The news these days gives us plenty to talk about, and much of it involves places where the names are hard to pronounce and the issues even harder to comprehend. Take, for instance, Iran and its ever-present threat in the form of ballistic missiles. If you’re like most Americans, you might wonder why these missiles matter so much. Iran having thousands of them is a big problem, especially for the Gulf States, Israel, and potentially even Europe and beyond. It is not as though they’re garden-variety fireworks set to dazzle the night sky. Instead, they are tools of destruction wielded by a regime that has less interest in peaceful resolutions and more interest in exercising power through its military capabilities.
At the helm of this military show of force is General Vahiti, who seems determined to pull the world’s strings like a real-life villain from a spy novel. His command over Iran’s security and foreign policy is reason enough for concern. If those missiles were in the hands of Norway or Sweden, most people wouldn’t give them a second thought. But, given that the control lies with some folks whose intentions are less than friendly, there’s a genuine fear. And for anyone thinking these missiles can’t reach places like the United States, think again. Iran, being a part of this century’s axis of dictatorships alongside the likes of China, Russia, and North Korea, has been working on satellite technology that could potentially put even the U.S. in their crosshairs.
Curiously, despite all this, Iran’s ballistic missiles don’t seem to have made it into that memorandum of understanding the Trump administration is eyeing. Now, the Trump administration was wise to pull out of the JCPOA back in 2017, seeing its flaws. That deal had clear sunset clauses concerning Iran’s nuclear ambitions but failed to tackle the ballistic missile problem or Iran’s ties to terrorism. This omission makes one scratch their head, wondering why such critical issues have been left off the table again. One can only assume Iran prefers they stay out, much to everyone else’s detriment.
Speaking of Iran’s tentacles, let’s not forget Hezbollah, the infamous terrorist group that’s been around since the 1980s. Originally, they were supposed to disarm, but we can all see how well that worked out. Instead, they’ve been a constant thorn in the side of peace, taking orders from Iran and acting out across the region. Strikingly, Hezbollah hasn’t just been content to be a menace; they’ve actively made life difficult for countless people, including many Americans. It seems their mission is to keep causing trouble, irrespective of any agreements or understandings that might suggest otherwise.
The ceasefire deals being discussed might sound good on paper, but reality sees terrorist groups like Hezbollah operating within civilian areas to shield themselves from retaliation. When Israel acts in defense, civilians inevitably suffer—a fact not lost on experts who recognize the dangerous precedent this sets. If the world keeps pretending that the likes of Hezbollah and Hamas are merely misunderstood, then rest assured the bombings will continue unabated. It’s a sobering thought that when the bad guys hide behind innocent people, some point the finger back at the defenders. In the end, let’s hope someone tunes in to sanity and common sense before the ink dries on any agreement that doesn’t serve to protect all who value peace and stability.
