WarSclerotic

Israel Hayom | History is repeating itself.

Dr. Reuven Berko

The world closely followed the course of the West’s negotiations with Iran over the weekend, and its attempts to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

The scene included all the usual “bazaar” components that we, as Middle Easterners, recognize even when we try to purchase a fake Persian rug: the asking price, gauging the determination of the negotiating parties and the age-old question of who will be the first to blink.

The problem is that the West is not proficient in “eastern” haggling and this weakness has caused U.S. President Barack Obama to blink first. The moment the negotiations with Iran began, the West went out of its way to carve out a deal, while the Iranians maintained their tough positions. Moreover, the Iranians understood that the world powers do not wish to pursue a military option. This weakened the West’s position, as world powers were foolish enough not to back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threat of military action.

History is repeating itself. It is not only vis-à-vis “eastern” policies that the West’s weakness has been revealed. It was not so long ago — a mere 75 years, in September 1938 — that Adolf Hitler called the Munich Conference, whose resolution ordered Czechoslovakia to cede territories and resources in Germany’s favor. At the time, The Times of London lauded British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain for “securing peace for our time.”

Much like the onslaught against Netanyahu, who is warning at the gate, the media did not spare its wrath from Winston Churchill, who criticized the Munich Agreement. Churchill and war mongers of his ilk should be “tried and hung,” The Times admonished. Czechoslovakia soon fell to the Nazis and the Kristallnacht pogrom followed. Whatever deal the West strikes with Iran, it should know that as far as Israel is concerned, historical precedents are milestones.

Saturday’s negotiations failed to yield an agreement. By next week’s meeting, the Iranians — with the assistance of the Russians and the Chinese — will present world powers with a more palatable solution, “positioning” their bomb as something “agreed upon.” As it turns out, only France is seeking an unequivocal answer regarding the suspension of uranium enrichment.

Judging by the American administration’s conduct, it seems that Obama can ask Britain for permission to use some of Chamberlain’s post-Munich parliament address in his future speech about Iran: “Now … I feel that it may be possible to make further progress along the road to sanity,” Chamberlain said, further asserting that with goodwill on both parties, peace can be achieved. Is that so?

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