Jerusalem, Israel - A radical Islamic front, led by Iran and including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Al-Qaeda, is making a bid to expand its brand of theocratic rule throughout the Muslim world, with the aim of dominating the West as well. If the U.S. retreats in the face of this challenge, militant Islamism will advance.
Israel may or may not be the first victim of this advance, but we will not be the last. As the 9/11 attacks illustrated, the Islamists have tired of pretending that Israel is their only, or even primary enemy. As the Iranians put it, Israel is the "Little Satan," while the U.S. is the "Great Satan."
James Baker and, judging by his Senate testimony, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, seem to have little compunction about compromising Israel's interests in a world in which the U.S. has decided to live with an Iranian nuclear arsenal. This is just like those who, in the 1930s, were willing to sacrifice Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany in an effort to buy "peace in our time."
It won't work. For an Iranian-dominated Muslim world, Israel is the hors d'oevre; America and Europe are the meal.
Saul Singer has posted an extended response to readers' comments here.
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