Doc, Did You Say Oops?
Mr. Barak replied that there were more than just the two options — of full-scale war or allowing Iran to obtain nuclear weapons capability — in the event that sanctions and diplomacy failed.
“What we basically say is that if worse comes to worst, there should be a readiness and an ability to launch a surgical operation that will delay them by a significant time frame and probably convince them that it won’t work because the world is determined to block them,” he said.
Under orders from the White House, “the Pentagon prepared quite sophisticated, fine, extremely fine, scalpels,” Mr. Barak added, referring to the ability to carry out pinpoint strikes.
Surgery. Scalpels. Riiiiiight.
Mr. Barak, I’ve had surgery many times – with quite sophisticated, extremely fine scalpels. And I’ve spent months recovering from totally unexpected, exceedingly dangerous complications. Once, I spent 12 days unconscious.
I know you were speaking metaphorically, but to characterize the invasion of a country as scalpel-fine surgery – as if the metaphor implies an easily contained set of entirely foreseen and tolerable consequences – is simply insane. It demonstrates a willful refusal to admit the unbelievably high level of risk attendant upon any kind of military incursion into a sovereign land
The notion of a “surgical strike” against Iran is magical thinking of the worst sort.