How many helicopters does Ahmadinejad need to send?

You would think that the world is united against the genocidal intent of Iran and its accompanying nuclear program.

Of the latest outburst by Iran’s president in Geneva last Monday, calling for the end to Israel, UN Secretary general Ban Ki-Moon said: “. . . deeply regrettable . . . must turn away from such a message . . .” Britain Foreign secretary David Miliband: “ . . . offensive, inflammatory, utterly unacceptable . . .” Britain Prime Minister Gordon Brown: “. . . intolerable . . . racist hate . . .” US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Alegandro Wolff: “. . . vile and hateful . . .”

So the list of purple denunciation lengthened, flowing from most of Europe, not to mention the US and Israel. The ire was stoked by Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s call to “put an end to Zionism,” which is, he said, a “most cruel and oppressive, racist regime,” which was, he said, founded on the basis of fake Jewish suffering in Europe, that is, on the basis of a Holocaust that did not happen.

All this leaves us unimpressed — neither Ahmadinejad nor his critics. Haven’t we heard it all before? We refer not backward in history to Hitler. We refer to the present, to Iran itself, today, this year, last year, the same president, the same announcements, the same  intentions. Not one scintilla of his remarks do we find suddenly “regrettable,” “offensive,” “intolerable,” “vile,” “hateful.” It has already been laid out before us. Ahmadinejad has made it plain.

And nothing happens.

Nothing real. Nothing but a lot of whiplash and fury at the UN about sanctions — which, just like the denunciations in Geneva this week, are mostly words. UN sanctions are like Geneva’s walkouts — nothing with teeth. However sincere, they do nothing while, day by day, in front of our very noses, the enemy pursues nuclear weapons and announces genocidal intentions.

Where is President Obama on all this? His UN representative, too, issues dutiful denunciations — more words — like the rest of the dutifully offended European representatives. But nothing happens. Take off the table, for the moment, all talk of military attack against Iran’s nuclear facilities. What about all of those really drastic sanctions that candidate Obama promised over and over again? What about all of his criticism of President Bush for vetoing these sanctions against Iran? President Obama is a man who knows how to get monumental plans through Congress when he wants to. Right now, President Obama is doing nothing to stop Iran’s nuclear pursuit — he is engaged in no military attacks, no tough American sanctions, nothing.

Really, how many helicopters does Ahmadinejad need to send? As in the old joke about the man caught in a flood. First the waters rise toward his first floor. An emergency vehicle urges him to abandon home and hearth for safety. He says no, G-d will save him. Then the waters rise to his second floor. An emergency boat reaches his window and urges him to escape to safety. No, he says, G-d will save him. Finally, the waters cover his house and he climbs to the roof when a helicopter extends a rope and urges him to save his life. No, he demurs,   G-d will save him. Then he drowns, arrives in Heaven and, sore perplexed, asks the Holy One why He did not save him.

“I sent you a vehicle, I sent you a boat, I sent you a helicopter — what else did you want?”

Iran has sent a message, loud and clear. Iran has signaled, stated, winked, announced, hidden, flashed, broadcast, emailed, lectured — in any and all manner sent a perfectly clear message: Iran intends to acquire nuclear weapons, for military purposes, and intends to use them against (at least) Israel and, on fanatical messianic grounds, Iran remains indifferent to the consequences.

The time for walkouts at UN conferences is long past.

The time for further UN resolutions against Iran when it has spurned them all — and when Russia and China don’t care to press the point — is long past.

The time for action is long overdue.

The Obama administration, in return for making nice with Iran, has just received its answer, loud and clear, in Geneva this week.

It is time for Obama’s promised, tough American sanctions. If they don’t stop Iran’s nuclear program, and work quickly, it is time for military action.

The goal is to save ourselves, not get the answer after we’ve already drowned, deep in post-mortal conversations with the Holy One, understanding the clear message too late.