By Andrew L. Jaffee

It seems that Israel and the U.S. are the only nations willing to deal with Iran. While many Westerners live their lives, oblivious to foreign affairs, Iran is developing a nuclear bomb. It may not yet be an immediate threat, but it won’t take long, especially given the belief system of Iran’s rulers. “Supreme leader” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has openly called for attacks against the West (“…the great Satan is responsible. The direction of the attacks and objections should be focussed on those that benefit from these unfair remarks by the pope…”). Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has urged that Israel be “wiped off the map,” and denied that the Holocaust ever occurred. Ahmadinejad fervently believes in — has a “presidential obsession” with — mahdaviat, “the restorer of religion and justice who will rule before the end of the world.” Apocalyptic enough for you? Apparently not enough to spur the West into action. From the AP:

But it appears increasingly unlikely that the United States can muster enough support in the 15-member U.N. Security Council to make good on that threat.

Most of its allies, alarmed at the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq and an uncertain future in Lebanon, have little stomach for yet another Middle East showdown.

So that Aug. 31 U.N. deadline to halt uranium enrichment or face sanctions has turned out to mean little. And some experts believe Iran may be able to fend off serious international action for years more — as it continues its nuclear program.

The UN deadline? Meaningless, especially in light of the fact that France, China, and Russia sit on the Security Council. French President Chirac has just taken first place as a nuclear Iran appeaser:

It was the first time a European leader has clearly stated that suspending uranium enrichment - a key step to building nuclear weapons - was not a pre-condition for opening negotiations [with Iran], with M Chirac indicating that the suspension should come during rather than before talks.

China and Russia also have absolutely no interest in stopping Iran’s nuclear program. Both powers are busily selling weapons technology to the Islamic “republic.” Russia is selling nuclear fuel to Iran, supposedly for use at its power station in Bushehr. China has signed an energy deal with Iran worth at least $100 billion.

So as new, frightening alliances are formed on the world stage, many Westerners fiddle as Rome burns — especially the Europeans. But there are plenty of Americans unaware of, or uninformed about, a crisis of epic proportions. And then there are the Western do-gooders cheering Tehran on in the entirely naive notion that the Islamists are standing up to American bullying.

For those Americans who do care, I pose several simple questions. Do we need to buy Chinese products? Must we invest in Russia’s economy? Do we bend our heads for Islamo-fascists to slit our throats? For Europeans, the same questions, but also, must you trade with Iran? Answering “no” (non, nein, nr) would mean some inconvenience, not the end of life. Answering “yes” will eventually lead to the end of life.

My, isn’t it nice to live comfortably in the opulence and freedom of parliamentary or republican democracies. But don’t get too comfortable. If Iran has its way, our comfort will be turned to ashes.

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Related: China, Europe, Iran, Russia, United Nations (UN), United States, War Against Islamo-fascism

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