Iran, not Israel, is the problem

Last week, it became clear that the U.S. Government has – and continues to have – a major security problem.  The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran has obtained leaked U.S. Intelligence documents which outline Israel’s plans for a retaliatory strike.  

This is but one of the stories that should be getting repeated coverage at the highest levels, but is going largely memory holed once minimally reported.  There seems to be no intellectual curiosity within the National Press Corps to dig a little deeper, and ask if this is but a small part of a much larger problem.  It is.

A functional Press – specifically the White House Press Corps and our largest national media outlets – have a duty first and foremost to skepticism.  For them to report the truth – all of it, not just the parts that are convenient and that support their chosen narrative – they must question everything, even when it is uncomfortable.  

We’re now just past the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ October 7^th massacre of innocent civilians.  It wasn’t just Israelis that were killed that day, but Americans as well as citizens of other countries.  It wasn’t just Jews that were killed, but Christians and Muslims were also among the victims.  Israel, after all, is one of the most diverse and accepting societies in the Middle East.

And yet, in the news coverage since, Israel has been the one our press demands defend its actions.  The “Ceasefire Now” narrative conveniently forgets it was Hamas – a proxy funded by Iran to conduct terror at only a slight arm’s length on their behalf – who broke a standing cease fire on that morning of October 7^th.  Those demanding Israel not respond nor defend itself have put themselves in a position that Israel must just accept occasional rape, murder, kidnapping along with the constant rocket attacks aimed at their civilian population.

Many of these national media outlets continue to quote the “Gaza Health Ministry” without mentioning that it is the central mouthpiece for Hamas’ propaganda. Their casualty statistics are completely fabricated within minutes of an Israeli operation, and often debunked well after they are printed in Western headlines and used back home for Middle Eastern propaganda.  

We largely ignore that time after time, organizations operating under the U.N. charter have their employees discovered to be working directly with and for Hamas and Hezbollah.  We instead point to the U.N. demands for immediate ceasefire, ignoring that members of the UN Human Rights Council includes Taliban controlled Afghanistan, China, Cuba, and many others whose governments represent the antithesis of human rights. 

Let’s not forget that the U.N. itself could do nothing to so much as inconvenience Russia after it steamrolled into Ukraine – a country the U.S. promised to protect in exchange for them giving up their nuclear weapons after the breakup of the U.S.S.R.  Our press seems to be quite cognizant of the very real danger Russia and Vladimir Putin present to the West – but only to the extent it can be tied to their influence on Donald Trump.  When it comes to Chinese spy after spy found working for Democratic politicians, the story is dutifully reported but again – little attempt to tie the problem to any sort of big picture.

Which brings us back to the Iran leak, and others before it.  In 2012, Israel’s plan to bomb Iran’s nuclear program was supplied to Iran in advance, thwarting perhaps the West’s best chance to keep Iran without nuclear bomb making capabilities.  Many within the national security apparatus of the Obama-Biden Administration then now work within the Biden-Harris Administration.  This includes Iranian Special Envoy Robert Malley, who had his security clearance revoked in the Spring of 2023, yet continued in his position with pay and without notification to Congress for months.

Joe Biden’s record as President and Vice President is one of sending direct cash to Iran as well as relaxing sanctions.  He’s also ensured Iran’s oil continues to flow into world markets to keep a lid on inflation here at home.  His Department of Justice has done virtually nothing to enforce Civil Rights laws as Jewish students have been targeted for harassment, intimidation, and even physical violence on college campuses across the country.  He’s said these protestors “have a point.”

Foreign influence on American affairs and national security is widespread, and from many quarters.  It can’t be a subject that is only put in sustained headlines when it is convenient or hurts “the right people”.  

America has a real problem with Iran, and an equal and growing problem with respect to how we are currently handling Iran. It’s time we addressed that directly, instead of pretending Israel is the problem.