The United States has finally caved in to Israeli pressure and has bombed Iran’s most important nuclear facilities, located in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow. Depending on Iran’s response, the consequences of a wider war could be catastrophic for Iran and for the rest of the Middle East. The region is just recovering from George W. Bush’s reckless invasion of Iraq. It could once again be plunged into the abyss. This is a scenario that benefits Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and harms everyone else.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, has finally gotten the war he has been clamoring for for so long. When Israel attacked Iran on June 13, it tried to accomplish several objectives all at once. The attacks were launched at a politically perilous time for the Israeli Prime Minister, when his fragile governing coalition was at its weakest and faced defections from at least two coalition members. For the first time in months, Netanyahu now finds himself in a politically powerful position at home, at least temporarily, with most Israelis rallying around the flag and determined to support the country’s fight against Iran.