The two greatest physicists in history, writing centuries apart, agreed on one thing. Sir Isaac Newton wrote: "I can calculate the motion of the heavenly bodies but not the madness of people". Albert Einstein wrote: "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the universe".
Having rescued the faltering Iranian tyranny, the six world powers led by the Obama/Kerry cabal in the United States are already witnessing the results of their collective stupidity and madness, although it would be too much to expect them to admit it yet, or perhaps ever. A reinvigorated and unleashed Iran, dedicated to the destruction of the US and Israel, is now actively engaged in combat in Iraq and especially in Syria.
As far as Israel is concerned, Iranian troops in Syria is a nightmare in the making. The Russian presence is not a threat to Israel, but the Iranian/Hezbollah/Assad combination definitely is. Should the Assad regime become consolidated in the Alawite coastal enclave and down to Damascus, it will be a puppet government in the hands of the Russians and the Iranians. Russia will be satisfied with the protection of its air and naval assets in Latakia and Tartus, but Iran, along with its terrorist proxy Hezbollah, will see its installation on the borders of Israel as an opportunity to begin to implement the Israel part of the constant chants of "Death to America; Death to Israel".
Israel is certainly not defenseless and Russia has incentives to dissuade the Iranians from creating a situation which might put at risk its Syrian assets, but at least until January of 2017 Israel cannot count on the US for diplomatic or political backup, although so far defense and intelligence cooperation has continued unhampered. Israel can attempt to consolidate its relations with Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which are also at risk from a reinvigorated Iran, but they are all, except for Jordan, distant from any outbreak of violent activity on the northern border regions.
Long before Newton, the Greek philosopher Democritus wrote: "...alliances with despots are never safe for free states." More wisdom lost on those whose madness and/or stupidity has landed us in this dangerous situation.
Norman A. Bailey, Ph.D., is Adjunct Professor of Economic Statecraft at The Institute of World Politics, Washington, DC, and teaches at the Center for National Security Studies and Geostrategy, University of Haifa.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 26, 2015
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