Prof. Sam Lehman-Wilzig: Dum(b)ocrats
I’ve been living in Israel for close to half a century but continue to retain my U.S. party registration as a Democrat. As I see it, “unfortunately my” party has turned into the “Dumbo-crats” (the elephant association is not an accident; see further down). The reason for such a neologism? The party’s ever-widening policy approach to the latest Iran War.
According to the polls, the majority of Democrats are against the U.S./Israel war on Iran. They’re misguided on several accounts.
First, the irony in the party’s name. Just a couple of months ago, hundreds of thousands of Iranians took to the streets to demonstrate against the highly theocratic and autocratic regime running the country. According to internal polling there, many millions are against the regime but probably too afraid to show this openly – perhaps correctly, as thousands (perhaps even 20,000-30,000) were brutally killed by the regime’s henchmen. Why? Because the protesters were demanding some form of democracy in their country! And this is what American “Democrats” don’t want to aid?
Let’s be clear: when the U.S. Government attempts regime change in an overseas country with no significant indication that its populace wishes that – or no sign that they seek to turn their country into a democracy – then America should not get involved. But when tens of thousands sacrifice their lives trying to attain that exalted goal, there’s sufficient reason for American intervention.
Second, it’s true that not every sufficient cause translates automatically into a necessary cause. In the case of Iran, however, there is a clear necessity – a regime that consistently and explicitly (https://www.iranintl.com/en/202311194318) calls for the destruction of America’s closest ally (Israel), not to mention viewing the United States itself as “Satan” i.e., reason enough to cause as much trouble in America as possible.
Nor are these simply empty words. It has been pursuing nuclear capabilities to carry out just such a policy despite claims that its nuclear program is exclusively geared to peaceful purposes. That might be reasonable for a country without energy resources; indeed, nuclear power plants are making a comeback in Japan, in a few European countries, and even in the United States. But among all energy-resource leaders Iran is ranked third in the world (second largest in proven natural gas reserves; third in proven oil) – hardly in any need for nuclear power. Combining nuclear weapons with a sworn policy of eliminating another country – well, the writing isn’t merely on the wall, it’s shouting from there!
And who’s on the firing line? The Jewish State. Do those Democrats really wish to go down in history as the 21st century’s equivalent of Neville Chamberlain? (“Peace in Our Time”). Do they really want to wait and see what the mullahs will “actually” do with their nuclear arsenal?
Third, as President Trump detailed it, this Iranian regime has a long history of attacking and killing Americans abroad. And if the Democrats think that it’s not something to worry about in mainland America, where do they think part of its rampant anti-Semitic attacks are coming from: financed, armed, and or ideologized? Indeed, Iran today is the leading provider of financial and military resources to proxies around the world to stir up mayhem – and guess what: the U.S. (the “Great Satan”) is part of that “world.” True, America cannot be the globe’s “police force” to curtail every menacing regime, but there’s a big difference between stopping a regional pain-in-the-butt and fighting a world-spanning demonic force seeking the means to deliver an Armageddon as it sees fit.
Fourth, there’s an irony in the Democratic Party’s approach to this issue: it has taken upon itself the mantle of the MAGA crowd i.e., the core supporters of today’s Republican Party (whose symbol is an elephant; traditionally, the party of Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt did not act like a “Dumbo”). The MAGA movement has been pushing for American neo-isolationism writ large. Do the Democrats really want to join that benighted approach to the 21st century’s international (dis)order? Is this where the party of FDR, JFK and Clinton really want to be? And for what short-term reason: oil prices will be higher for a month or two?
Speaking of which, fifth and finally: Iran’s oil infrastructure. Heavy sanctions on its oil production equipment have led to a severe decline in foreign investment and technology, thereby hindering the country’s ability to modernize its oil and gas infrastructure – leading to a gradual decline in oil field pressure. The sanctions, of course, also hit its sales that have dropped by 25% over the past decade. So imagine what eventually happens after the mullah’s regime is put out of business, the sanctions are lifted, and Iran’s oil and gas fields are brought back to full production: world oil/gas prices plummet – permanently!
My lifelong political affiliation isn’t with the “Democratic Party, but Only in America.” Its generic name – “Democratic Party” – involves at least some allegiance to the concept and the practice of democracy elsewhere, especially when a ruthless, religiously maniacal regime such as Iran’s Shiite Mullahs threatens its closest ally specifically, and world peace, in general. And if there’s a short-term price to pay, think of it as an “investment” in the future: monetary and Middle East peace in one package.
