* By Jaime Suchlicki
As the smoke of Hamas’ unprovoked brutal attack against Israel on October 7 begins to dissipate, a new critical reality emerges. The Hamas invasion was designed primarily to entice an Israeli invasion of Gaza that would entangle the Israeli army in that territory while Iran and Hezbollah launch a massive attack to destroy or at least cripple Israel.
First, it is naïve to think that the Hamas leadership launched this attack on its own, without consulting/coordinating with Iran/or Hezbollah. Second, the Muslin triumvirate knew that an attack on Israeli civilians would provoke a retaliatory Israeli attack on Gaza. The destruction of Hamas and the occupation of Gaza would have been a welcomed response but for a possible attack by Hezbollah/Iran. Sacrificing several thousand Hamas terrorists in Gaza only makes sense if it leads to the partial or total destruction of Israel.
The U.S. will not let this happen. The recent deployment of two aircraft carriers to the mediterranean indicates a U.S. warning to Iran and a willingness to protect Israel. But a U.S. involvement in a Middle Eastern War will probably have major implications. It would weaken U.S. support for Ukraine and the possible defeat of the Zelinsky resistance to the Russian invasion. Also, it may accelerate Beijing’s ambitions over Taiwan and elsewhere. The new world order that would emerge would feature a domineering Russia-China coalition and a weakened U.S. leadership. The new realignment of world forces will create a new world as dangerous or more than the one that prevailed during World War Two.
Yet this scenario may be avoidable and a check mate of Israel preventable. The United States should cancel all relations with Iran, renew sanctions, and stop any cash transfers. It should close our borders and prevent any terrorists from entering the U.S. It should increase defense spending and military preparations. It should unleash oil production in the United States and offshore. It should strengthen relations with allies and prepare for a growing hostile world.
| *Jaime Suchlicki is Director of the Cuban Studies Institute, CSI, a non-profit research group in Coral Gables, FL. He is the author of Cuba: From Columbus to Castro & Beyond, now in its 5th edition; Mexico: From Montezuma to the Rise of the PAN, 2nd edition, and Breve Historia de Cuba. |
