them close to having a bomb… but they're a good distance from that now. But you can't tell that to Trump and Netanyahu.'
Do you foresee a circumstance under which the Russians or the Chinese will get involved militarily?
'If you're talking about them getting directly involved in the fight, absolutely not. If you're talking about diplomatic, economic, or military support, the answer is certainly yes.' He explained that there is a vested interest for Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran to stick together against the US, Israel and Ukraine. So they will support one another but not get into the fight.
Shouldn't there be in America a great debate about the nature and extent of our involvement in a war that could be disastrous? Why should a person who changes his mind every 10 minutes meet with five people who tell him what he wants to hear make this decision rather than great debates in the House and the Senate on America's role in the world?
'Oh it's very simple. You can't have a great debate on any issue involving Israel. It's just impermissible; the lobby won't allow it. And the reason is that if you have a debate it won't come out in Israel's favour, and this cannot be allowed.'
The Professor joined Judge Napolitano in decrying the state of freedom and democracy in the US, and the manner in which decisions are taken. It all ran against the elevated principles that once prevailed in the West, they said, but which are now never upheld, even as the Israeli lobby wields authority over politicians and mainstream media, and as wars, destruction, and genocide are unashamedly promoted under false pretexts. This, they agreed is how the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran, are explained off.
Watani International
27 June 2025 Comments
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