Is it now okay to assassinate scientists and generals?

Is it now okay to assassinate scientists (and generals)?

Apparently I may be the only one who finds Israel’s assassination of Iran’s nuclear scientists and generals disturbing. When has another country wantonly targeted another country’s scientists and military heads before – even during wartime? Did we try to kill Rommel, Guderian, Kesselring or von Manstein during WWII? Did the Germans have a program to kill Patton, Eisenhower, Bradley or Montgomery? What about the scientists? Not only did we not kill them, we imported 350 of them including Wernher von Braun to build our rocket program. So is Israel’s killing of the Iranians unprecedented in history – at least on this scale?

Note: drummer f2f732403f has corrected me pointing out that we took out Yamamoto. Thank you! Its my bad especially since I have read Dan Hampton’s riveting “Operation Vengeance” an absolutely marvellous account of the brilliance of that successful undertaking in the Pacific theater. Highly recommended.

I have heard nor seen nary a peep of condemnation. The Arab countries have made sympathetic clucking noises but you can tell their hearts are not in it. It is though they feel compelled to admonish the Israelis when in fact they are probably relieved that the Iranian regime poses less of a threat to the whole region. Saudi Arabia said the attack was a “violation of Iran’s sovereignty” and that “The Kingdom underscores the need to exert all possible efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation.” Do tell! Qatar, the site of the US air base that was targeted (but missed) by Iranian missiles said “The current dangerous tension in the region could lead to catastrophic consequences at both the regional and international levels” and that it “Regrets the deterioration of the situation with the strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.” The UAR which really doesn’t like Iran said “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the importance of prioritizing diplomacy and dialogue to resolve disputes, through comprehensive approaches that promote stability, prosperity, and justice.” Egypt, which is the largest recipient of US aid in the Arab world mumbled “Egypt affirms its rejection of any violation of the United Nations’ Charter and international law and emphasizes the necessity of respecting state sovereignty.” Iraq, Lebanon and Oman said much the same. Again, a milquetoast pseudo-condemnation of the bombing but no mention of the targeting of the scientists.

Not only is this outrage missing from the Arab world but it is strangely missing from the leftist press. Yes there is universal condemning of the bombing by Israeli aircraft but no mention of killing of the scientists (or generals) – nine of who were killed while sleeping in their beds. I did see one rather mild statement that “targeting scientists may trigger blowback given concerns regarding legality and morality.” Wow! 

One wonders if the Iranians will now seek to assassinated Israeli civilian and military leaders. And what about the terrorists who have come in the country at the southern border? The Wall Street Journal has reported that Tehran has long supported terror operations in South America and has a pipeline of sending its spies and proxies into the continent. Iran has sent it’s operatives to Venezuela where they are given passports meaning that they can travel freely within the region. The Journal says that some 10,000 a year got Venezuelan passports. So what are all those Iranians doing? Are they just going to sit on their hands? Or are they going to try to affect some revenge on the US and Americans? I know that Trump and Hegseth have serious security but I would think that our famous scientists and prominent generals should also watch their backs.