Like his predecessors Ronald Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt, Joe Biden is stepping off the world stage with less-than-optimal health. Yet, until January 20 at noon, Biden remains the Commander-in-Chief of the US Armed Forces. As such, any directive he issues must be implemented.
This context is significant because, even now, the 46th President of the US is striving to end the war in the Middle East. And who wouldn't want that? However, the military conflict in our region cannot conclude until the driving force behind it – Iran – ceases its efforts to destabilize the global order. Restraining Tehran can be achieved only one way: by destroying the Ayatollah regime's nuclear program.
As is well known, the Islamic Republic is the force that built and financed the war machine unleashed against Israel on October 7, 2023. Yet this issue extends far beyond the Jewish state. The fanatical regime oppressing the Iranian people seeks to assassinate the next US president, operates terrorist cells across the globe, and is developing a missile arsenal designed to threaten America. One day, these missiles might carry nuclear warheads.
Thus, as long as Iran is not definitively defeated – and it is currently closer to that state than ever – it will continue to act as an extremist and violent force, driven by aggressive and radical religious ideology. Any rational person understands the danger, as does Joe Biden.
The outgoing president's four years in office have been characterized by a soft international approach, which has in turn fueled aggression worldwide. This is a well-documented fact, requiring no repetition. However, it is worth noting that American weakness was displayed despite Biden's affiliation with the Democratic Party's centrist wing. Over the years, he has supported an assertive, rather than passive, global stance, as evidenced by his consistent and substantial aid to Israel and Ukraine.
It seems that his advisors – many of whom adhere to the Obama-era worldview of "leading from behind" – influenced him to adopt a weak policy, resulting in two massive East-vs.-West wars and unprecedented global tensions. Biden can rectify this chaotic legacy with a single order: "Destroy Iran's nuclear infrastructure." After all, he remains the Commander-in-Chief.
Admittedly, the likelihood of such a scenario materializing is slim. Still, let's explore it for a moment. If the US president were to give the order, he would find that his Central Command, known as CENTCOM, has plans in place and up to date. General Michael Kurilla has not wasted time during his frequent visits to Israel and the region over the past year. He knows what needs to be done.
When Biden asks, "How long will it take, and what will the response be?" his advisors will likely respond that the US Air Force would need only a few nights to eliminate the underground structures of Iran's nuclear program. As for Iran's counter-response, it is likely to launch missiles at its neighbors and attempt to target American interests in the region. However, any informed observer would note that after the severe blow Israel dealt to Iran's missile industry, its response to the destruction of its nuclear facilities is expected to be limited and restrained. Iran is already operating under a tightly controlled arms economy.
In other words, there is no better timing for the rational world to rid itself of the Iranian nuclear threat. Nor is there an easier action to improve the US's strategic balance against its global rivals than bombing the nuclear bunkers in Isfahan and Fordow.
The world, too, would not lament this. Russia and China may clear their throats and issue condemnations, but they would not go to war for the Ayatollahs. In fact, the religious violence Iran propagates threatens them as much as it does the West. Both Putin and Xi Jinping suppress radical Islam in their countries with an iron fist.
Not only Israel but also Iran's other regional rivals would welcome such a move. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt, which are currently considering acquiring nuclear capabilities to counter Iran, would likely abandon those plans. Thus, in the broader calculation, the world, the US, and Biden have much to gain and very little to lose from such a bold final act.
Moreover, if Biden does not act, his successor and political rival, Donald Trump, is poised to take the glory. Would it not be wise, then, for Biden to make a Samson-like move and, as his public life concludes, redeem the world?
