The Last Israelis - an Apocalyptic, Military Thriller about an Israeli Submarine and a Nuclear Iran (27 page)

“I remember that – it was preposterous!” Michael remarked.

“Yeah. Yoni and I thought so too. We figured Ahmadinejad probably thinks that there are also no gays in Israel, or anywhere else for that matter.”

“Ahmadinejad denies the existence of the Holocaust and the existence of gays in his own country,” Yisrael replied sarcastically, “so it’s safe to assume that he would also deny the existence of gays in a state he doesn’t even recognize.” There were some scattered chuckles in the room.

“But my boyfriend was on the way to curing the same cancer that kills gays and non-gays alike – both in Israel and in Iran. So a gay Israeli, whose very existence Ahmadinejad denied and has probably now destroyed, was developing drugs that could have healed everyone.”

“He seemed like an amazing guy,” Yisrael said.

“Yeah, I really enjoyed meeting him,” Ambesah added.

“Well, now he’s probably gone, along with his cure...So I’m all for showing Ahmadinejad that the gay partner of the man he just murdered still exists – right here on this nuke-armed submarine.”

“I’m not gay, but I’m with Bao on that one!” Samir shouted out, to a few chuckles in the audience.

Michael refocused the discussion: “I still can’t believe we got to the point where we need to debate whether to attack Iran with our nuclear missiles. Where the hell was the world?”

“Th…The world did…d…do something…It…It imposed ec-economic sss-sanctions on Iran,” Zvi said.

“Yeah, and a lot of good that did!” Eitan rejoined the conversation, chastened but trying to move on. “Look at Iraq, Cuba, and North Korea. They showed that regimes can go on for years with sanctions.”

Bao agreed: “Let’s be honest. The world powers were pussies. They lacked the will and courage to stop Iran. They were tired after the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan. They were worried about the Eurozone economic crisis. The last thing the political leaders wanted was another war to send up oil prices and produce lots of casualties, military costs, and bad headlines. So they waved around these economic sanctions as proof that they were doing something.”

Samir chimed in: “Indeed. But the ironic thing is that if the world powers had presented a united military front against Iran, then the regime there would have quickly backed down without a war ever happening. But the international community couldn’t be bothered when it was easier just to say that the whole thing was ultimately Israel’s problem.”

Eitan agreed: “They viewed us as an expendable piece in this game of Middle East chess. They chose to let us live under the constant threat of annihilation. And then – guess what? We were annihilated. And now Iran will take over the rest of the region, chess piece by chess piece.”

Michael spoke: “What a short-sighted approach by the international community. We don’t know for sure yet, but there could be millions dead on our side, and if we decide to retaliate then there could be millions more dead on the Iranian side. The West could have acted preemptively and attacked only Iran’s military and nuclear sites. Then the estimated casualties – including all retaliatory damage – might have been just a few thousand. But now we’re in a far worse situation.”

Yisrael took the floor again, “Listen guys, we’re getting a little off topic. I happen to agree with almost everything you’ve said. The world powers definitely shirked their responsibilities. And their failure to solve the problem has already cost the world far more than a firm and united front would have. It looks like it cost the world the State of Israel and all of the future Nobel Prizes and inventions that it would have produced by people like Yoni. If we make the wrong decision on this submarine, then it could also cost the millions of lives that we snuff out in Iran with our nuclear missiles. There is no question about the scale of negligence committed by the world powers for letting things come to this. But none of that is really relevant to the decision we must make.”

Samir spoke out: “I couldn’t disagree more with Yisrael and those of you who have taken his position. As Bao said, Iran made the most evil possible choice, and there must be consequences.”

“So you think that by killing millions of people, we’re somehow correcting the moral imbalance in the universe, and re-establishing an international order?” Yisrael asked.

Michael answered: “Yes. We’re securing justice by delivering a proportionate punishment to the aggressor. And we’re also sending a strong message to the rest of the world that will create more global security, because rogue states with nuclear weapons will understand much more that there are truly terrible implications to dropping a nuclear bomb on another state.”

Yisrael countered: “Explain to me why it’s not wrong to kill millions of innocent civilians in a purely retributive counter-strike. With nothing left for our submarine to protect or deter, nuking Iran becomes just a random act of mass murder.”

“Explain to me why it’s not wrong for Iran to get away with murdering millions of our innocent civilians,” Samir called out from the back.

“I agree that it’s wrong, but the answer is not to kill millions of people who have nothing to do with the decisions of their evil regime. If we had missiles that could target only members of the Iranian regime, I would be the first to fire them. But I’m not prepared to murder millions of innocent people just so that I can give even a hundred thousand bad people what they deserve.”

Eitan spoke: “Yisrael has a point here. Back when we had just left the base, we were playing poker and talking about the Jewish principle of Pikuah Nefesh – choosing the sanctity of human life over other considerations. That applies to all life, including the lives of Iranians.”

Ambesah reinforced the point: “Yes. The Talmud teaches us that whoever saves a life, is considered to have saved an entire world. So what does it mean to kill millions of lives just because they have an evil government?”

Michael joined the discussion again: “I think we’re getting too philosophical here and there’s an important historical analysis that we’re not considering. Imagine if the Allies had said that they didn’t want to bomb Nazi Germany because it would mean that lots of innocent civilians would die. At some point, a state has to be held accountable, no matter how little its tyrannical actions reflect the will of the people. And this is even more true of states trying to dominate entire regions. If you don’t stop them, you’re ultimately going to end up with even more innocent deaths than if you do.”

Bao agreed: “Michael makes an excellent point. What if – because of your lofty moral objections – Iran essentially gets away with destroying Israel? Then what? It could feel emboldened to do the same thing to Bahrain or Qatar, just so that it can take over their natural resources. And it could continue wiping out or bullying any perceived rival in the region as it continues to try to grow stronger and more powerful at the expense of its neighbors and its own citizens.”

“Now that Saudi Arabia bought some nukes, Iran can’t bully them around,” Ambesah pointed out.

“Yes, but there are plenty of smaller, weaker countries in the Middle East to bully,” Michael continued. “So how many more millions of innocent civilians might die if we let Iran get away with destroying Israel? How many more military adventures will Iran pursue because no one – not even us – was courageous enough to stand up to this barbaric regime?”

Yisrael looked impressed with the point: “That’s the most persuasive argument I’ve heard so far from the other side. I’m not saying I’m convinced or ready to concede, but I want to think about that point a little more. It’s just not – ”

The debate was interrupted by Daniel’s voice over the intercom: “This is the captain. We’ve spotted an enemy sub. Bao, Ambesah, and Eitan go to your stations. Rig for silent running.”

The area suddenly turned quiet as Bao and Ambesah rushed across the deck to the combat center and sonar station, respectively.

Chapter 31: Hunting a Kilo and the Second Debate

Daniel was already at the combat center with the rest of the weapons team, analyzing the tactical situation monitors. When Bao arrived, he saw on the monitor that their current position was 24.51"N, 58.49"E. Daniel quickly debriefed him in a hushed voice. “It’s an Iranian Kilo class submarine about two kilometers behind us,” he said, pointing to the screen. “Apparently it hasn’t detected us yet.”

Daniel walked over to the navigation post and whispered his order. “Steer a course 90 degrees west and then gradually complete a course of 360 degrees so that we end up one kilometer directly behind the Kilo.”

“Yes, Sir,” Eitan replied in a hushed voice, as he began to calculate the exact course and speed they needed, taking into account the faster moving speed of the Kilo behind them.

Given the relative positions of the two submarines, the best strategy for the Israeli stealth ship was to veer west and gradually continue circling around to a full 360 degrees so that it ended up tailing the Russian-made Iranian vessel that it planned to target. If the Dolphin could avoid being detected while undertaking this maneuver, the enemy ship was likely to be an easy kill for it.

As his submarine began to circle around, Daniel watched the sonar screen closely to see if anything in the Kilo’s movements might indicate that they had been detected. “Prepare decoys,” he ordered into the intercom in a whisper. The captain wanted to be ready in case they were suddenly spotted and attacked by the submarine they were tracking.

“Preparing decoys, Sir,” Bao replied quietly, as he watched his men execute the order.

The Israeli submarine was soon stalking the Iranian stealth boat from a distance of one kilometer. From that position, the Dolphin’s prey was most vulnerable: wherever it tried to move, it was in the path of its hunter’s torpedoes, and the hunter could continue firing them until it scored a direct hit. But multiple attacks would not be necessary because the Dolphin was equipped with a sophisticated, precision-guided torpedo that also releases a sonar-jamming acoustic wave as it approaches, to avoid being heard by its target.

Thus, when Bao entered the target coordinates for the enemy ship one kilometer ahead, he was able to specify exactly which part of the Kilo he wanted the torpedo to hit after the deadly projectile exited the Dolphin’s torpedo tube in a powerful and pinpointed jet stream. The most vulnerable impact point of any watercraft is at its center, so when Bao focused the torpedo’s warhead on the Kilo’s middle underbelly, the underwater detonation would be devastating.

“Target defined, Sir.”

“Begin torpedo launch sequence,” Daniel said, his eyes focused intently on the tactical monitors.

“Beginning torpedo launch sequence, Sir.”

Bao oversaw the entire launch sequence, and this time entered the launch clearance code so that the torpedo fired as soon as Daniel gave the order.

“Launch code entered. Tubes three and four ready, Sir.”

“Fire three,” Daniel ordered.

“Fire three,” Bao instructed his men. Moments later, Bao addressed the captain: “Three’s away, Sir.”

The Dolphin’s torpedo flew towards the enemy vessel. Within seconds of the massive explosion 100 meters below the surface of the water, the Iranian submarine was falling towards the bottom of the sea.

Daniel spoke into the intercom: “This is the Captain. Scratch one Kilo. Well done, all hands. Secure from silent running.”

As the ship resumed its normal operation and continued on course towards the Strait of Hormuz, the captain asked his deputy over the intercom if he needed any more time to finish presenting and discussing his views. Yisrael indicated that the group had amply debated the matter, that he had heard one point in particular that he wanted to think about, and that Daniel was welcome to present his side.

A few minutes later, Yisrael arrived at the central command post and relieved Daniel of his duties. The captain and the three senior officers who had left the debate to deal with the Kilo walked back to the eating area where the 11 undecided seamen were waiting to hear Daniel’s side of the debate. As the four of them entered the crowded space, the conversations among the expectantly curious submariners died down and one of the junior sailors volunteered to stand just outside the door so that there would be enough room for all of the officers.

Daniel stepped over to the front of the room, in the center, and began: “First, I want to thank all of you again for your exemplary work and dedication on what has been an extremely difficult mission. Each of you on this one mission has already experienced the equivalent of many operations. And you have now been asked to decide something that probably no crew has ever had to decide in the history of submarine warfare. So I understand and appreciate all that you have done and been through over the last 26 days at sea, after I was ordered to cancel our shore leave. I think we now understand – all too well – why naval command had to cancel that break. The deputy captain told me that there was a lively exchange here and I welcome the same after my brief remarks. I just ask that we remain respectful at all times. I hesitate to speak in absolute terms because there is still much that we don’t know. It’s still theoretically possible that in the next day and a half we’ll get a godsend from our next satellite connection, indicating that there was some kind of error in the two updates that I read you. So everything I say now is subject to that extremely remote possibility. But on the whole, we must be sober-minded and realistic about all of the information that we do have.”

Daniel looked up for a moment before explaining his position. Everyone was looking intently at him for guidance, experience, wisdom. But for the issue at hand he had none of that because the situation was just as new to him; he had only his convictions.

The captain resumed his speech. “Let there be no mistake or confusion: what Iran did has no justification whatsoever and it is in the same category of evil as the Holocaust. And the moral duty to punish this unthinkable atrocity falls most naturally on us. We experienced the greatest loss here. And other world powers, fearing a devastating retaliation from a nuclear-armed Iran, will probably conclude that it’s not in their interest to attack Iran militarily – for punitive reasons or otherwise. We, on the other hand, have nothing to lose by doing what must be done. And we end Israeli history in dignity and with a moral lesson to the world about the dangers and consequences of nuclear proliferation and aggression, and by removing for the rest of the world a grave threat that they should have addressed before it escalated into this catastrophe. Those are my thoughts. You are welcome to discuss now.”