Mr. Netanyahu’s Dilemma
Who would want to be Benjamin Netanyahu? As the prime minister of Israel he has a dreadful calculus to make: Is Barack Obama sufficiently serious about preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons?
The latest development would seem to be reassuring. According to the Financial Times:
The Obama administration said that seven more economies would be exempt from its Iran-related sanctions that come into force at the end of the month, but left open the prospect that China could still face sanctions.
The state department announced Monday that Turkey, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, South Africa and Sri Lanka had all reduced purchases of Iranian oil by a large enough amount to be given a six-month exemption from the sanctions, which come into operation on June 28.
In an earlier announcement, Japan and 10 European countries had already been awarded an exemption.
A balancing act is evidently in progress here, with the U.S. encouraging various powers (India and South Korea are Iran’s second- and fourth-largest oil buyers, according to Reuters) to reduce their oil purchases from the mullahs a significant amount, but not too much. Too much could have a negative impact on the precarious global economy and possibly even Obama’s reelection chances.
But the chosen six-month exemption time frame gives these discussions a window wide enough to get past our elections, a fact undoubtedly not lost on Netanyahu and the Iranians.
Equally undoubtedly, both parties made note of President Obama’s overheard remarks to Russian Prime Minister Medvedev, urging him to be patient and implying that after the election things would be different. He, Obama, would have more freedom of action.
So delay, delay, delay. This is good news for the Iranians. Patience is the name of the game for them. They love to wait things out. Indeed, they are masters of it, talking, not talking, walking and talking, talking and not walking, walking and not talking, all the while taking the opportunity to advance their nuclear ambitions.
Those in the administration who are more serious about the Iranian threat probably tell themselves that this time the sanctions (although limited in the manner described above) will really hurt the Iranian regime, that the scalawags genuinely fear the financial repercussions. This time they will work.
It’s hard to believe that sitting here in Los Angeles, even less likely sitting in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
The mullahs’ heady brew of religion and power madness almost certainly makes them immune to these forms of economic pressure, the more so since they mainly affect the already-battered Iranian public.
If the mullahs cared about their people, things would have been different a long time ago. And, unfortunately, that Iranian public seems less to be relied upon, the Green Revolution fading into a sad and, increasingly distant, memory. (I may be wrong about this, but watching the horrifying results of the demonstrations in Egypt and Syria cannot be encouraging to the remaining Greens and their sympathizers.)
So where does this leave Mr. Netanyahu? Not in place to be envied, despite his electoral popularity.
He is staring at an American election that must give him fits. Were Barack Obama – the man who said those “flattering” things about him to ex-French President Sarkozy – to be reelected in November, the Israeli PM’s hands might be tied in a myriad of ways with a myriad of threats.
His window to act is now. One can only wish him luck. (And maybe some high-tech wizardry we have never seen before.)
Personally,if I were Cousin Bibi,I wouldn’t trust Barokeydoke any further than I could piss through a Texas hurricane…and I’ve lived through 3 of them
Yes, you got that right, your analogy is certainly on point and very flowery.Delicious imagery.
More to the point, Roger is VERY likely onto something, even if he just took a shot in the dark. The point being, if Netanyahu strikes-and it is more than likely he will give the orders-the techo wizardly, which the world is used to Israel displaying, will pale in comparison to that which has been left in reserve just for this occasion.
” I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons. That is why I strongly reaffirmed America’s commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. And any nation – including Iran – should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. ”
Barak Hussein Obama, Cairo, June 4 2009
The above is generally reflective of Obamas’ thinking.
Stupid, naive, ill informed, dismissive of both history and common sense.
One would think that before abandoning Americas role as the global nuclear sheriff, reversing a policy that has kept Americans safe since the end of WW2, Obama would have gotten some advice from the various agencies tasked with the purpose of interdiction. That never happened.
And inviting Iran to join the nuclear club if it simply , ” complies with its responsibilities ” , is like letting Jesse James keep his pistols if only he stops robbing banks. Stupid, naive, treasonous, you take your pick.
No nation in the world views Obama as a reliable partner, Israel least of all.
He has proven he is not a reliable President either. Hopefully he will be out of a job soon.
MBY
Jerusalem
Son of Jacob, the days are coming when a man the likes of Antiochus will seize power over the whole world, just as Daniel prophesied. The birth pangs of the Messiah are already in their early stages, soon to give way to full labor. How soon, God alone knows, but when the water breaks, it shall be a time of great distress such as never has been before. 2/3 of Israel shall perish, and the Gentiles will no doubt fare even worse, and if God Himself did not cut those days short, humans would become extinct. As it is, the Lord says of that Day, “Men shall be rarer than gold of Ophir.”
When you see the enemies of God reveling over the corpse of the prophet Elijah, flee to the wilderness, for 3.5 days after the death of Elijah there shall be a terrible earthquake in Jerusalem, and after that shall come the full brutality of the Antimessiah, who shall speak great blasphemies against the Most High and slaughter all he can find who refuse to worship him.
” And this is to believe that in truth that he will come and that you should be waiting for him even though he delays in coming. And you should not calculate times for him to come, or to look in the verses of Tanach to see when he should come. The sages say: The wisdom of those who calculate times [of his coming] is small and that you should believe that he will be greater and more honored than all of the kings of Israel since the beginning of time as it is prophesied by all the prophets from Moses our teacher, peace be upon him, until Malachi, peace be upon him. And he who doubts or diminishes the greatness of the Messiah is a denier in all the Torah for it testifies to the Messiah explicitly in the portion of Bilam and the portion of “You are gathered (towards the end of Deut)”. And part of this principle that there is no king of Israel except from the house of David and from the seed of Solomon alone. And anyone who disputes this regarding this family is a denier of the name of God and in all the words of the prophets. ”
Maimonides
Slight correction. “messiah” in this context should not be capitalized, as it is not a proper name (“Messiah says”, but “the messiah says”) and not Divine. The latter is why Christians capitalize it.
ie the messiah coming or not, check out Maimonides’s letter to Yemen, which sort of predicts the coming of the messiah in 40 years which enabled that community to resist Muslim persecution.
” Rambam advised that the self-proclaimed Messiah is nothing but an impostor and no doubt a madman. He urged them to remain firm in the belief that G-d will send the true Moshiach to redeem the Jewish people from suffering in exile at the proper time. ”
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/107783/jewish/Responsa.htm
If one wants to understand life there are none better to study than Maimonides.
Zechariah 12 –
In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
” and they shall look upon him in whom they pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”….Zech. 12
Isaiah 9,v6: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. v7; Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it[ with justice and with righteousness ] from henceforth even forever. the Lord of host will perform this.
Isaiah 53 Who hath believed our report?…. For he shall grow up before him like a tender plant, and like a root out of a dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. v3 He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from him, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. v4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. v5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. v6 All us like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. v7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth….AMEN
Their wisdom is small, indeed, but not their egos!
One Harold Camping comes to mind…
It seems that Christians and Jews are alike plagued by these people!
Ours do seem to be more speactacular than yours.
Shalom
Respectfully I ask: do those sages also say that one should not examine the Tanach to see what manner of person the Messiah should be? (You said that they say one should not look in the Tanach to see when He shall come.) For had they looked in the Tanach, they would see that Messiah has already come. With all sincere respect to yourself and the sages, I would point out that the Messiah will not be honored and received by His people, for the prophet Daniel in chapter 9 verse 26 says: “the Messiah shall be cut off but not for Himself.” This is confirmed by Isaiahs’ prophecy in chapter 53. It is necessary that the Messiah should lay down His sinless life for the sins of the world, as an atonement, as the centuries of animal blood-sacrifices by Gods’ people, the Jews, teaches us; for those sacrifices were all serving as a prototype of the “sinless Lamb of God-the Messiah” who would come and lay His life down as atonement firstly for the Jews and also for the whole world, to as many as believe on Him and accept His sacrifice as sufficient atonement for their own sins, in the sight of God.
There will indeed come a day, as has already been quoted: “They shall look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him as one is in bitterness for his firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:10.) The Messiah is God Almighty incarnate as says Isaiah in 9:6 and 7:14. For only God Himself has never sinned, so He manifested Himself in flesh and lived a sinless life, and laid it down as an atonement for all who would believe. “Therefore His own arm brought salvation unto Him.” “Who has believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” (Isaiah 53.)
Yeshua is indeed the promised Messiah who was “cut off but not for Himself” (not for any sin of His own-but for ours.) He loves His people the Jews and said, “Salvation is of the Jews.”
It hurts the true Christians to see Israels fate hanging in the balance, and the increasing hatred whipped up against her among nations, but we also know that she shall triumph in the end-God will never forsake her.
He is everyone’s hope and our only hope.
You are entitled to believe what you want but it grows oh so tiresome to hear the refrain that,
” he died for your your sins “.
It is so historically inaccurate , so categorically refutable, that the proposition itself is an insult ones intelligence and deadens the soul to the suffering of others.
It is we who have been doing the the dying , murdered actually , for his sins for the last one thousand five hundred years.
and this prophecy, and more like it, were fulfilled in Jerusalem, in the year of our Lord 070.
He’s a Progressive. Intentions are everything, actual results count for very little.
There is nothing to calculate, my dear friend, Roger.
Assume that Obama will throw you under the bus and you have made the only calculus any wise person could make.
Obama doesn’t like Bibi, he’s never been a fan of Likud, he cares much more about what Russia thinks than what Israel thinks and he’s notoriously pro-Palestinian. Where’s the calculus with him?
Obama doesn’t even like America very much. Certainly not the one he “inherited” and has tried to “transform” in his small c communist image. Patting Medvedev on his knees and sending coded messages to Vladimir not only makes us look like a satellite state, it signals quite clearly where we are headed.
Israel can’t count on us at the moment. Heck, WE can’t count on us to preserve and protect our OWN Constitution, not to gut our OWN military, not to collapse our OWN economy.
Vladimir got the message. Bibi has been sent one as well.
cfbleachers is right. And in addition to his thoughts, I would remind us that it was liberal, assimilated Jews in Chicago who funded Obama’s rise to power. Many may be disillusioned now (unless they are on J Street), but it is worth while to consider whether or not “the Jewish vote” will change in the swing states. I wrote about that here: http://clarespark.com/2011/06/17/the-famed-jewish-vote/. As for Obama’s well-known view of equating Israeli and Palestinians suffering, see http://clarespark.com/2009/09/11/oil-politics-and-obamas-view-of-israeli-history/. The latter essay quotes from Obama’s second book, in which he gave away his position on Israel’s right to exist. It would be allowed to exist insofar as it adjusted and subordinated its own national interests to those of the (Arabist) U.S. Department of State.
Sadly, I’m pretty sure both you and cfbleachers are right . . .
The only calculus Bibi makes is where when and how to inflict the most damage on the nuclear installations and the infrastructure that serves them. By this time Barack is of no consequence to him. Proof? His settlement policy which throws all PC considerations to the winds
Bingo.
No calculus needed. Simple arithmetic, of the 1 + 1 = 2 variety.
cfbleachers, you are undoubtedly correct.Well articulated.
Don’t think for a nanosecond that Jerusalem hasn’t gotten the message.
I don’t think it requires calculus to figure out this dilemma. Simple arithmetic should do the trick. 1+1=2.
The Iranians are building nuclear weapons to use offensively against the state of Israel. They have made that perfectly clear in their words and deeds.
Obama is on the side of the Mullahs, that much is crystal clear to me.
Bibi will act accordingly to keep his nation secure.
I just hope that we have enough days left to sort this out until we can remove Mr. Obama from office.
How much better will the free world feel if lifelong friends Netanyahu and Romney are working in concert for the safety and security of Israel instead of actively conspiring against it?
“The Iranians are building nuclear weapons to use offensively against the state of Israel. They have made that perfectly clear in their words and deeds.”
Proof?
And the misquoted “wipe Israel off the map” doesn’t count.
Actually, it is not mis-quoted
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Iran-defense-wipe-Israel/2012/02/26/id/430584
Iranian Deputy Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi is quoted as saying “Iran’s warriors are ready and willing to wipe Israel off the map”
The ironic thing is that an Obama strike on Iran would probably be the BEST thing for his re-election chances.
Too bad it goes against every fiber of his appeaser, leftist being.
While I agree that it would go against every fiber of his being, I do not agree that it would help his election chances. Even the media are talking about how the recent intelligence leaks are obviously being engineered to benefit his campaign, I doubt anyone would see a strike against Iran as anything other than politics at its most cynical.
Well, doing the right thing, even if for the wrong reasons, is still doing the right thing.
It would not make me vote for Obama, but it might get him 1-2% of the vote, and in a close election, that could make the difference.
Agree….If things keep going the way they are domestically, a military action, Syria or Iran, may be perceived by 0bama as the only thing to save his Presidency.
Obama’s view of the Middle East is essentially that of a Wahhabist Muslim, to whom the Jews are the ultimate enemy and deceit is just another tactic of warfare. His goal is to simulate concern for Israel’s well-being sufficiently to fool the American public and Israel’s political class, while simultaneously ensuring that Iran acquires nuclear arms in such a fashion as to make the fact irrevocable. All the evidence of his rhetoric and his behavior points in this direction.
Your analysis may or may not be correct, but it is entirely consistent with the facts as known.
the analysis is correct, period.
“Obama’s view of the Middle East is essentially that of a Wahhabist Muslim … ensuring that Iran acquires nuclear arms in such a fashion as to make the fact irrevocable”.
I haven’t spoken with any Wahhabi clerics lately, but the Saudi leaders seem more concerned than even Bibi about the prospect of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons (King Abdullah: ”cut off the head of the snake (the Iranian government)”.
I agree that BHO seems to be dramatically at odds with the sentiments of the majority of Americans regarding Iranian nuclear weapons, although W’s policies were really not much better. I recall reading that he used to joke about editorials by Kristol and Podhoretz at Weekly Standard calling for action against Iran as being the work of “the bomber boys”.
Quite right . . . and rightly so.
The Iranians not only adhere to a distinctly separate branch of Islam (Shia v. Sunni, where Wahhabis are simply a conservative minority of the Sunnis), but are also very different ethnicly: Persian, not Arab.
Arabs have *lots* of historical reasons to dislike Persians . . .
Nevertheless, the last thing we need is a third war.
My gut feelings exactly. True we have no cast in concrete, beyond a doubt, smoking gun evidence…but…sometimes you just have to listen to your inner moderator. As our parents told us decades ago: Sometimes all you will have to go on is your common sense and your God given ability to tell right from wrong.
It’s just a matter of time before Iran gets nuclear weapons. They’re not that hard to make (otherwise Pakistan never could, to be honest). Is it a foregone conclusion that Iran will use them against Israel? Unless Iran wants to commit national suicide, then no.
Yes, the leaders of Iran say a lot of crazy stuff. But so what? It’s called “saber rattling”.
In practice, the US is essentially at war with Pakistan, who also happens to have nukes. Why doesn’t anyone seem to be concerned over either aspect of this? The whole war in Afghanistan is a farce. Pakistan is the real enemy, and as long as they keep supplying the Taliban and letting them hide in the country, the war is unwinnable.
Pakistan has nukes, yes, but they cannot reach the United States. Neither would Pakistan dare use them against our troops for fear of annihilation in response.
No, when the mullahs say “crazy stuff”, it is not saber rattling. Because they really believe it’s reality.
When you are dealing with fanatics operating on an eschatological timetable dictated by “revelations”, it is extremely unsafe to assume that anything they say is just for effect. It is far more likely that you are seeing the external manifestation of an internal idee fixe’ unrelated to what the Red Army used to call “objective conditions”.
As for the Iranian leadership not wanting to “risk” the destruction of their people, first of all they don’t give a damn about “their people”, and never have. As far as the mullahs are concerned, the purpose of “the people” is to die gloriously in jihad; the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88) being a case in point. (“Sophisticated” analysts considered WW1-style trench warfare a thing of the past; they reckoned without the ineptness, fanaticism, and sheer bloody-mindedness of the mullahs and Saddam Hussein.)
Secondly, they simply do not believe that anybody can, or will, strike back at them. They know Obama won’t; He’s too much of a romantic about the “mystical east”. They know none of the European powers will; on the contrary, several are counting on Iran to get rid of Israel for them, so they don’t have to get their hands dirty (coughFranceahemGermanyehhgggheverybody else who has been giving the Iranians hi-tech goodies on the cuff).
And they are counting on Obama to keep Israel from defending itself. With the help of His enablers among our (defiantly anti-Israel and pro-PLO) “enlightened elite’”.
Last but not least, threatening the mullahs with even a credible threat of destruction is pointless. They are believers in martyrdom; you are “threatening” to give them what they want, namely Paradise and 72 houris apiece. To the actual decision-makers in Iran, death in jihad against the “Great Satan” (the U.S.), the “Lesser Satan” (Israel), and/or anybody else on Earth they dislike (which is pretty much everybody else) is a feature, not a bug.
Netanyahu may as well go ahead and do whatever it takes to remove the threat to Israel that Iranian nuclear weapons represent. His first responsibility is to Israel and her people, not to Barack Obama and/or a bunch of trendy Western leftists who hate his people on principle.
Nothing he might do short of allowing Israel to be obliterated will ever please Obama and His ilk, the trendy academic/journalistic/ Hollywood types. So “Bibi” may as well do what he has to.
One thing is certain; if the mullahs do succeed in building nuclear weapons, they will use them. Whether delivered by a missile or in an unmarked van by terrorists, you will know when the Iranians have “the Bomb”.
Because there will be a mushroom cloud over someplace full of people they don’t like.
clear ether
eon
Last but not least, threatening the mullahs with even a credible threat of destruction is pointless. They are believers in martyrdom;
Possibly the largest failing in our government, if not our society, is our inability to understand this fact. Sun Tzu said to “know your enemy”. Historically we have always tried to believe the best of people, and have inevitably misunderstood our enemies as being like ourselves, only tragically misunderstood.
Imagine Oblah-blah’s highfalutin attitude if Israel protects herself. He would be both miffed and “shocked” that Israel didn’t consult him on anything and took unilateral action against Iran.
In cowboy-speak, I feel it’s better to be criticized for what you are than what you aren’t. So if Israel takes immediate decisive action and eliminates the Iranian nuke crud, I’m all for it. But the left, to include the elites in London, will actually have a conniption. The condemnation spewing forth from our own media will be 24/7 for some days or months. “Poor little Iran”.
Then, when D’oh-bama finds out that 77% or greater of the this nation supported Israel’s actions, he’ll have to figure out a way to re-phrase and spin his way out. But he’ll be stuck. Just like he stuck himself when he called the policeman a “jackass” in his first year in office and so many times thereafter. Yes, the private sector IS doing fine. We’re smarter than the left and have no time for idol-worship at Obama’s feet.
When Iran’s nukes are hit, they won’t know where it came from. They’ll be hit in the dark by ghosts.
My admiration at your post is matched only by my depression over the vast sea of mouthbreathers (hi, Jeremy!) who still apparently need these facts drummed into their underutilized skulls.
Well said.
Those who would predict the actions of fanatics (religious or not; see Hitler, Adolf) based on what reasonable people would do are…
Well, let me be overly kind and just say they are… um, mistaken.
And Hitler was just saber rattling also, correct?
Why would nukes held by the present government of Iran be a greater threat than nukes held by Pakistan?
1. Per its constitution and as shown by its actions, Iran has a policy of revolutionary expansion and agitation around the world (including the Latin America). Iran’s primary weapon in this is terrorism. In the contemporary international environment it is unique or almost unique in having an active and attractive revolutionary message (radical Islam) combined with the aggressive use terrorism to promote this policy. Possession of a nuclear umbrella would significantly facilitate this COA.
2. The “Spengler” blog at PJM and Asia Times (by economist and strategist David Goldman) has made a convincing case that Iran in coming decades will experience a demographics crash combined with depletion of exportable oil reserves (the only real source of foreign currency) which will crush Iran’ economy with the burden of caring for many poor rural elderly. Iran will thus be driven to try to seize a current window of opportunity to exert some sort of control over the oil fields of southern Iran, the Persian Gulf and other adjacent areas, especially if they have Shia populations. Iran has already taken steps along this path. Possession of a nuclear umbrella would significantly facilitate this COA.
3. It’s impossible to say whether Iran might use nuclear weapons in an apocalyptic suicide fashion, but expert opinion, including Bernard Lewis believe that is a significant risk : “MAD, mutual assured destruction, [was effective] right through the cold war. Both sides had nuclear weapons. Neither side used them, because both sides knew the other would retaliate in kind. This will not work with a religious fanatic [like Ahmadinejad]. For him, mutual assured destruction is not a deterrent, it is an inducement. We know already that [Iran’s leaders] do not give a damn about killing their own people in great numbers. We have seen it again and again. In the final scenario, and this applies all the more strongly if they kill large numbers of their own people, they are doing them a favor. They are giving them a quick free pass to heaven and all its delights”.
4. The Iran regime, especially the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps which would likely control any nuclear weapons, are fanatics on the order of the Hitler and the SS. If it seemed as if the régime were about to fall to internal opponents (à la June 2009) why wouldn’t they want to take the Great Satan, the Little Satan and the associate Satans with them?
That is a SUPERB comment.
One little typo in paragraph 2 : “control over the oil fields of southern Iran”
should, I’m sure, read “…southern IraQ.”
Jeremy, you are assuming that the Mullahs are rational actors. The people in charge in Pakistan are (for now) and the Soviets in the old Soviet Union were rational actors. They may have been treacherous, cruel and tyrranical, but they did not want to commit suicide. You are hoping that the Mullahs are of the same ilk. Hitler said very plainly what he intended to do, but the people in charge in the 1930′s dismissed what he said. They assumed that he really did not mean it. How much do you know about the Mullahs’s brand of Islam? We already know that many Iranians are willing to commit suicide in order to wage jihad. Are you sure that the guys calling the shots in Iran are not willing to commit national suicide in order to further the cause of Jihad? Would you be willing to bet your own life on it?
“China could still face sanctions”
?!?
HAHAHAHA! Yeah, right! Okay!
The US has NO leverage with China. None. Zero. Zip. Nada. How many billions in US debt is financed through the Bank of China? As long as Washington wants to keep spending like a drunken sailor on leave, there will NEVER be any US sanctions on China.
>>As the prime minister of Israel he has a dreadful calculus to make: Is Barack Obama sufficiently serious about preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons?<<
With all due respect, Mr. Simon, if the PM is still wondering about the level of Obama's fecklessness on this and many other issues, then Netanyahu isn't nearly as smart as I've always thought he was.
“say a lot of crazy stuff. But so what?”
So what? You mean everybody lied when they promised ‘never again’? Oh mean the Iranians are not to be taken seriously. Why not?
Because they are brown, or speak a language you don’t understand? Why are they not to be taken seriously?
Why are they so different from us? What if they are the same? What if they are serious? What if they are not funny brown people, but human beings just like any other? Could they be capable of what other human beings are capable of?
Nobody wants to use nukes but a lot of countries want to have them. Nukes are your ultimate protection against existential threats. No sane person would use them in anything short of an existential threat and no sane person wants to create an existential threat to a regime that has nukes.
So far, this has worked out ok. Mutual assured destruction, etc.
But as the number of nuclear states grows the danger increases. Sooner or later, one of those nuclear powers is going to find itself in a situation where it perceives that using the nuke is less dangerous than NOT using it and on that day, something is going to go boom. The conflict between Israel and Iran seems likely to produce that situation at some point.
I am 51 years old, and I think the odds are better than even that I will live to see a nuclear war. I pray it isn’t the end for all of us.
“Nobody wants to use nukes but a lot of countries want to have them.”
You left out the word “rational” between “Nobody” and “wants” above. That’s why Iran can’t be allowed to have them. However one might feel about the average Iranian citizen, the folks in that country who’d have their fingers on the button for a nuclear weapon launch/use are decidedly *not* rational.
We (nor Bibi) really can’t know anything about his real intentions or beliefs from what our pres says — especially in speeches. That’s clear.
All we can do is attempt to assess what he might or might not do, based on his past behavior — and the occasional words that slip out by accident — or are accidently overheard.
From what I can see — he has the foggy-vague fantasy vision of a world where power is “shared” in various regions — “Fairly” — which is why I believe he isn’t against Iran having nuclear weapons, nor it’s hegemony over the Middle East. Iran or Turkey or the Muslim Bros — whichever is okay with him. Israel? I think he sees it as expendibe — having to “go.” It doesn’t “fit.”
I think he sees Russia as coming to have dominance over — at least Eastern Europe — and perhaps all of Europe (those nasty ex-colonialists.) And China over East and Southeast Asia.
As for us — I see him believing that we ought to withdraw into a turtle shell, accept a degree impoverishment (except for his friends — the Ruling Class), whereby we will do pennance for all the undeserved wealth we had experienced for so long, and “share” power with all the “great” “socialist” governments of South America — and maybe Canada too. Maybe. (Somehow I don’t think he’s included Canada into his thoughts at all.)
I don’t believe he cares if that world is peaceful — or not. Nuke-free or not. I don’t believe he “cares” about the “Climate,” except insofar as using that excuse can create a more controlling government. Etc. Etc.
This is what I see from his actions. This is my assessment of what his dreams of the world are, and why he will not do anything to interfere with the Mullahs, no matter what they plan.
It seems to me that just about everything he’s done that seems to possibly contradict the above, falls into the category of a “pretense” to hold on long enough to be re-elected to a term where he can’t be stopped because of the electorate.
It’s amazing that the Mullahs haven’t already developed nukes and long range missiles. It seems to me he’s surprised as well, and pretty much disappointed about it — he must be — he’s given them all the opportunity to.
I don’t believe he ordered Stuxnet (sp?).
He isn’t particularly intelligent and doesn’t reason well (as most of his generation who have received the same mixed-up and confused “moral relativity” education) — and, is of the same cloth as the obnoxious, mindless, ego-hormone driven “radical” loud-mouth young men, who were screaming from soap-boxes in the sixties, about minorities and the poor — posing as morally superior while personally behaving abysmally and treacherously — toward each other — toward women — and anyone who came into contact with them.
But, he has acquired a certain degree of schrewdness, and has learned to pretend to be what he is not in order to get what he wants — and to pull that wool over the eyes of those who would see him “as a reflection in the blank mirror of their own wishes.”
We are experiencing what happens when a person of extremely mediocre talent and ability — and no real experience in the real world — who never accomplished anything of value — But has an enormously out of proportion opinion of himself — it’s called Narcissistic — gains enormous power.
This extreme mediocrity is now the leader, not only of our great nation, but of the free world — and is free to do what he will to fulfill his personal fantasies of the world — and of himself.
Bibi is in a terrible predicament. If he acts now — don’t forget — even if O doesn’t get re-elected — there is that lame-duck period — And — he will do exactly what he wants during that time (He’s already shown us that he would, as he and Congress did in the last lame-duck session.) I do think if Israel attacks Iran — Hezb and Hamas will attack Isr — and when Isr. attempts to defend itself — the Zero will do as he did with Libya — and “lead” from behind. “The Responsibility to Protect” and all that dishonest malarchy — with Samantha Powers leading the way (we haven’t heard from her in a long time!) There won’t be anything to stop him, unless our military refuses to go along with him — which they won’t and can’t.
I hope my feelings and assumptions are wrong and exaggerated. But, at the moment, I can’t see what else can be assumed.
We (nor Bibi) really can’t know anything about his real intentions or beliefs from what our pres says — especially in speeches. That’s clear.
They can read his Cairo speech for some hints. Prez Barack Hussein, the born Moslem apostate who’s really a secular humanist, admires Moslems and the things Islam stands for. He shares that admiration with his spiritual mentor the Rev Jeremiah Wright and the preacher’s bud Louis Farrakhan. This is a dangerous predilection. Sure, he’s got lotsa company in that in addition to the two reverends, to include almost all of the ruling elite, and average Westerners, for that matter.
Tolerance for Islam is bad enough, but admiration for it is a 4-alarm moment. All this “thinking” is of course based on studied ignorance, or better put: willful ignorance. But it’s clear to me that he’ll half-ass his way through the 1,400 yr old Jew-hatred of Moslems, which is taken from the Holy Ko-Ran and the sacred Hah-Deaths, and, with the U.S. effectively not allied with Israel, will lead to an obvious conclusion.
As the fairly smart Rupert Murdoch said a couple of years ago, as Israel goes, so goes Western Civilization. This is shaping up to be a disastrous direction.
“And, unfortunately, that Iranian public seems less to be relied upon, the Green Revolution fading into a sad and, increasingly distant, memory. (I may be wrong about this, but watching the horrifying results of the demonstrations in Egypt and Syria cannot be encouraging to the remaining Greens and their sympathizers.)”
And why should the Greens stick their necks out? They know they’re going to get no help from Obama or the west in overthrowing the mullahs. This is SO pathetic because we are squandering yet another opportunity (the first was in 2009 after the Iranian “elections”) to achieve regime change without the use of major American military force.
If we had massive covert operations and Black Ops to support the Greens, the Iranian people would actually have a good shot at overthrowing the regime. At minimal cost to us, the Iranian people could achieve a victory and they would be very grateful for our support. Yet Obama does nothing. He still thinks he can negotiate with these monsters, not understanding that the mullahs are determined to wage nuclear war with Israel and possibly even the west in general. This will go down as Obama’s worst foreign policy disaster and what makes it worse is the fact that it all could have been avoided if only he had the nerve to adequately support the opposition in Iran.
“He still thinks he can negotiate with these monsters,
“not understanding that the mullahs are determined to wage nuclear war with Israel and possibly even the west in general.”
It totally bewilders me that anyone still believes that he actually believes he can “negotiate with” Iran.
I know … I’ve read “liberal” opinions supporting that … but they think … anything that sounds cuddly. It doesn’t have to make any sense.
On the other hand, he, personally? I just can’t believe he thinks he will ever change their minds … and it’s very hard to understand why anyone … who thinks clearly and logically and can add things up … would think that he possibly could be holding on to that “belief.”
To me — it just seems that he wants them to get the nukes. If they do, it just fits with his vision of the world of the future — that he wants to come to be. The “sharing” of power among the “regions.”
As for nuclear war — No, I don’t think he wants that. Not especially. And, of course, we’d never strike back. He’d never do that. But … if it happens ….
What would be the result of its aftermath? Middle East “Peace” problem — poof! over and done with! (So “they” would think.)
In Europe or here? A lot of sickness. Smaller populations — the older and weaker die first. Martial law followed by complete takeover by governments. Total Rule by the ever-waiting “experts” — to create an “organized” one-size fits all (except the Ruling Class) (Orwellian-dystopian) world. (No more free “America” to “save” or “help” anyone (us or them) or provide an example of that annoying liberty as after WWII.)
Europe’s already on the edge of such a world — the French voting in the “socialists” [communists] and the Greeks 7% vote for Nazis. The U.K? Oh, forget the U.K. — they’re long gone. Lost their minds ages ago.
And here? Just another big push is all we’d need toward total panic and shelter-seeking in the “protection” of government. Tea-partiers — they’re pretty old, don’t forget.
It’s a Bill Ayres inspired wet-dream — with a loss of 25 million or so dissenters from his “ideal” dictatorship — a good thing to him — as per his book.
You, sir, are a far-sighted futurologist.
Also remember Obama has said openly he is in full favor of cutting and weakening Americas nuclear capabilities, I believe Obama would eliminate all of our nuclear weapons if he could get away with it. We have Iran attempting to build nuclear weapons and make no doubt about it, Iran when, not if but when, they do get their bomb or missile built, they will use it at their first opportunity, and if Obama is still president he will do nothing about it. Message to Israel: the people in America may have your back, but Obama does not,Israel go do what you need to do the people of America will approve even if the idiotic fool we have for president right now does not.
To all my Jewish friends from High School & lovers along the way- PLEASE wake up your Dem voting Jewish family members and tell them the facts about Obama and his NO Support of Israel – He will sell out the Jews faster than any hardcore Muslim state in the Middle east
Israel trust a muslim with it’s survival? You’ve got to be kidding.
Netanyahu is no idiot. He’ll hold off as long as he can, but he’s probably already made the calculus that Obama will be no help unless the thing blows up before the election and action helps Obama. Obama couldn’t care less about Netanyahu.
Three considerations make an Israeli attack on Iran more likely than not by November:
1. Israel is now politically unified. Given the contentious nature of Israeli politics, this only occurs in the face of an existential threat.
2. Preemption is recognized as a key component to victory. The lessons of the Six Day War are etched into the minds of every Israeli officer. The failure to anticipate and preempt the Egyptian strike in the Yom Kippur War nearly cost Israel its national survival. Never again!
3. The Israeli public recognizes by a 20:1 margin that Mr. Obama is no friend of Israel. An international crisis in the Persian Gulf, specifically the Strait of Hormuz, could be the straw that breaks Obama’s back in the upcoming election. Delaying the Iranian bomb combined with the defeat of an unfriendly foreign statesman accomplishes two goals.
Expect the attack to come in September or October.
I hope you’re right!
If there’s a way to do it without killing innocent Iranian civilians (as opposed to the Mullahs and the Revolutionary Guard), so much the better.
I truly don’t believe Obama will stop the Iranians or even try very hard. He’s stalling so that the Mullahs can get their bomb. He doesn’t give a rat’s ass for Israel.
If they do strike, it will have to be surgical. They cannot afford to nuke them or the world will turn on them.
Mr. Netanyahu’s dilemma, is not wondering if Obama will act in time, he won’t! The dilemma is, how many nuclear strikes will it take to insure that the threat is neutralized? Ponder that.
Interesting to think what a reasonably successful Israeli strike on Iran would do to the American election calculus.
If Obama sat on his hands and did nothing while Israel did the heavy lifting, that might seriously hurt Obama.
If on the other hand, Obama helped out, or even took the lead, it might benefit
him in November.
Netanayahu has America’s fate in his hands (through Obama’s reelection), as well as Israel’s.
I’m not sure that Obama’s helping would benefit him in the elections:
a) This would only further alienate his base, and result in a non-trivial number staying home in November, or voting for whoever’s the wingnut candidate this time.
b) I cannot overemphasize what an ugly, no-good-outcome situation Iran has created. Even if bombing them is the best option, and its outcome is better than any other strategies would have been, that’s still a lot of dead people (including innocents) and chaos. Even if it’s the right thing in view of the other options, it damned sure won’t look or feel like the right thing to much of anybody.
So one can sympathize with the President’s desire to shut his eyes, plug his ears, and wish this whole unlovely situation away. However, he’s getting paid to deal with exactly this kind of thing.
I am not at all certain why authors must continually portray the Iranian leadership as mad or crazed. Their behaviour has been remarkably rational, and they have arguably been better judges of US policy than many of the pundits. Certainly, they have framed their approach to the pursuit of nukes with a greater understanding of what Bush & Obama would do than the rhetoric of those presidents would have suggested.
In any event, if I were the Israeli leader I would not at all trust Obama. This is not because I think Obama is being disingenuous when he states that he will not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran. For, on the contrary, I think Obama is such a fool that he actually believes that the mullahs will give up their nuclear programme peacefully. That, in my opinion, is far more dangerous — a president that thinks he knows his adversary and his adversary’s intentioons much better than anyone else (possibly including the adversarial regime itself). Arrogance and ignorance are a very dangerous combination in any leader: in the US president they are a recipe for a disaster. If the US does not wake up soon and realise that something significant had to be done to stop the Iranian drive for nuclear capability, a foreign policy disaster will soon be upon them.
The cult of the 13th Imam is apocalyptic in its implications. The religious leaders of Iran are fundamentalists. If that’s not crazy enough for you, I don’t know what is. You are correct that the Iranians have played us for fools. But that says more about us than them. Our policy toward Iran should be regime change. That opportunity was lost when Obama failed to support the Green Revolution. We’ve been at war with Iran since 1979. Isn’t it about time we liberated the Iranian people from the mullahs and restored this great nation to its proper place as a law-abiding world citizen?
“Is Barack Obama sufficiently serious about preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons?”
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
about NOT preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
I agree with most of the other comments, and with you. Bibi probably knows that he must move and that he must move alone.
What he needs is an impossibility that must anyway be pursued: a perfect plan.
The perfect plan must of course include Lebanon, Syria, Gaza (and the Sinai border).
I am sure that the Israelis are studying every detail and everything that can go wrong, again and again.
We must be ready for a possible mobilization of the hizb’allah network within our borders.
I agree with you in part. Hezbullah is an Iranian frontline proxy. War in southern Lebanon is almost certain, but a hot war with Egypt is unlikely. The US still has significant leverage with the Egyptian military in the form of logistics, maintenance, and technical support. And Egyptian generals have no illusions about the Israeli capacity to wage war. We might see the odd missile or two flying out of the Sinai, but such a strike would likely be launched by terrorist irregulars, not the Egyptian military as such.
Yes, I agree.
I mentioned the Sinai border as one of the areas to be locked to protect Israel from terrorist attacks.
Israel will also have the Eternal G0d on their backside…If Bibi depends on the word of 0zamb0, he is playing russian roulette, and i think Mr Bibi is not THAT senile…..surely….A bit of jest pleeze…..Seriously, The Almighty does not sleep nor slumber, and a sparrow that falls from its nest, He is aware of….Every hair on our head is numbered, Let us trust that Great G0d, to do justice../..Obama will be confused, His evil will be brought to the light, as was his evil scheme to work “under the radar” to strip away our 2nd amendment with his and holder, clinton and their evil scheme to disarm america….Will some one ask Ob how his “under the radar” scheme is working…And just look how many other times he has been forced to eat crow….and just wait till the election….He will try and steal it AGAIN, with his ilk….but i dont think he will pull it off…Have you joined a local TEA party….
The short answer is a resounding NO!
Roger has Netanyahu’s dilemma all wrong.
The dilemma is whether or not Israel can afford to wait until November so that they can again have an ally that isn’t bent on destroying them.
Ben shouldn’t waste even a second trying to figure out whether Obama is an ally or an enemy.
He won’t either. The answer is so obvious that he would be a blind fool to give it a passing thought.
Obama does what he can to let Iran proceed with its wicked plans.
Obama can NOT micromanage this CRISIS with Iran anymore than he has managed the Economy of the United States.
There is only one ultimate SOLUTION and that is the destruction of the Iranian Nuclear Weapons Making Capability and the destruction of the Mullahs. They are quite insane. There is no reason to expect them to ever act reasonably.
DESTROY them now before they have a weaponized delivery system.
“Is obama serious about keeping nuclear weapons out of Iran’s hands?” Possibly until after the election. If obama looses, it’s a moot question. If he wins, we are all in trouble, not just Israel. My faith in this current administration is zero.
Is Barack Obama sufficiently serious about preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons?
Let’s make this simple, “NO”
Given that the USAF has stationed a couple of squadrons of F-22s and F-16s in Qatar very recently, I think Obama is serious. The Iranians are deeply pissed, because the US now has air dominance in the region. The Iranian AF is now about as useful as the Luftwaffe was in April 1945.
Netanyahu can give Obama a teachable moment.
A lesson in what it takes to be a man, instead of merely a boy sitting in a man’s office.
Why is it America’s job to protect Israel?
Can’t “God’s Chosen People” take care of themselves?
I am an American and I have no quarrel with Iran.
It’s not America’s job to defend Israel. It never has been, and no American soldier has ever died fighting for Israel.
On the other hand, why is it Israel’s job to protect America?
A nuclear Iran is a disaster for the USA as well, albeit not as immediate.
From Israel’s point of view, if America (Obama) does not want to deal with it, the least America (Obama) can do is get out of the way.
That is not happening.
You may not have a problem with Iran, but they have one with you, unless you are a closet Islamist troll, which is not beyond the realm of possibility.
Your phraseology and quotation mark usage marks you as a Jew hater, in any event.
Until recently, Iran’s religious leaders like Ayatollah (“I dance in the streets on 911″ )Khamenei were saying that getting “the bomb” would be un-Islamic.
(Pretty ironic from the advocates of be-heading and supporters of suicide bombing.)
Of late, that particular disclaimer has become too hypocritically transparent for even those inveterate liars, and they’ve stopped claiming how offensive a nuclear weapon would be to, you know, to a religion founded on plunder and slaughter.
A weaponized (nuclear) Iran is something even fellow Muslims in the region want to forestall, but, naturally the Saudis et al. are waiting for someone else to take care of the problem for them. Europeans should be a lot more alarmed than they appear to be at the weapons capacity of such an unstable regime, so close.
Not mentioned enough is the lingering, if not immediate, effects of a detonated nuclear bomb for the region in general.
If you are not Shia Islam Umah, or Iranian then Iran has a big problem with you.
Just because you have feelings for or not for the tiger doesn’t mean the tiger won’t eat you.
You have no quarrel with Iran? Really? No quarrel over the 1979-1980 hostage taking? No quarrel over the murder of 241 American servicemen in Beirut, courtesy of Iran? No qualms regarding the State Dept.’s ranking of Iran as the world’s number one state sponsor of terror? I can only conclude that you support terrorism yourself.
F2, you do realize that, as much as the mullahs despise the “Little Satan” Israel, there is a “Great Satan” they hate even more? Do you not know who that “Great Satan” is?
“Is Obama sufficiently serious about preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons?”
Maybe a better question is : Is Obama sufficiently serious about protecting Israel at all ?
This sanctions/exemptions “waiting game” you describe is just another dimension of the BS delay we’ve been doing vis à vis Iran for the last decade. The mullahs and A’jad love all this jazz, figure Allah is happily messing with the brain dead infidel.
Obama’s own historical and ideologically mandatory contempt for Israel is about as well concealed as his contempt for Britain, that brutish crowd of colonial oppressors.
Netanyahu’s best US hope is the US Congress and the United States dumping this President in November. I’m sure Israel’s PM is smart enough to know that.
“As the prime minister of Israel he has a dreadful calculus to make: Is Barack Obama sufficiently serious about preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons?”
No.
Bibi, and everybody other than Roger Simon, *knows* that Obama is not at all serious about preventing Iran … etc. Indeed, it has been obvious that O and the entire global left is *actively* aiding Iran so it can have nuclear weapons. Iran/Syria/Islamists are not enemies of the left. They are the most important and useful allies. Indeed, i can not come up with a reason why they would even *want* to prevent Iran from having nukes.
The POTUS Obama would rather bomb Israeli nuclear sites than Iranian’s But Barack cannot think up a big enough lie or reason to and keep the American Jewish Democrats support.
I would say Obama doesn’t give a rat’s ass about Israel.
I would look to nuke Iran now, sort of reminds me of libs/dems that don’t want citizens to have guns, and we should call 911 in case of emergency. But they never tell anyone that if attacked calling 911 is too late.
And what is left if Israel is attacked, the land is too small to withstand a first nuclear strike.
In the Arab countries the proverb is that they back the faster horse, and obozo is more like a 2 legged horse wanting to run in the Kentucky Derby, the odds are impossible.
Benjamin Netanyahu is a hero of a man who will hold true to what is needed. He is for the world today, what Winston Churchill was, not that too many years ago. On the other hand, there are far too many Neville Chamberlain’s in the world today. Obama, is neither… His off mike remarks to Russian Prime Minister Medvedev, should have lead to his arrest and removal from office for Treason.
Reply to #7
Why would nukes held by the present government of Iran be a greater threat than nukes held by Pakistan?
1. Per its constitution and as shown by its actions, Iran has a policy of revolutionary expansion and agitation around the world (including the Latin America). Iran’s primary weapon in this is terrorism. In the contemporary international environment it is unique or almost unique in having an active and attractive revolutionary message (radical Islam) combined with the aggressive use terrorism to promote this policy. Possession of a nuclear umbrella would significantly facilitate this COA.
2. The “Spengler” blog at PJM and Asia Times (by economist and strategist David Goldman) has made a convincing case that Iran in coming decades will experience a demographics crash combined with depletion of exportable oil reserves (the only real source of foreign currency) which will crush Iran’ economy with the burden of caring for many poor rural elderly. Iran will thus be driven to try to seize a current window of opportunity to exert some sort of control over the oil fields of southern Iran, the Persian Gulf and other adjacent areas, especially if they have Shia populations. Iran has already taken steps along this path. Possession of a nuclear umbrella would significantly facilitate this COA.
3. It’s impossible to say whether Iran might use nuclear weapons in an apocalyptic suicide fashion, but expert opinion, including Bernard Lewis believe that is a significant risk : “MAD, mutual assured destruction, [was effective] right through the cold war. Both sides had nuclear weapons. Neither side used them, because both sides knew the other would retaliate in kind. This will not work with a religious fanatic [like Ahmadinejad]. For him, mutual assured destruction is not a deterrent, it is an inducement. We know already that [Iran’s leaders] do not give a damn about killing their own people in great numbers. We have seen it again and again. In the final scenario, and this applies all the more strongly if they kill large numbers of their own people, they are doing them a favor. They are giving them a quick free pass to heaven and all its delights”.
4. The Iran regime, especially the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps which would likely control any nuclear weapons, are fanatics on the order of the Hitler and the SS. If it seemed as if the régime were about to fall to internal opponents (à la June 2009) why wouldn’t they want to take the Great Satan, the Little Satan and the associate Satans with them?
The answer is NO!
First off, no matter how much they appear to be by our standards, they are not “the crazy mullahs”. The are however deeply religious fanatics. They truly believe if they stir up enough hate and discontent the Mahdi will arise and lead them all in a peaceful Muslim heaven on earth. They also fervently believe dieing for their religion is the ultimate sacrifice they can make and will guarantee them a spot in heaven. They have no fear of dieing and an ingrained hatred of Israel and anything else that is not Islamic. Allah has told them they are the perfect people and they should rule the world in his name. They couldn’t care less what happens to them here and now because they are convinced Allah will protect them and they will arise triumphant on Judgement day.
Now, as to them wanting the bomb. I say give them one. Mosad is more than capable of smuggling one into Iran and if they could plant it inside one of the Iranian Nuclear sites they could make it look as if the Iranians blew themselves up in their haste.
Oh, and Barry1817, you have to remember what the Iranians are building are nothing like what we have, theirs are more on the level of what was used in WWII. A first strike against Israel may take out one or two of their cities but not much more at least for awhile until the radiation spreads. But even that can be contained.
From reading the scriptures i do not think that a nuclear weapon will ever be used against Israel. It is going to get terrible for the people of Israel, as i think the bible says that 2/3 of theinhabitants of Israel will die, and the remaining 1/3 will turn to the Lord with all their heart…I just dont see where thr King of Kings will come to a mount of Olives that is poisened by nuclear fallout…There is time to embrace the One and Only True God of Israel, and His Only Son Jesus Christ, now before that great and awful Day of the Lord…This is the same Diety of Genesis ch. 1 v26…And God said, Let us make man in our image, and after our likeness; That is a plurality of God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Spirit….This world is bubbling like a pot of stew on the fire…Why would anyone risk heaven, and end up in a Hell worse than this evil earth….
Given the history of the Jews during the 20th century, if the leaders of a country say their intention is to kill the Jews, the Jews have the right to believe them and do their best to stop them from getting the means to do so.
Iran says it wants to wipe Israel off the map and all indications are that they are trying to build a nuclear bomb which could do just that. Israel has the right to believe them and to try to stop them. The only way to do that is to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapon-making and weapon-delivery systems.
Obama has no allegiance to this country let alone Israel.I believe Netanyahu understands the situation very well. Israel may not be able to preserve itself in the face of Obama’s hostility and dishonesty. However the result will be the Samson option. Obama has no idea what he is courting with his arrogance.If he did he would be absolutely terrified.
WoW…….how correct are you….You really have it right on this matter…
I would not count on anybody!
November 6, 2012 – Gotterobammerung!
An Iranian nuke, or one of undetermined origin, detonated over Tel Aviv, would solve Obama’s Israel problem. I know what I’d do if I were Mr. N.
“I say we take off and nuke the entire sight from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.”
I love that line from Aliens. Another appropriate one: Did IQs drop while I was gone?
Agreed, supported, and wishing it happens. Better them then us!
As a Muslim, Obama hates Israel and America. As an conceited elitist oligarch, he hates all stable governments and seeks to de-stabilize them in his quest to sit at the table of a One World oligarchy. He and Soros are James Bond madmen.
This is a no-brainer. No one can trust obama. Don’t bother.
Roger,
With respect, the headline doesn’t properly characterize your column.
Though I’ll publicly stipulate Bibi can be a jerk as a person, there is no way this is a dilemma for him.
He, and Israel, are stuck in a situation in which an existential enemy is beavering away to build a nuclear arsenal, while the new leader of their most important ally is fecklessly ignoring any security issues that cannot be solved by a drone strike.
BHO has directly placed Bibi in a box, and his only responsible action is to consult with the IDF for the most auspicious timing and method for the needed military strike against Iran to produce the greatest damage to their nuclear weapons program.
Israel is a tiny country with a small population concentrated in just a few cities; it cannot withstand a first strike by nutso Mullahs. The alternative to a pre-emptive strike against Iran’s nuclear program is realistically waiting for the mullahs to have one of their zombies (w/ apologies to local columnist) deliver a nuc by pickup truck to Tel Aviv, and then the huge counterstrike against Iran.
. . . that’s seems to me to be the worst possible scenario, but also unfortunately inevitable if ‘we’ let the nut job mullahs actually build a nuclear arsenal.
Best Regards,
Were I the one to strap on Bibi’s sandals each morning, there would BE no calculus on the problem of whether the his present counterpart dwelling alondside the Potomac River in Washington will have any effect both lasting and beneficial on the Iran issue. A cursory examination of how the kinyun has been spending his time and our tax money of late reveals a singular goal… his own reelection. One so singularly focused upon one goal will not be tending well to another’s goal.
This is incumbent upon Israel’s leader to move ahead as if the O will not render any valuable assistance. Hopefully, he’ll be out of his current residence and our hair long before Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons capability is realised. Mr. Netanyaho is rightly dedicated to the welfare of HIS people. Mr, Obama is dedicated to the welfare of his megalomaniacal self.
Mr. Barack Obama is indeed serious, HOWEVER, this seriousness can easily and seriously be put to the test depending how gullible he could be to Iran’s promises and guarantees! Also on the type and amount of pressure eventually put on him. Israel can trust no one, can depend on no one but itself, it can be seriously certain that at the first opportunity given to any country it would be seriously hurt and harmed. ARABS DON’T WANT PEACE, THEY LIE IN THEIR TEETH. THEY WANT MURDER, MAYHEM, RUINS. READ THE AL QURAN.
Mr. Obama should seriously heed to the public declaration that one of those Mullahs made: He wants Islam to rule over Spain -”recover” Andalusia- over Europe, and see the Arab Crescent Moon floating over the Vatican. What more does he seriously need to convince him of Arab intentions? England and France are already losing their identities, soon we’ll see their populations converted to Islam and ruled by the Sharia. In England there are regions with notices hanging out “THIS AREA IS MUSLIM – NO FOREIGNERS ARE ALLOWED IN”. My G’d the arrogance, the british and french are foreigners in their own countries now?
Who cares about Barack Hussein Obama, he is a bad dream more along the lines of NIGHTMARE. He will be resigning before the Democrats convention in Charlotte. There is way too much for him to survive. He is now leaking national security secrets, his Attorney General had been runnning guns until he got caught, all that in an attempt to force a ban on weapons. He has two forged documents that we know about and probably more that have not been exposed. He is not a “natural born Citizen” and that will more than likely be played out in the Florida ballot challenge being led by Larry Klayman, the founder of Judical Watch now with Freedom Watch. The Usurper in Chief is history, all Israel needs to do is stall until this criminal is forced to resign. You do not want to work with a criminal and a usurper.