If the United States and Israel’s joint military campaign against the Islamic Republic succeeds, it could forever end the threat Iran poses to the U.S. and its allies. But another possible benefit awaits. Operation Epic Fury could lead to an expansion of the Abraham Accords, and with it, a more peaceful Middle East.
The Islamic Republic has been sowing death and destruction since its founding in 1979. The Iranian regime has consistently supported terrorism in the service of its messianic vision. Too often, many in the world have sought to appease them, just as consistently.
The Islamic Republic seeks to vanquish the U.S. from the Middle East and to destroy Israel and perpetrate another Holocaust. The regime considers itself to be a revolutionary force, hell bent on upending the established order in the Middle East and using its proxies to dominate Lebanon, Yemen, and portions of Syria and Iraq.
Iran’s rulers have wanted to remake the Middle East in their own image. Too often, they have succeeded. Not, it must be noted, because the regime is strong. Rather, because its opponents have calculated that the best course is to look for an easy way out and avoid confrontation. But they can’t be kicked down the road forever.
The Middle East that most Americans know, one filled with decades of warfare and chaos, is, in large measure, the regime’s creation. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
True to its gangster form, the Islamic Republic has long targeted the pro-Western Gulf monarchies that have been U.S. allies. Some of these countries, fearful of regime attacks, have responded by hedging their bets. Others have quietly recognized that Israel, the region’s military powerhouse, is their best means of defense. But fear and latent antisemitism have often prevented them from publicly saying as much and formally establishing relations. That has to change.
Israel was recreated in 1948, and in less than eight decades has gone from an impoverished nation built by refugees to a military and tech powerhouse renowned for its innovation. Yet many of its Arab neighbors have declined to recognize Israel’s right to exist. By refusing to acknowledge Israel’s permanence, many of these countries have denied themselves untold economic opportunities and peace for themselves and their children.
In September 2020, the Trump administration announced that the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain would be the first two Arab nations to recognize Israel since 1994. Soon, other Arab nations joined in what is one of Trump’s most promising legacies: the Abraham Accords. Recent military action against Iran should have others following suit.
THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC WAS ALWAYS DESTINED FOR ASH HEAP OF HISTORY
The Islamic Republic has reacted with predictable fury. Tehran has lashed out in all directions, firing missiles at Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, and Jordan. Those countries that have not yet joined the Abraham Accords out of fear of Iran’s response, such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Qatar, no longer have an excuse for delay. That Rubicon has been crossed. The era of hedging is over, a fact keenly demonstrated when Great Britain and France first shamefully delayed allowing their bases to be used to attack Iran, only to change their tune after U.S. and Israeli willpower convinced them otherwise.
The Islamic Republic, while not yet defanged, is not the dominant military power in the region. That title belongs to Israel, which has once again demonstrated its stunning prowess and perseverance. The sands are shifting. A more peaceful, economically vibrant Middle East is possible. But getting there will mean getting off the fence and ending decades of a quiet diplomatic Cold War built on the mistaken belief that Israel’s existence is temporary. Recent events show otherwise. A better, more prosperous future waits on the other side if Israel’s Arab neighbors are bold enough to grab it.
