Think it Through

Escalating tensions between Iran and the United States have been a leading news story for the last few weeks.  Worried commentators describe the situation as “dangerous.” Vladimir Putin has warned that a war with Iran could have “catastrophic” consequences for the Middle East.

The struggle between the United States and Iran has been going on since the Shah was driven out by Islamic fundamentalists during the Carter Administration.  It is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.  Rather than trying to solve it in a few short paragraphs, I would like to suggest a way for ordinary Americans to look at problems like this; and then allow you to draw your own conclusions.

The United States has determined that Iran has not acted in good faith regarding the Iran Nuclear Agreement negotiated by the Obama Administration.  President Trump has withdrawn the U.S. from the agreement, and has imposed economic sanctions the stated goal of which is to force Iran to renegotiate the terms of the agreement.  Iran has interfered with shipping in the area of the Gulf of Oman.  Consequently, the U.S. has increased its military presence in the area.  Iran shot down an unmanned American drone.  President Trump ordered a military strike on Iran in retaliation but called it back at the last minute.

Absent from most of the public discourse following President Trump’s decision has been what I call an “if - then” analysis.  Consequently, the scrutiny has been shallow and full of finger-pointing.  The solutions offered have been short-term fixes that do not get to the root of the problem.

If the United States had conducted the military strike on Iran, then what would have been their response?  If the United States had retaliated to that response, then how would Iran have responded to that?  Und so weiter.

As a people, one of our major weaknesses is impatience.  We want immediate solutions, which keeps our focus on the short-term.  We must learn to look at the consequences of the consequences of the consequences of our actions.  We need to think through all possible outcomes, and plan for the long-term.

President George W. Bush believed that the struggle in the Middle East would last a generation.  We need to understand Iran in terms of what the Iranian government says it wants.  If we take what they say at face value, then they want:

1.    The total obliteration of Israel.

2.    The destruction of the United States in its present form.

3.    The establishment of an Islamic Caliphate with Iran as its leader; first in the Middle East, and then throughout the world.

Iran’s bid to become a nuclear power is just a part of a much larger gestalt.  President Obama’s solution was to accept a nuclear Iran as inevitable and to delay it as long as possible.  President Trump’s solution is to declare that the United States will never allow Iran to become a nuclear power, to mean it, and to apply as much economic and military pressure as is needed to prevent that from happening.

Regardless, we Americans can expect to be dealing with problems in the Middle East for years to come, whether we are sick of it or not.  We need serious, long-term goals with all the possible actions and reactions gamed out in advance.

Hal Lindsey teaches that the Antichrist will come to world prominence by brokering a peace deal in the Middle East.  However, even that deal will not last.  A coalition of Middle Eastern countries, led by Russia, will attack Israel. (Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39)  The battle will be so horrible that it can only be ended by the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  Is the stage being set? Are you ready?  Accept Jesus as your savior today.  Make Him the Lord of your life.  Do it right now.