Efforts to keep nuclear weapons out of Iranian hands are likely to fail, according to New York Times columnist David Brooks. Speaking to a large Jewish audience at a New York synagogue, Brooks mirrored my own long-held belief that ultimately, Iran will get nuclear weapons. Short of going to war to keep that from happening, I don’t see how it could be otherwise.
Technology, for better and for worse, spreads. That’s just how it is. Whether it was gun powder in the late Middle Ages or nuclear weapons today, eventually nations get the weaponry they want. And that will likely be the case in Iran. In fact, it is actually a little dangerous to pretend that anything short of a massive military intervention will keep the Iranians from getting the nukes that the mullahs do deeply desire.
Does that mean that we should not do what we can to slow the process? Of course not. We may even succeed in keeping the nukes out of Iranian hands. Should we go to war over their getting nukes? I hope not. I keep hearing arguments in favor of just that solution though, from many in the Jewish community. In fact, those attending Mr. Brooks’ lecture relate to a nuclear Iran as an almost apocalyptic event.
While there is no moral equivalence between the two governments, I do find it ironic that the only nation to have ever use nuclear weapons against other human beings is the most aggressive in keeping others from having them.
It’s not that I disagree with the value of a non-nuclear Iran, but a little self-awareness could go a long way in our not seducing ourselves into the wisdom of going to war to keep others from having what we already possess.
So, if we are not going to war and efforts at long-term prevention are likely to fail, what to do? We need to begin laying the groundwork for how to operate in a world in which Iran has nuclear weapons. Like every other unpleasant situation, we would rather pound our chests and make grand proclamations about “what we will never allow to happen” and how “evil must be stopped”. It’s all very emotionally satisfying, but it never really helps. In fact, it’s a kind of moral/political crack which we need more and more of and the more we consume, the worse off we are.
Apocalyptic thinking is rarely good thinking and never a good policy making tool. I know that Jews are especially practiced in the arts of forecasting destruction, particularly our own. But we need to lay off, whether it’s about Iran or a host of other issues.
Vigilance is crucial. Clear-eyed realism about the threats we face even more so. But planning for a future which we may not want will stand us in better stead than making dire predictions about how that reality will spell the end of the world. If history is any guide, the making of such predictions brings their fulfillment as much as anything else.
But figuring out how to live in new realities, even hated ones, actually works. Examples abound, but in light of the season, the success of Rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity compared with the disappearance of both the Jerusalem priesthood and the folks who lived at the Dead Sea, sort of prove the point. We need to decide which approach to take with Iran.
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
posted December 12, 2008 at 12:56 pm
What approach to take with Iran?
I don’t know, maybe the fact that Israel has hundreds of nukes it can aim at them figures somewhere in the discussion, don’t you suppose? It’s fine for Israel to be able to destroy its neighbors 20 times over, but heaven forfend one of those neighbors should get a relative firecracker. Israel is every bit as much the problem as Iran, or more. I am for a Jewish state, but I am very tired of the double standard on this.
posted December 12, 2008 at 1:43 pm
To me I do not believe that something is going to happen in this world until after Jesus Christ come in rapture the true believers then destruction is coming where a nuclear war will happen. Iran been had weapons for a while. All they want to do is too destroy Israel but I have to say is Israel needs to stop depending on their enemies and turn to God and this is why God is intervene into these affairs with Israel. That is why Israel is in Phophecy right now.
posted December 12, 2008 at 6:28 pm
That’s nice Paris.
Unfortunately, in your theology, that will leave us (the Jews) behind to suffer, so do you have any practical advice (besides become Xians, which won’t happen even if hell were to freeze over)?
posted December 13, 2008 at 11:28 am
The religious mentality of this country is disturbing and disgusting. Such utter devotion to ancient fairy tales (of differing varieties) is what has landed the US/Iran/Israel in this predicament. If a so-called “rapture” does occur, I’ll be thanking God for removing a big chunk of the United States’ most mentally deficient population in one fell swoop so the rest of us can progress.
posted December 13, 2008 at 11:46 am
Dear Gray,
I agree with you 100%. Only someone who based his decisions on FAITH would be so foolish as to invade another country and leave the bulk of the military at home.
Faith = Sin
Faith is a stupid irrational belief in something that is silly. In order to have Faith in something, it must be irrational. “Jesus died for your sins” is a nonsense statement. It has no reason meaning — none of Xianity mythology has any real meaning. Faith requires a belief in the nonsensical. One cannot have “Faith” in 2 + 2 = 4 as we KNOW that 2 + 2 = 4.
Basing one’s life on nonsense is as about as “sinful” as one can be in Jewish Tradition. Ignorance is not a Jewish value.
Nonetheless, ignorant Thumpers insist and pushing their ignorance upon us.
posted December 13, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Gray wrote:
“Such utter devotion to ancient fairy tales (of differing varieties) is what has landed the US/Iran/Israel in this predicament.”
If only it were that simple. Many elements in the US use their religious beliefs to justify their positions regarding military/political decisions in the global arena. But ultimately America’s actions are based on its INTERESTS. (I.e., money/ trade/ oil/ security/ etc.)
Khomeni’s Iran attempted to structure its positions fully on the religious positions of the “leaders.” But at least since Khomeni’s death their INTERESTS as they see them take precedence – even if WE think they don’t act in their own best interests.
Israel, well, you can argue with particular policies and actions, but you would be hard pressed to come up with a time when those policies and actions were not based in Israelis’ perceptions of their INTERESTS rather than on the basis of religious beliefs.
Individual religious positions may be used to bolster certain policy positions, but that is the cart not the horse.
L’Shalom,
Chaim
posted December 13, 2008 at 11:07 pm
“Israel, well, you can argue with particular policies and actions, but you would be hard pressed to come up with a time when those policies and actions were not based in Israelis’ perceptions of their INTERESTS rather than on the basis of religious beliefs.”
True enough. And isn’t it ironic that the Christian literalists line up to support Israel, at least to support Israel to bring it to Armageddon so they can be raptured to the sky.
But getting back to the original question, does anyone suppose Israel’s interests might be well served by treating the Iranians as if they were people, too, a threatened people, just as the Israelis are?
posted December 14, 2008 at 4:15 am
Rabbi Hirschfield,
This is really a complex and complicated situation. The problem is not necessary in the advancement of technology, but that the human mind is sometimes really not capable of using technology in the best interest of all. Once Iran gets nuclear weapons, it will become a very dangeorus situation for Israel and the rest of the world. We need to stop this from happening. But how? This is something we will seriously have to work on.
Peace is not easy to achieve, but why not have faith in peace and put the appropriate actions behind this faith? Real faith supported by the righ actions brings the good results. Faith, especially faith in Jesus, is not always nonsense if it is practiced the right way, even though sometimes people tend to misuse their “faith” or religion for selfish purposes. But the misuse of religion is not just a phenomenon of Christianity. We need to look at the fruits or results to know the quality of the tree or so called “faith”. I agree with that one.
Eric