The Iran regime is not a regime that should be supported in any way BUT at the same time lets get the facts straight. John Bolton has always had hawkish views but he also is a selective student of history. The point is simple. Whether we like the regime or not, we accept the fact that if a country is attacked then it has a right to respond. Israel attacked the Iranian consulate in Damascus (by international law an embassy or consulate is to be considered a countries’ territory). Israel knew that Iran had no option but to respond. Iran did respond. Now John Bolton says Israel has to respond to Iran’s response. He tries to equate what the US would have done if it were attacked. Of course the US would respond as it did after Pearl Harbor. But the US did not attack Japanese land before the attack on Pearl Harbor. That is the point.
The other historical fact that John Bolton chooses to not mention is that from Iran’s perspective – right or wrong – Israel has not played nice in the region and has in fact -right or wrong – continued to make the situation worse by taking more and more land on the West Bank contrary to International law and stated US foreign policy. Netanyahoohoo has often stated that there will be no Palestinian State under his watch. How much difference is there between not wanting to recognize the existence of Palestinians and not wanting to recognize the existence of the Israeli state? Not seeing the issue from the perspective of one party and totally seeing only the perspective of the other is no way to solve a problem. The Iran hard liners undoubtedly do the same thing as John Bolton and the same thing as the Israeli hard liners as well.
I wonder what John Bolton would say if Mexicans in Texas decided to rejoin Mexico – or declare independence? Historically Texas WAS part of Mexico.
Meanwhile John Bolton also neglects to mention that the Iranian response was telegraphed well in advance so Israel and allies were given time to prepare a defense. Hardly the move of a regime intent on delivering a fatal blow on Israel. Iran is a bad regime but it is not completely stupid. He also harps on the Iranian nuclear program – not mentioning that Israel has an estimated 110 nuclear bombs and history shows over and over again that a nuclear capability on both sides prevents a war. Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if Ukraine was a nuclear power. India and Pakistan are careful not to be too aggressive towards each other. Same with Russia and the USA, China etc. From an Iranian perspective I am sure the question is asked ‘why is the world so upset at Iran getting a nuclear bomb when Israel has them? From what we have seen on our TV sets over the past few months does not give comfort that Israel is any less crazy than the Iranian regime.