Article in The Times of Israel by Andy Blumenthal: While the hype in the news has been all about the proliferation of nuclear weapons, missiles, and drones, perhaps the real story is that we are moving at hypersonic speeds to a most dangerous global showdown between East and West.

1. 11/12/22, 10:54 PM Hypersonic to a Global Showdown | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/hypersonic-to-a-global-showdown/ 1/6
THE BLOGS
Andy Blumenthal
Leadership With Heart
Hypersonic to a Global
Showdown
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2. 11/12/22, 10:54 PM Hypersonic to a Global Showdown | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/hypersonic-to-a-global-showdown/ 2/6
Source Photo: Bicanski; https://pixnio.com/objects/missiles-bombs/rocket-device-military-missile-weapon-
airplane-vehicle-air-force#
In the last couple of weeks, as Russia backtracked from recent threats to use
nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Iran acknowledged supplying Russia with
thousands of deadly kamikaze drones that are being used against Ukraine’s
critical infrastructure in an effort to turn the war in their favor.
However, maybe even more important than Iran giving Russia deadly drones is
what Iran is getting in return from Russia.
This week, Iran announced that it possesses hypersonic missiles. What a
coincidence!
Given that Iran has been under heavy U.S. and international sanctions for
decades, that their economy is in shambles, and that their regime is under siege
from ongoing protests from their people that are seeking freedom, it seems
highly implausible that Iran achieved this advanced missile capability on their
own. More likely, Russia, which has been testing, touting, and deploying its

3. 11/12/22, 10:54 PM Hypersonic to a Global Showdown | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/hypersonic-to-a-global-showdown/ 3/6
advanced hypersonic missiles, has given or helped Iran with this most sought
after capability.
Why would Iran want hypersonic missiles from Russia?
Iran, which has been threatening to destroy Israel and attack the West, knows
that at a certain point, Israel and the U.S. will likely need to preemptively attack
Iran’s nuclear sites. Since the U.S. and Israel have been developing advanced
missile defenses for many years together, Iran needs the hypersonic missiles as
a threat to Israel and the U.S. acting against Iran’s weapons of mass destruction.
That is why Iran’s commander of the Revolutionary Guard came out this week,
stating:
He also said that no technology will be able to stop their hypersonic missiles for
decades to come.
Additionally, we learned this week that Iran is further defying the West by
seeking Russia’s help to further build out its nuclear weapons capabilities. Iran’s
possession of nuclear weapons to threaten and attack Israel and the West and
hypersonic missiles to stop any preemptive action against them is a powerful
and scary combination that puts Middle Eastern peace at risk more than ever
before.
It will be able to breach all the systems of anti-missile defense.”
“

4. 11/12/22, 10:54 PM Hypersonic to a Global Showdown | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/hypersonic-to-a-global-showdown/ 4/6
Adding to this deadly scenario, menacing and nuclear-armed North Korea has
apparently also joined this axis of evil and is supplying Russia with munitions
for its war in Ukraine. Moreover, China, in its endless endeavor to take over
Taiwan by force, if necessary, is strengthening its alliance with Russia as well
and has conducted joint military maneuvers to prepare for what may come.
These four countries have in common the wish to counter and perhaps
overthrow what they consider Western hegemony and what is to us an
expanding modern-day civilization of democracy, capitalism, freedom, and
human rights in the world. While Russia is losing steam and ground in Ukraine,
make no mistake that Russia, along with China, Iran, and North Korea, are
determined to not only stop but also throw back what they perceive as western
imperialism. Instead, they only see more dictatorship and the strengthening of
their own authoritarian systems.
With a few hundred thousand dead between Ukrainian and Russian forces so far,
this may only be the beginning of a much bigger conflict that will come to a
head soon. As Navy Admiral Charles Richard, Commander of U.S. Strategic
Command, said this last week:
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This Ukraine crisis that we’re in right now, this is just the warmup. The big
one is coming.”
“

5. 11/12/22, 10:54 PM Hypersonic to a Global Showdown | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/hypersonic-to-a-global-showdown/ 5/6
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Blumenthal is a dynamic, award-winning leader who writes frequently about Jewish life,
culture, and security. All opinions are his own.
Will we be ready for a global showdown of democracy vs. tyranny? And at what
cost will we be required to pay in blood and treasure? Freedom isn’t free, but
World War III, with all the weapons of mass destruction now available, also
comes at an incomprehensible cost.
While the hype in the news has been all about the proliferation of nuclear
weapons, missiles, and drones, perhaps the real story is that we are moving at
hypersonic speeds to a most dangerous global showdown between East and
West. Blessed be the Holy One who is bringing us to a hopefully merciful final
redemption.
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6. 11/12/22, 10:54 PM Hypersonic to a Global Showdown | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/hypersonic-to-a-global-showdown/ 6/6
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