How essential Islam might overcome the West: A reprise

A decade ago they argued that radical Islam might repel the West into acquiescence through the mass forgo of Muslim lives. During the past two weeks Iran has almost invited a nuclear exchange with the West, in a series of statements that blend a disturbed sort of bristle with malicious calculation.

Iran's Kayhan press service warned last week, if the US strikes Iran with nuclear weapons, there are elements which will react with nuclear blasts in the centers of America's main cities. Meanwhile, Behzad Soltani, the number two man at Iran's Atomic Commission, proclaimed last week, Iran will join the world nuclear club within a month in a proposal to daunt possible attacks on the country, adding, No country would even think about attacking Iran once it is in the club.

By the normal standards of subtlety, these statements appear grotesquely false as well as self-defeating. If Iran brags openly that it has delivered nuclear weapons to terrorists weapons that it does not yet possess it invites a Western military response. The menace itself demonstrates that Iran is confident that the West is too supine to respond. Iran has taken our assess well the theocratic rule evinced an infinite enthusiasm for sacrifice during its decade-long war with Iraq in the 1980s. It is swayed, and with good reason, the eventual horror of a military conflict is too terrible for the West to bear.