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American Israelis To Obama: Stop Iran Now!

The American Israeli Action Coalition (AIAC) today sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to take all necessary immediate action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear military capability. AIAC stated in its letter that a nuclear-enabled Iran poses an imminent existential threat to the United States with incalculable ramifications to both the U.S. and the entire free world.

AIAC is a non-partisan, non-political, issue-oriented NGO whose purpose is to represent the united voice of the more than 250,000 Americans living in Israel on issues which affect Israel, Israel-U.S. relations, and the Jewish people worldwide.

Following is the text of the letter:

February 16, 2010

Dear Mr. President:

The American Israeli Action Coalition (AIAC), on behalf of the more than 250,000 Americans living in Israel, calls upon you to immediately take all necessary action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear military capability, in order to defeat the existential threat which a nuclear Iran would pose to the United States. In light of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s recent pronouncement about Iran’s latest nuclear accomplishments and its ability to produce nuclear weapons if it so desires, Iran’s intentions have become crystal-clear and no longer subject to any further doubt: Iran intends to move forward with all possible speed to crate nuclear weapons for the purpose of terrorizing the free world with incalculable – but disastrous – consequences for the United States and its allies. The United States cannot permit this situation to continue any longer.

Many believe that Iran poses an existential threat only to Israel. That is simply incorrect. Iran poses a direct and existential threat to the United States and its status as the leader of the free world, for at least the following reasons:

1. Iran’s successful achievement of nuclear status would give an enormous boost to its international reputation and standing. This would generate extreme fear among the Arab and Gulf states who are deathly afraid of a nuclear Iran. America’s failure to prevent Iranian nuclearization would undoubtedly cause those countries to pay obeisance to Iran. This, in turn, would give Iran a stranglehold on the entire supply of Middle East oil. Mr. President, as you know, the U.S. receives more than 50% of its oil from the Middle East. Clearly, Iranian control of Middle East oil would be a grievous disaster for the U.S. (Israel would actually not be similarly affected. Recent energy discoveries in and offshore Israel will make it energy self-sufficient very shortly.)

2. Iranian control of Middle East oil will leave the U.S. no alternative but to take strong military action against Iran, just as the U.S. took military action against Iraq in the first Gulf War due to the threat to U.S. oil supplies caused by the Iraqi military attack against Kuwait. The longer the U.S. waits to overcome the Iranian threat, the greater the cost will be in U.S. treasure and lives. Clearly it is against America’s interests to wait any longer to act forcefully.

3. Iranian nuclear achievement will be viewed the world over as a major defeat of the U.S. and result in a major realignment of international players. Numerous countries will shift their allegiance away from the U.S., concluding that it is a waning power, with a concomitant loss of confidence in the U.S. This loss of confidence will result in a rapidly falling dollar, resulting in a severe economic dislocation to the U.S. economy. Can the U.S. afford such an economic catastrophe?

4. Mr. President, you recently announced that one of your most significant means of leading the U.S. out of the current recession is a planned doubling of U.S. exports. Successful Iranian nuclearization will destroy international confidence in the U.S. When coupled with a huge increase in the price of oil and a rapidly falling dollar, it is clear that U.S. exports will in fact slide, rather than double. This combination of factors might very well cause an economic depression in the U.S. which will make the 1929 depression look like a mere kindergarten exercise.

Mr. President, the foregoing is not a mere emotional rant. It is the best estimate of what would result to the U.S. in the event of successful Iranian nuclearization. A clear majority of the American citizenry favors your taking the strongest possible action to prevent the foregoing from occurring. The U.S. deserves economic and personal security. We call upon you to exercise your authority to fulfill your responsibility to protect the American people.

Most Respectfully,

Harvey Schwartz
Chairman

Aaron S. Tirschwell
Director