The Israeli invasion of Iran has raised serious concerns about the possibility of world war three breaking out, if superpowers also come out in the open to complicate matters. India, which enjoys cordial relations with both the countries, has taken an ambivalent position, and appears, to be for the time, watching the emerging scenario very closely.
There are multiple dimensions of the present face-off that need to be understood with clarity. US President, Donald Trump, has been making statements which have been widely reported by the Western media that Washington was in the process of making up its mind on whether to join the war, while making it clear that his country stood solidly with Tel Aviv.
The question which arises is that Israel would not have dared to attack Iran, if it did not enjoy the complete support of the United States. It is obvious that the US is an active participant in this conflict even though its leaders and media are trying to create an erroneous perception of it being not involved as yet.
Shortly before the attack by Israeli forces, the US had supplied sophisticated missiles to enhance its arm capabilities. Simultaneously, US forces positioned in bases in West Asia as well as US navy in and around the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean have been in a state of full alert, thereby cautioning other countries regarding the consequences, if they try and jump into this conflict and side with Iran.
Although Israel has a very fine intelligence network, yet it has been receiving some important information regarding the movement and position of Iranian leaders and generals from the Americans. The precision with which many of the top military commanders and scientists have been targeted, further indicates that Tel Aviv was not alone in its onslaught against Iran, which despite its limitations has decided to fight back.
The reportage of the war has mostly been one sided and is heavily tilted to create the impression that it was Israel alone which had the upper hand and was inflicting one blow after the other on a country which it treats as its enemy. Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu has been maintaining a very firm stand and has time and again indicated that their goal was to bring about a regime change in Tehran.
It is another matter, that there are politicians and leaders within Israel, who would like the Netanyahu era to end since it has complicated matters for their country. In fact, according to one theory, Bibi knows that his tenure was coming to an end and is therefore engaging with continued hostilities in West Asia. He could be even charged for his misdemeanours once this war ends.
In attempting to understand the genesis and anatomy of the current invasion of Iran, several factors need to be taken into account. There is always a difference between the stated objective of any such action and the real objective. In this case, the world is being informed by Western news agencies that Israel carried out pre-emptive strikes because Iran was on the verge of building a nuclear bomb.
Iran has been having the nuclear programme for many years now and was in fact into negotiations with the United States to reach some kind of amicable settlement following Washington’s concerns. The talks were on, but Israel attacked using drones and sophisticated weapon systems. It never expected that there could be large scale retaliation, since every country has its own pride and honour to look after once it is under any kind of invasion.
Despite incurring heavy losses, Tehran has decided to fight back. This brings us to what can possibly be the real objective of this aggression. Washington has long been worried about the challenge to its supremacy in many parts of the world. China and Russia have been talking about a new world order where the role of the dollar would be diminished and those wanting to purchase oil and other similar products could trade in the currencies of other countries as well, thus ending the US monopoly,
The challenge to the petro-dollar would obviously impact the US economy in a very large manner and also end its hegemony in the world. At present, America is the sole superpower but this may change. In the latest instance, Israel may just be the front but it is Washington which has its own objectives which it is wishing to fulfil through this conflict.
One needs to recall that when George Bush (Jr) ordered the invasion of Iraq, the excuse was that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. In fact, the real objective was to take control of the oil sites, and it was later discovered that there were no WMDs in Iraq at that time. It was too late by then.
Trump is delusional and recently asked residents of Tehran to evacuate. It was evident that there were plans to carpet bomb the Iranian capital in furtherance of its agenda and to ascertain the reactions of China and Russia. There has to be sanity. Between us.
