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Israel responds to Iran – modestly?

Israel responds to Iran – modestly?

Several international observers expressed surprise that the Israeli response to the attack on the Jewish state by Iran was rather tepid.  It seems to be in line with President Biden’s demand that the attack should not include nuclear or energy production sites.  Though directed at military and industrial targets, only two individuals were reported to have been killed.  That may not be an accurate number since the folks in Tehran traditionally play down any attacks on their country as ineffective.

That is not to say that the attack was merely a symbolic tit-for-tat.  Israel showed that it can reach anywhere in Iran it so chooses.  It showed that the Irani defense system is inadequate – and that Israeli jet fighters can reach targets deep in Iran and return home safely.

Israel’s weapons destroyed several buildings at Parchin Military Base – a location indirectly associated with Iran’s nuclear program.  They also caused significant damage to Khojir Military Base, where solid fuel is produced for ballistic missiles.  Israel also attacked drone manufacturing facilities – which could limit the shipment of drones to Russia for use in Ukraine.

According to international assessments, the Israeli attacks did significant damage to Iran’s war production and weapons inventory – and degraded its ability to attack Israel in the near future.  Israel has exposed the “lion of the Middle East” as a “paper tiger” – just as it disproved prevailing beliefs that Hezbollah was too formidable for Israel to take on.

Regardless, the leaders in Tehran have promised to retaliate for the attack on Iran.  But by limiting the scope of its retaliatory attack, Israel has put Iran in a box.  World leaders on both sides are advising the leaders in Iran to cool it.  However, it is likely that Iran will retaliate at some time in the future – but not likely in the immediate future. 

By engaging in a tit-for-tat with Iran, Israel can – and will – focus now on taking out Iran’s proxies in the region – specifically Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis.  They can now do so with greater vigor, knowing that Iran’s ability to support its proxies is greatly diminished.  In both a strategic and tactical sense, Israel’s attack on Iran was more successful – directly and indirectly – than it may appear on the surface.   At the end of this round, Israel clearly has Iran staggering – and will likely come back for the knockout in a later round.  Stay tuned.

So, there ‘tis.

About The Author

Larry Horist

So, there ‘tis… The opinions, perspectives and analyses of businessman, conservative writer and political strategist Larry Horist. Larry has an extensive background in economics and public policy. For more than 40 years, he ran his own Chicago based consulting firm. His clients included such conservative icons as Steve Forbes and Milton Friedman. He has served as a consultant to the Nixon White House and travelled the country as a spokesman for President Reagan’s economic reforms. Larry professional emphasis has been on civil rights and education. He was consultant to both the Chicago and the Detroit boards of education, the Educational Choice Foundation, the Chicago Teachers Academy and the Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts. Larry has testified as an expert witness before numerous legislative bodies, including the U. S. Congress, and has lectured at colleges and universities, including Harvard, Northwestern and DePaul. He served as Executive Director of the City Club of Chicago, where he led a successful two-year campaign to save the historic Chicago Theatre from the wrecking ball. Larry has been a guest on hundreds of public affairs talk shows, and hosted his own program, “Chicago In Sight,” on WIND radio. An award-winning debater, his insightful and sometimes controversial commentaries have appeared on the editorial pages of newspapers across the nation. He is praised by audiences for his style, substance and sense of humor. Larry retired from his consulting business to devote his time to writing. His books include a humorous look at collecting, “The Acrapulators’ Guide”, and a more serious history of the Democratic Party’s role in de facto institutional racism, “Who Put Blacks in That PLACE? -- The Long Sad History of the Democratic Party’s Oppression of Black Americans ... to This Day”. Larry currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

6 Comments

  1. stranger danger

    IMO, this seems a waste. Israel checks the box for retribution for an affair started by their assassination of a really bad guy, but on Iranian soil. They only attacked military targets attempting to avoid escalation but leaving Iran in a position to retaliate.

    Serve, volley, return.

    Only message relayed is we will respond, but not too bad. Keep that in mind please.

    And the beat goes on.

    • Tom

      SD, remember the guy they killed on Iranian soil is the same guy that planned the Oct 7th attack on Israeli soil. I agree with you on the serve, volley, return idea. This seems to be the modus operandi of both sides.

  2. Tom

    This article gets a Stop The Spin (STS) rating of 0. It was truthful to what was reported last week after the attack.

    I would like to say that the author, Larry, in his article titled, “Biden “outraged” over murder of American hostage. Yeah, sure. Posted by Larry Horist | Sep 2, 2024, Larry called Biden weak and strongly advocated that the USA should respond ( and this means bombing and boots on the ground ) to Iran because they were supporting HAMAS and the Houthi’s that were attacking shipping. Tom took the position that Israel should do that if and when they see fit to do it. Tom said, “Leave it to Larry to turn the deaths of six people into a hawkish call to attack Iran and get more people’s sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters killed. Where was Larry when his man Trump got hundreds of thousands killed due to his lack of response (to Covid)???.

    Larry has often written that American needs to punish its enemies and advocated bombings, boots on the ground, etc. especially in Iran. Larry has often mistaken patience and negotiation for weakness and inaction. Larry recently said he will “pray for Tom” yet Larry seems to not realize he is praying to a God that says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

    Larry’s response back to Tom was, “Tom … More hateful bitter old geezer rage and personal attack. You real have to get me — or that imaginary me you create — out of your obsessive mind if you have any grey matter left. You are becoming a very sad and pathetic human being.”

    Now in this article today, Larry seems to be taking a victory lap because of Israel’s response to Iran – which was exactly what Tom was advocating would happen at the right time. So Tom’s response that drew Larry’s ire back in Sept 02, 2024 is the same response that Larry is now using to take a victory lap or high five moment. This goes to show just how two faced Larry can be. But I am glad he finally came around to Tom’s point of view. Maybe in the future when Larry prays for Tom, Larry will also pray for the courage to accurately present both sides of the story and stand up for truth! 🙂

    • Darren

      Tom took the position that Israel should do that if and when they see fit to do it. Tom said, “Leave it to Larry to turn the deaths of six people into a hawkish call to attack Iran and get more people’s sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters killed. Where was Larry when his man Trump got hundreds of thousands killed due to his lack of response (to Covid)???.
      SO, WHO WROTE THIS.
      Tom. in the second person or third?
      Darren thinks you guys are screwed in this election!

      • Tom

        I write all of my own responses. As far as the election is concerned, I am an Independent / Unaffiliated voter. We are screwed in every election because we do not like nor subscribe to either party which forces us to vote for the least repugnant candidate. Please tell Darren to remember the 2022 red wave that never happened though the GOP highly predicted it would happen.

        • Darren

          It did not happen because of Lindsey Graham and his pushing the position on Abortion!
          The Ass hole went overboard and let the Dems blow it out of proportion!
          Fact is there are more Abortions now than before he pushed his agenda!
          Trump has it correct!

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