LAST WEEK Iran decided to create animosity for animosity's sake. One of the Iranian delegates for the United Nation's International Atomic Energy Association promised "harm and pain" to the United States if they allowed the U.N. to impose sanctions on the country as a punishment for pursuing a nuclear weapons program, according to the Associated Press. This angry and obstinate attitude is bad enough for the United States, but realistically Iran is not as of yet a direct physical threat to the country.
However, the new surly attitude of Iran should be a chilling signal to a much closer allied nation, Israel. While Israel has a strong military relative to its size, any nuclear missiles developed by Iran would be designed to have the ability to reach Israel proper due to Iran's animosity toward the nation.
With very turbulent times in the Middle East and an irrational enemy, support from one country is not enough. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization should allow Israel and other Middle Eastern democracies to join in order to provide security not only from Iran, but also from any coordinated military effort by other radical nations. Both the United States and other Western nations need to make sure that they are not just tough on Iran but that they are also truly willing to aid their allies, particularly Israel.
Israel has been threatened in the past, and was severely crippled before the U.S. intervened. The Yom Kippur War with Egypt in 1973 decimated much of Israel's military after a joint attack from Egypt and Syria. After a long and drawn-out effort by Israel, the U.S. intervened and prevented any more bloodshed from occurring through bilateral talks and compromise.
While Egypt now formally recognizes Israel's existence and has long held a ceasefire with Israel, Iran looks increasingly similar to the Egypt of the 1970s. Allowing Israel to join NATO will certainly not stop Iran from working towards its destruction.But a Western alliance can provide additional incentive against an attack from radical regimes.
Some of the more radical Muslim nations may believe that allowing Israel to join NATO would express favoritism over other Muslim countries, despite the fact that Turkey, one of the largest Islamic nations in the world, is also a member. However, one way to ease in Israel into NATO would be to also accept another democratic Muslim nation at the same time in order to not only to create more support but also to protect other stable democracies in the region.
While it is difficult to find many stable nations in the Middle East, Jordan is known for both key alliances with the U.S. and other Western nations, as well as for being a key supporter in the War on Terror. While many Jordanians fear criticizing their country's government, according to a poll released last year by the University of Jordan's Center for Strategic Studies, citizens have shown a slowly increasing trust in free speech within their country, showing that the country is liberalizing and moving towards democracy.
Additionally, an increasing number of Jordanians are rejecting the legitimacy of terrorist organizations and a majority decries terrorist attacks in a later January poll. Though Jordan is not the most ideal democracy in the world, the country does hold legitimate elections and could prove a useful ally in NATO, as well as represent a symbol for unity between the West and the Muslim World. While Jordan's government might not decide join NATO if the offer arises, NATO needs to show commitment to Middle Eastern democracies such as Jordan in order to display solidarity with nations committed to peaceful representative government.
While the original goal of NATO was to counter the threat posed by the Soviet Union, the role of NATO has changed. Now NATO must work to make sure that stable democracies can survive and flourish, particularly when there is a strong enemy looming overhead that is actively seeking the destruction of peaceful democratic values. In turbulent times, the West should protect its allies as much as it possibly can.
While finding countries in the Middle East with impeccable democratic credentials is nearly impossible as of this point, there are a few countries that are willing to work out peace and decry the increasing militarization of Iran. Both the United States and the Western World must be willing to protect these nations, even if this means a promise for military action if needed. Compromises must be made in threatening times, and the world needs allies against its new antagonist.
Adam Silverberg's column appears Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at asilverberg@cavalierdaily.com.
Read More
BURSTEIN: Federal workforce cuts target Virginia — and Youngkin’s response falls short
By Carly Burstein | 3 days agoForcing employees to choose between uprooting their families or losing their livelihoods is not just callous — it is economically reckless.
HUYNH: Virginia’s proposed ‘whippets’ law is laughable
By Viet Huynh | 4 days agoAs people continue to be harmed by nitrous oxide abuse, Virginians will see this new law as the ineffective, ultimately harmful policy that it is.
EDITORIAL: We can demand more of our university presidents
By Editorial Board | 4 days agoWe hope for greater transparency because for the principles of solidarity in this statement to be enacted and effective, stakeholders must be treated as partners in resistance.
