Recently, I had the opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with Congressman Jack Kingston (R-Ga) on the subject of Iranís incursion into the nuclear community and the threat that this country poses to Israel. Congressman Kingston is a powerful member of the House Defense Subcommittee, which oversees all military-based funding, and is also Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference. His strong ties to President Bush, and influence over United Statesí defense policy, add enormous weight to his words on the subject of the Middle East Conflict. During the course of our time together, Mr. Kingston became the first representative of the United States Government to publicly support Israelís right to carry out a unilateral military strike against Iran in order to put an end to its nuclear ambitions. His words should be taken as a formidable warning to officials in Tehran that time is running out, lest they suffer the wrath of Israel.
William John Hagan: Regarding Iran, in the past few months weíve had Donald Rumsfeld, weíve had US Intelligence and now we have British Intelligence all confirming that the insurgency in Iraq is being funded by Iran, specifically the manufacture of roadside bombs. What are we going to be doing with Iran and what do you think we should be doing with Iran, especially now that they appear to be defying the nuclear issue?
Congressman Jack Kingston (R-Ga): I think that maybe we might be able to get our friends in the UN to step forward a little bit, hopefully, not real optimistic about that. Our allies in Europe might start paying a little bit more attention, as the French have tried to deal with Iran, diplomatically, and they were unsuccessful. I think trying to get folks to help us with economic sanctions right now would be helpful. I do not think that there is the political will to go in there and do a military strike at this point. But I think we do need to have diplomatic and economic sanctions, as soon as possible.
Hagan: Do you think the United States could afford a military strike if needed against Iran?
Kingston: I think we can, but no one wants to see the war in Iraq spill over to Syria, Lebanon, or Iran. We have got problems in North Korea. The world is a dangerous place, but at the same time we still know that the terrorist cells are global and that they are not just confined to the Middle East and in countries that are sympatric to them. Thatís one of the big challenges, to educate our own folks in america but also to try to get our allies around the world to step forward and say ëlook this isnít just about the West versus Islamic Fundamentalismí it is a lot more profound than that.
Hagan: Several high profile members of the Israeli Knesset have stated that Israel will take unilateral action against Iran if the United States does not eliminate, or stop through negotiation, the nuclear program in Iran. as a US Congressman would you support your colleagues over in Israel or would you stand against unilateral action?
Kingston: I think as a free country, and a country that is right next to it, they have to make their own decisions without our interference... I will point out that they did have selective strikes in Iraq in the early 90ís. So, Israel has done this before and, you know, one of the things about the Middle East is that it is a ëtake no prisoners, shows no mercyí geographical area... So, I think Israel actually might know how to deal with Iran a little bit better than Washington. and maybe we can learn something from them, not necessarily follow suit but, at least, support them verbally at some level.
Hagan: Would you support Israelís right to fly over Iraqi territory to support those missions?
Kingston: I think I would support that; would probably like to see a little more intelligence on it and more background. I think Israel has been living with this terrorist threat for a long time and they are probably a little bit more sensitive about striking back and faster than we are.
William John Hagan is a weekly columnist for the Houston Home Journal, published in middle Georgia. He is also a fiction writer who has completed his first novel, “Divine Providence”.
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