Obama's Iran Vow

There, he's done it. Stated his solidarity, should he become president of the United States, with the existential aspirations and needful security of the State of Israel. Are all those doubters stilled now? Are they reassured that Senator Barack Obama - in forthrightly stating his sincere regard for Israel and his determination, as a leading candidate for the highest office in America - can now be trusted to stand by his solemn word? They should be.

For in unequivocally spelling out his position as being right in line with traditional U.S. government policy with respect to aiding that tiny Middle East democracy, he has taken a bold foreign policy step, one that has deeply disappointed many other countries, entities and personalities in the Middle East. And doubtless, elsewhere. None of them, admittedly, democratic. Many of them however, hoping for a turnover in administration that would ultimately usher in a sea-change in government policy.

"I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Everything." Everything? What leaps so readily to mind, is invasion following real, believable threats that Tehran could no longer ignore, as it has so blithely brushed off the threats of sanction by the United Nations, the European Union, the United States. Perhaps Tehran has taken heart by the reluctance of powerful UN Security Council members like China and Russia to be too hard on its tender sensibilities.

"Let me be clear. Israel's security is sacrosanct. It is non-negotiable", Mr. Obama assured his listeners. "I will bring to the White House an unshakable commitment to Israel's security." In so doing, sacrificing something fairly obvious; the anticipation of foreign onlookers, fascinated by the tense political race to the White House, and certain that in the personage of a proud Black American president there would be an altered perspective.

Iran's prophet of Israel's doom declared yet again that his country would be the instrument of destruction of the Jewish state, terming the country a "fabricated regime", doomed to expire in any event. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is confident in his assertions, firm in the knowledge that he has the support of other, less up-front regimes and politicians who would not mourn the passing of the State of Israel, by any means, including nuclear annihilation.

"People like my comments, because this way the public can save themselves from the imposition of the Zionists."

And here is Barack Obama reciting a litany of promises to ensure the safety and security of Israel through the kind and continuing auspices of United States' determination to support a friend and ally. "Jerusalem must remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided", said Senator Obama.

Adding that whatever agreement Israel reaches with the Palestinian Authority, the character of Israel as a Jewish state must remain intact. Clearly and without equivocation placing himself firmly on the side of Israel with respect to "right of return", the indivisibility of Jerusalem, and Israel as a homeland for Jews.

And with his uncompromising assurances ensuring that he has disengaged himself from the hopeful anticipation of Palestinian authorities and intransigent Palestinian jihadists who will not surrender their "struggle".

In the process his declarations have dismayed Fatah PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas who has rejected Senator Obama's statements. And, advised Mr. Abbas's advisor in the peace process, Barack Obama had "shut all of the doors on achieving peace." The PA's version of the achievability of peace being inclusive of refugee return, denial of Israel's Jewish character, insistence on Jerusalem's division.

Not only has the "legitimate" PA authority been snubbed and hard done by, but Hamas too. That intransigent terror militia poised to resume agreements once again with Fatah and ultimately re-assert itself into the PA body politic, has been angered beyond endurance. Earning the dismissive declaration that "Hamas does not differentiate between the two candidates for presidency, Obama and John McCain, because their policies are no different."

Does that, perchance, pain Senator Obama? One somehow doubts that. But it should go a long way to silencing his critics on this particular file, one would logically think.