What would you do?
By Andrew B. Adler Owner/Publisher AAdler@ atljewishtimes .com
“…a war in 2017 would likely include the firing of 15,000 rockets and missiles into Israeli cities, causing unprecedented devastation and casualties.”
(Jerusalem Post 1/3/2012 online edition)
You are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. You are responsible for 7 million Israeli citizens who comprise the state of Israel. You wake up one morning, and the Israel Defense Forces’ military commander hands you a detailed report regarding what to expect during a major conflict with Hezbollah and Syria five years from today.
The report states that Israel will come under fire from 15,000 rockets and missiles, and that casual-ties will be in the thousands. That’s thousands, not hundreds – thou-sands. Simultaneously, another IDF military commander strolls over while you are finishing your first cup of coffee and hands you a report that Iran has reached nuclear launch capabilities.
If that’s not enough, an Israeli diplomat informs you that you cannot expect much help from the United States due to its newly implemented military budget and the administration’s never ending “Alice in Wonderland” belief that diplomacy is the answer.
To all the Netanyahus out there, what do you do? Well, here are your “Kobayashi Maru” options. “Kobayahi Maru” is a term used in “Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan” to de-scribe a no-win scenario or facing a solution that involves redefining the problem.
One, order a pre-emptive strike against both Hezbollah and Hamas, knowing that military and civilian casualties will be high, but not as high as they would be in 2017.
Two, go against Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s wishes that Israel take a lethal bullet in the name of preserving a healthy, worldwide economic climate, and order the destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities at all costs.
Three, give the go-ahead for U.S.- based Mossad agents to take out a president deemed unfriendly to Israel in order for the current vice president to take his place, and forcefully dictate that the United States’ policy includes its helping the Jewish state obliterate its enemies.
Yes, you read “three” correctly. Order a hit on a president in order to preserve Israel’s existence. Think about it. If I have thought of this Tom Clancy-type scenario, don’t you think that this almost unfathomable idea has been discussed in Israel’s most inner circles?
Another way of putting “three” into perspective goes something like this: How far would you go to save a nation comprised of seven million lives…Jews, Christians and Arabs alike?
You have got to believe, like I do, that all options are on the table. With this in mind, I again ask you, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, what would you do?
