By Andrew L. Jaffee

I’m impressed that the UN Security Council imposed new sanctions on Iran because of its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The new sanctions have stuck in the craw of Iranian President Ahmadinejad, a man who has promised to “wipe Israel off the map,” has threatened the U.S. with “harm and pain” and is obsessed with ushering in the end of times.

Don’t write off Ahmadinejad’s bellicosity as just the ravings of a madman. They are the ravings of a madman, but one whom I’m certain is willing to see the Middle East go up in flames — just to see his irrational plans for the mahdaviat accomplished. As my dad used to say of the likes of Stalin, Hitler, and Arafat: “crazy like a fox.”

A tough stand against Iran is the only choice for the Western world, but Ahmadinejad and his thugs will not give up their ultimate guarantee of power, nukes, so easily. Friday’s capture of British soldiers by Iranian Revolutionary Guard was a carefully calculated move to stoke tensions, and Ahmadinejad today insisted, “Iran would not stop its nuclear work ‘even for one second’.” We’re headed for a showdown. Better prepare yourselves for an ugly fight, because one is brewing.

If Westerners are serious about preserving their freedoms, then they should consider that Iraq was just small potatoes.