Ehud Olmert – who assumed the office of prime minister of Israel earlier this month – has already met with President Bush at the White House and addressed a joint session of Congress.
Now, you may remember that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, newly elected president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations shortly after he was elected last year.
Will Olmert also address the General Assembly?
Probably not. You see, the General Assembly has been passing about a dozen resolutions every year since 1976 – most of them critical of Israel – dealing with the seemingly irresolvable crisis created by the creation of Israel.
Israel just ignores them.
Why doesn’t the UN Security Council do something about that? Well, it would, but the United States vetoes every attempt.
Many Jews – Olmert among them – and some Christians view the establishment of Israel to be fulfillment of the Biblical passage "I will appoint a place for my people, Israel, and I plant them in their land, and they will dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more."
"We have succeeded in building a Jewish democratic homeland. We have succeeded in creating an oasis of hope and opportunity in a troubled region.
"But there has not been one year, one week, even one day of peace in our tortured land.
"Since the birth of the state of Israel and until this very moment, we have been continually at war and amidst confrontation. The confrontation has become even more violent, the enemy turned even more inhumane due to the scourge of suicide terrorism."
And who is this enemy who has recently become even more inhumane?
Basically, it’s the Palestinian quasi-government elected by Palestinians displaced almost 60 years ago by the establishment of the Jewish state. That government has just been taken over by Hamas, a Palestinian political party, which – according to Olmert – is "an organization committed to vehement anti-Semitism, the glorification of terror, and the total destruction of Israel."
Olmert commended Congress for "initiating the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, which sends a firm, clear message that the United States of America will not tolerate terrorism in any form."
Mission accomplished, right?
Not quite. You see, there’s Iran, which Olmert claims is Hamas’ chief sponsor. And Iran "stands on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. With these weapons, the security of the entire world is put in jeopardy."
Verge?
Entire world in jeopardy?
Get real, Olmert!
According to anyone who has had hands-on experience in uranium enrichment, it will take the Iranians at least five years – and an eternity if they remain a signatory to the Treaty on Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons – to develop the capability to produce, and then to actually produce, the weapons-grade enriched-uranium required to make simple, gun-type nuclear weapons.
Furthermore, on the basis of South Africa’s experience, in order to get an expected yield of 17-20 kilotons, the Iranian gun-type nukes would weigh at least a thousand pounds apiece.
So what did Ahmadinejad have to say last September to the General Assembly?
Well, he began [.pdf] by noting that
"With the passing of the era of agnostic philosophies, today humanity is once again joined in celebrating monotheism and belief in the Creator as the originator of existence. This is the common thread which binds us all. Faith will prove to be the solution to many of today’s problems."
Ahmadinejad is obviously "committed to vehement anti-Semitism, the glorification of terror, and the total destruction of Israel."
And what about Iran’s plans to put the entire world in jeopardy? Well, among other things;
- "The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates its previously and repeatedly declared position that, in accordance with our religious principles, pursuit of nuclear weapons is prohibited."
- "The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that it is necessary to revitalize the NPT and create the above-mentioned ad-hoc committee so that it can combat nuclear weapons and abolish the apartheid in peaceful nuclear technology."
- "Therefore, as a further confidence-building measure – and in order to provide the greatest degree of transparency – the Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to engage in serious partnership with private and public sectors of other countries in the implementation of uranium enrichment program in Iran."
Well, surely they’re going to withdraw from the NPT. Aren’t they?
"In keeping with Iran’s inalienable right to have access to a nuclear fuel cycle, continued interaction and technical and legal cooperation with the IAEA will be the centerpiece of our nuclear policy."
