When you have no appreciation, or worse yet, no respect for History, you are doomed to repeat the same tragic mistakes. Now for a long time, this saying has been regarded as a “Maxim of Truth”; a Cautionary piece of wisdom for the young, nieve or just plain stupid. But here lately, it appears dismissing this wisdom has become Standard Operating Procedure in that inept and impotent “hot mess” called American foreign policy.
In the latest unclassified version of the 2015 Worldwide Threat Assessment, Iran and their terrorist proxy, Hezbollah have been omitted entirely from the list. This is peculiar, as Jihad Watch reports, since both made the list, Iran even garnering it’s own sub-headings 2011 thru 2013.
Now I am not going to re-hash of all of Iran and Hezbollahs acts of terrorism and violence that has occurred (The biggest of course being America’s first encounter with militant Islam, the Iranian Hostage Crisis in 1979) since the 1990’s, mainly against our strongest ALLY and FRIEND in the Middle East, Israel.…we would be here all day.
I just want to bring three past incidents to mind, where AMERICANS were killed, and I will leave you to draw your own conclusions on how much of a threat you believe Iran and Hezbollah are to America.
A single suicide bomber detonated a car bomb outside the United States Embassy. 63 People are killed, 17 of them Americans. The Islamic Jihad Organization claims initial responsibility, but a court inquiry later finds Hezbollah completely responsible. They are funded and trained by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Beiruit, Lebanon, October 1983
Two Suicide Bombers drive trucks into the Multi-National Force Barracks (MNF) which included United States Marine BLT 1/8 and French 1st and 9th Paratroop Infantry Regiments. 299 men are killed, 241 of them American Serviceman. Again, IJO claims responsibility, but Hezbollah is behind the attacks. Of course, Iran denied any involvement, but to this day, a statue stands in Tehran, memorializing the attack.
CIA Station Chief,William F. Buckley, is kidnapped from his apartment, tortured and finally executed by Hezbollah.
So, in closing, let us not forget the past, if history has proven one thing, it is it does not suffer forgetful fools easily.
Stay Alert, Stay Armed and Stay Dangerous!
Suggested Reading:
- Guest of the Ayatollah by Mark Bowden
- Israel and Iran, The Shadow War by Yaakov Katz
- The Devil We Know, Dealing with the New Iranian Superpower by Robert Baer
- Warriors of God: Inside Hezbollah’s 30 Year Struggle Against Israel, Nicholas Blanford