Wednesday, April 13, 2022

EMET Expresses Profound Gratitude to Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) and 10 Other Senators for Urging Biden to Support Israel in Defending Itself by Itself Against Iran


(April 12, 2022 - Washington, DC) EMET wishes to express its profound gratitude to Senator Tom Cotton, along with 10 other senators, who recently sent a letter to President Biden urging him to provide Israel with necessary military capabilities to defend against Iran, which has only been empowered by the negotiations in Vienna.  

Irrespective of whether these negotiations end in an agreement, Iran is surely on a steady path to becoming a nuclear state. This is exhibited by their possession of over two tons of highly enriched uranium at the 60% level, which is an easy glide to the 90% level needed for a nuclear bomb, and a far cry from the 3.65% cap in the original 2015 JCPOA. 

It is further exhibited by the frequent times that inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Administration have been turned away from inspecting suspicious sites.

Led by Senator Cotton, Sens. James Risch (R-Idaho), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Rick Scott (R-Florida), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) signed the letter. 

The letter reads, "Your administration appears intent on striking a new nuclear deal with Iran that will provide the regime with a pathway to nuclear weapons. A nuclear-armed Iran…would put at risk the existence of the State of Israel and the governments of our Arab allies, destroy America's position in the Middle East, and ultimately threaten the U.S. homeland." 

EMET stands in strong solidarity with these 11 U.S. senators and urges the Biden administration to take this letter under serious consideration, not only to support Israel, but to fortify the long-term national security interests of the United States. 

Said EMET Founder and President Sarah Stern, "It has always been a cornerstone of Israeli military philosophy that they defend themselves, by themselves. Israel has never expected anyone else to take a bullet in its life, and is now facing the greatest existential threat to its existence since its very founding. Today, it urgently needs and deserves the immediate delivery of the weapon systems that they have already purchased from the United States. 

If the state of Israel does feel it is necessary to exercise the military option, it would only be because of the assessment that a nuclear Iran would present a clear and present danger to the existence of the State of Israel and to our Sunni Arab allies. A nuclear-armed Iran would eventually mean that Saudi Arabia would have to nuclearize, Egypt would have to nuclearize, Turkey would have to nuclearize and the entire balance of power since World War II would be irreparably altered.  

Plus, with Hezbollah bases right under our noses in Latin America, this would certainly affect the long-term strategic interest of the United States. Furthermore, Iran does not need intercontinental ballistic missile systems to go from Tehran to Tel Aviv. They are looking at us, whom they regard as 'The Great Satan.' 

"Iran also has very strong ties with Russia and China, neither of whom are close to being friends of the United States. We have to ask, whom are we empowering by actually considering releasing billions of frozen assets to Iran? Will our actions actually have a paradoxical effect, and bring us closer to war? Instead of empowering Iran, give our ally the necessary tools it requires to be able to defend itself, by itself against an emerging axis of enemies who despise the United States equally to how much they despise  the state of Israel

Adds Ms. Stern, "If the Israelis do decide that they have no other choice but to exercise the military option, it would be in the long-term national security interests of the United States. Thank you, Senator Tom Cotton, and your 10 wonderful colleagues, for having the wisdom to ensure that Israel possesses the tools to be able to defend itself, by itself. This is ultimately in the best national security interests of the United States."