Israel: U.S. needs more clarity on Iran threshold
By Elise Labott
Israeli officials were telling CNN's Security Clearance just a month ago that the United States and Israel were cooperating closely on intelligence sharing over Iran.
The latest U.S. assessment gave the two countries their closest understanding yet of the scope and pace of the development of the Iranian effort, the Israelis said.
But the close cooperation belies a heated policy debate – one becoming more public – about when military action would be required to take out the nuclear program.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is displaying growing impatience with what he says is a lack of clarity by the Obama administration on so-called "red lines" that Iran cannot cross if it wants to avoid war.
"Iran will not stop unless it sees clear determination by the democratic countries of the world and a clear red line," Netanyahu warned in an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Company.
"I don't think that they see a clear red line and I think the sooner we establish one, the greater the chances that we won't need other types of action," the Israeli leader said.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Michigan, spoke publicly about a meeting he attended last month in Israel during which he said Netanyahu blew up at U.S. ambassador Dan Shapiro because he was "at wit's end" over what he saw as foot-dragging by the administration.
"Right now, the Israelis don't believe that this administration is serious when they say all options are on the table and more importantly, neither do the Iranians. That's why the program is progressing," Rogers said in an interview with Michigan's WJR radio.
Speaking to the Israeli press, Shapiro has dismissed accounts of a heated closed-door exchange.
Support for Israel has become a contentious topic in the presidential campaign. Republican Mitt Romney has called President Barack Obama weak when it comes to supporting Israel and countering Iran.
"The uncertainty about where the United States' position is on those questions has created lots of problems and anxiety that I think doesn't serve the world well and doesn't serve peace well," Rogers said.
Iran has stepped up production of high-grade enriched uranium and has re-landscaped one of its military bases in an apparent effort to hamper a United Nations inquiry into its nuclear program, the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report last week.
Israel feels a greater sense of urgency with talks aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions failing to produce an agreement and sanctions not having the intended impact.
Concerns in Washington that Israel could launch a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities prompted a wave of visits this summer to Israel by several top U.S. officials, including Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and National Security Adviser Tom Donilon.
Israeli anxiety has not compelled the administration to produce a clear statement on the consequences Iran would face for continuing to pursue its nuclear program, which Tehran insists is peaceful.
Far from establishing a threshold for military action, the closest White House spokesman Jay Carney would go on Monday was to repeat the commonly-used phrase "the president is committed to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon."
The debate between the United States and Israel centers on a decision by Iran to acquire a nuclear bomb versus its "breakout capacity" to do so.
Israel worries that Iran's nuclear development will progress past a point where the Israelis can stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon themselves. The United States, with its superior military capabilities, has greater latitude to decide how far is too far.
Carney declined to provide detail about the U.S. threshold and offered a 'we'll know it when we see it' explanation of the "so called breakout move."
It certainly doesn't look like the United States has a confrontation with Iran in its sights.
With the presidential election less than two months away, Israeli officials tell CNN they do not view the Obama administration as seriously considering any action in the next few months.
Asked this week during an interview in Russia if the Obama administration would set out red lines for Iran, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said: "We're not setting deadlines."
Clinton said 'we're watching very carefully" what they do because "it's always been more about their actions than their words."
But Rogers warned in his radio interview that he believed Israel could conduct a strike on its own absent clarity by the administration.
"If I were betting my house today, I would guess that they probably will do it, if we don't have a change in more clear red lines from the United States," he said.
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Greetings! I usually do not post comtmnes until today. You have excellent points, but readers beware to be safe, do not believe all you read in the internet. If you find a post in 1 blog, try and research some more. It is always safer to analyze articles from several sources, ponder on them, and judge which one to trust. Greetings from Iraq!
Israel has at least 80 nuclear warheads. Pakistan has 90, India 100. Iran has none. What's wrong with this picture?
Google Nuclear weapons, by nation" I'm not saying Iran should have them; I'm saying they have a reasonable reason to equalize the power imbalance. Ahmadinijad is like Saddam...a loose mouthed braggard; his threats should not be the reason Israel nukes Iran. He is NOT highly regarded by most Iranians, who have high respect for the west. It's time to get rid of all nuclear weapons. Remember how the peace symbol got started? Ban the bomb? That was over 50 years ago (google "when did CND start"). Let's ban nukes. Now.
Netanyahu needs to shut his pie hole and stay out of U.S. elections. Just what we need, more whining from the whiniest country on earth.
Why don't YOU shut YOUR pie hole, genius? At least until you'll understand that others have as much or even more right to use it?
100% correct. Israel stick to your own tiny country the 300+ million people in the US don't give a rats A$$ about Israel.
Israel needs more clarity and commitment to a two-state solution immediately. Iranian concerns are just subterfuge to continue apartheid policies in the West Bank and Gaza. Israel is the 8th largest arms dealer in the world. Israel is a nuclear armaments producer. Israel commits genocide routinely sine 1948.. I am sorry that Iran may have nuclear arms capability, but the Biblical edict- an eye for an eye is an ugly truth. If Israel wants peace, Israel must become peace loving, nuclear free, and committed to a free and prosperous neighbor- namely Palestine. The eye for an eye concept can work in reverse too. Peace is never adversarial. Peace takes more effort than war. Shalom.
"commits genocide routinely" Really? How many civilizations have they wiped out? – None. –
Either uou have no idea what you are talking about or you or just a propagandist (and a poor one at that).
Israel DEFINITELY needs more commitment to a two-state solution. After all, the Palestinians and other Arabs always rejected it and without their commitment a two-state solution will not be possible.
Netanyahu needs to chill and let diplomacy including sanctions take its course. War should always be a last resort. In due time, if Iran doesn't responds to the demands of the UN and international community regarding its nuclear program, war would be inevitable.
I have some news for you. Israel WILL NOT use force against Iran unless as a last resort in case tere will be no other way to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Use of force without our backup?are you joking?how Israel is going to pass over 400 air defence missile systems and radars without our tomahawks and anti radar missiles.it can't even get close to facilities or it will but with heavy casualty and little achievements.
You should try to educate yourself a bit... You will learn that Israel fought (and won) three major wars without US backup. You will also learn that it is next to impossible to shut down ballistic missiles.
First it's not impossible you can see Aegis ballistic missile defense system.Second you win yes but with weapons that was made in US or UK.
Working with Israel is always going to be difficult. They are our strongest supporters in the Middle East, but unfortunately they are not a Middle Eastern nation, they are a Western nation implanted into the Middle East by outside forces.
The resentment and indignation from their neighbors is going to be there for many generations to come. And if their neighbors ever stop hating each other long enough to cast a unified evil eye at Israel, it's going to get ugly fast. One of my greatest fears is that the next nuclear device set off in anger will be an Israeli one, I don't want to think about the repercussions of that possibility.
NO ONE in the US gives hoot about Israel except for the NeoCON-men, AIPAC traitors and religious nuts who want Jesus to reappear
Someone has to care, can't leave the caring to people who want to see Israel wiped out; or Atheists who only care about themselves enough to troll everyone or be a critic about everything wholesome in the world.
About 70% of the American population support Israel.
These 70% will give priority to economy than a little country that always makes troubles for us and gets our weapons for free.
Israel has wiped out Palestine then they cry victim to Iran rhetoric why should we care about Israel when they don't' care about their neighbors?
No the buildings went down from the extreme heat making the top layers collapsing causing a domino effect. The smoke you are seeing shooting out of the lower floors was due to the airpressure blowing them out.
Mumbo jumbo. can we stick to facts please.
the ban kers that rule & own the world will arrange a war between iran, israel, usa, etc, when they have their eco nomic ad vantage they seek....beware of a dow of 14,000....that is the trigger they are looking for to dump their stock & start THE BIG war.....then they can buy it all back with the price drops 75%.
BE WARE!
oooooooooooo " be ware"............oooooooooooooo Coo Coo!!
How has Israel built up so much capital to pay us for advanced weapons? By ponzi scams? How did they get so rich? Cant be from natural resources. Ive never seen a product that said made in Israel. Please enlighten me.
Your Intel processor inside the computer you're typing on right now, was MADE IN ISRAEL. The Firewall technology blocking intrusion on Network routers and switches, was MADE IN ISRAEL. The cellular protocol most network carriers use today for cell phone transmission, was MADE IN ISRAEL. If you want to see more, there is a NASDAQ index specifically for JUST the country of Israel, as a commodity, base on all the Israeli companies trading on NASDAQ. I suggest you go research your own questions prior to sounding, um, a bit dim.
I don't know your true or not.but if you hadn't our economic and technological and military helps now there wasn't any Israel.
Mkultra... Somehow there WAS Israel without American help suring the first 25 years of its independence and it not only WAS but it managed to fight and WIN three major wars against much larger Arab states who enjoyed almost unlimited Soviet aid and assistance.
Mkultra... Somehow there WAS Israel without American help suring the first 25 years of its independence and it not only WAS but it managed to fight and WIN three major wars against much larger Arab states who enjoyed almost unlimited Soviet aid and assistance..
Well you had our bombers and fighters.you think you got victory alone.90% of it was because of our superior airplanes.
Israeli interests are not American interests. If American Israelis are worried about Israel, they should go there and defend her. We can not let Israel drag us into war. We need to stop all foreign aid to Israel.
goose needs one: ever hear of democracy? on 9/11 the muslim apologists are out in full force!
The US and Israel DO indeed have a lot of common interests. One of them is fighting fanatic mass murderers of the kind that killed 3000 innocent Americans 11 years ago. In addition, the US and Israel have common technological, scientific, industrial, financial and many other interests. Further, the US and Israel have the common ideals of democracy, freedom and equality.
Your talking about Israel?havnt you seen videos on Internet that Israeli armored car hiting childs for fun?please dont say silly things.if you want you can search Internet to find more of Israel crimes.they even killed one of our citizens with bulldozer.israel has no benefits for us.
Mikultra... If the Palestinians and other Arabs did not like the current arrangement they would NEGOTIATE a better deal long ago. They had plenty of opportunities.
Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day are daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, power, and glory forever and ever Amen. GOD's will be done!!!! 101......... Dear GOD I pray that you take swift and certain action on Iran, no more red lines, kid gloves are off. Saddam in Iraq bluffed at a poker game he could not win rather he had them or not, We have to do what we have to do when someone is unstable like Saddam. THIS IS NOT A BLUFF! WE HAVE TO ACT! please GOD show the world you don't threaten Israel and live. swift and certain strike ordered!
Iran would commit suicide if they attacked the U.S. We have a far superior detection system and would shoot them down. But thats not the real issue. BTW if you didnt get the memo, Europe isnt doing business with Iran because of the sanctions.
the jews are blackmailing all countries to not deal with Iran that is the reason.Nobody gives a dam about Israel. Israel is the biggest cry baby in the world. I am sure Israel wants to control the oil in the middle east together with the u s and Irac libya and Iran got in their way .O by the way what about Israels bombs
The US has more to worry about from a nuclear Iran than Israel. Would you nuke someone in your backyard? They'd love to see 'the great satan' burn.
Why should we fear them US is approximately 3 times of Iran and has 5200 active nukes.they know that if they use nukes they will be smashed with our missiles. they aren't crazy.i think they are more clever than Israel.
Mikultra... If Iranians will use nukes they will destroy Israel and kill millions of Israelis. Bombing Iran and killing millions of Iranians will not resurrect the dead Israelis, however.
Hmmm another illogical answer. But my main QUESTION still hasnt been answered. Again and again, what does Israel contribute to the U.S? oh please dont just say because we are allies routine. What trade do we have with them that is so important?
we sell weapons to them, then again we are the worlds largest weapon seller.
Edward... Even a butcher has to buy food sometimes... 🙂
israel is the only dependable ally in the region. they are the only country that the US knows for sure will never bar its planes from landing, refueling, etc. only a person missing half his wit could not see the importance of such a strategic ally. is that person you? or are you simply a muslim parrot?
Thursday the White House is monitoring the spike in oil percis as a result of uprisings in Libya, but said that recent fluctuations aren’t likely to derail the U.S. economic recovery. Now can someone please tell me how runaway oil percis that are basically due to the ineptness of the CIC (Clown In Chief) will not or cannot effect the current economy? Good Grief! They actually expect us to believe these lies!!!!!As to the current administration and it's stand on oil production here (my apologies if I'm a touch uncivil in my ranting today), I'm not sure why anyone should be surprised ad this clown's stance as to the oil situation. consider the fact that it took our boy 8 days to get his head far enough out of his behind to even comment on the Libya situation. 8 days! In the meantime gas percis are flying through the roof! Yet, his so called administration has the gall to believe we the electorate are really dumb enough to accept their claims that inflation is not happening!During his campaign, Obama was quite comfortable lecturing the electorate on the fact that he felt it was ok if gas percis when up to $5 a gallon or more. didn't matter to our wanna be dictator! Now as the Mid-East goes up in flames and he openly shows his disdain for Israel, he steadfastly refuses as you note to allow us to tap our own vast natural resources.His ideology dictates we as a country must be destroyed and become beholden to the third world garbage that is now and has been calling the shots in the U.N. for years.Our president is nothing more than a follower of a failed Marxist/Socialist system and on top of that every move he makes is also apparently aimed at supporting every radical Muslim order out there. As such, I see something much deeper going on here as to oil, although as always, it's just my view.Reply
As an American Jewish voter, I along with my friends and entire family intend to vote against Obama and every single democrat. Obama and the democrats as evidenced by the loud NO and booing at the democratic convention at the suggestion of including G-d and Israel, have thrown Israel under the bus and will not care if that tiny little unique democracy is obliterated by Iran. As Jews...we cannot stand by and do nothing...we will cast our votes AGAINST OBAMA ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER AMERICAN JEWS.
Israel does have a strong enough political presence in the US to get us into a war we can't afford. I'm just curious if they'll act in time or let Obama have a second term.
Hundreds of thousands? Exactly, one of the smallest lobbies in America somehow holds an immense share of the political power and is war mongering to drag the U.S. into pointless war that it can not afford or needs! I don't give a hoot about Israel and this war mongering rhetoric is really troubling to me.
Go back to Israel if you support them so much and leave us out of this mess.
It is pretty comical how all those claiming not to give a hoot about Israel will suddenly give a HUGE one if the US governemt will follow teir demands and will leave Israel no other option but to defend itself in case Iran will be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.
Israel can't even defend itself from gaze missiles and in case of Iran without our support its work will be done within hours.
Neither Israel nor any other state has the magic weapons harming bad guys only. Neither Israel nor anyone else has an effective way to fight mass murderers hiding behind their own cheering women and children. Israeli patience is great but not unlimited. One day it may end. On that day Gaza will be turned into a pile of rubble covering the bodies of Hamas members and their supporters.
Aha see you are talking like warmongers.why shouldn't Israel be destroyed instead of Gaza.you are more human than them?
Israel has been agitating for the US to attack Iran militarily for years now. Let's hope the US doesn't fall for the hype again.
Israel 's main concern about Iran getting nuclear weapons is not that Iran will use them but that Israel will be severely hampered in its ability to run roughshod over all of its neighbors, behaving as it pleases, as it has done for the last 60+ years.
Israel lives in a neighborhood where 'hard power' is much more important than 'soft power'.
no war no more war no more war we dont need another war no war stay out and get out of the mideast save America first no more mideast involvement no war stay away getout now now now
Absolutely right...NO MORE WAR in the Middle East. America needs to take care of her own, not a country with countless UN Resolution violations and war mongering. Israel starts shooting, they should be on their own, don't let them drag US into a shooting war.
"war mongering"? Have you read the constant stream of threats from Iran about destroying Israel? The Israelis are countering with threats of limtied strikes against military targets. Now, who is the war monger?
Thinker23- the Jews lied and handed Jesus over to the Romans for execution. So who shares the greater blame, the roman authority or the Jewish religious who were looking the Messiah but rejected Jesus?
But history was rewritten to omit that fact for the Jewish religious text.
Something to thing about
I believe that the actual killers carry the responsibility. If you believe that this is not the case you should agree that Israel has EVERY RIGHT to pulverize Gaza, Lebanon and other places where people publicly called for killling of Jews and destruction of the Jewish State. Accoring to you ALL people living in these places are guilty of mass murder.
Markmywords... If you believe that the Jews (ALL Jews) are resonsible for the death of one Jew who was arrested, tried, convicted and executed 2000 years ago by the Romans ARE YOU WILLING TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MURDER OF SIX MILLION JEWS LESS THAN 70 YEARS AGO BY THE NAZIS? There were many Christians who not only "lied and handed Jews over" to the Nazis but actively participated in the killings... ARE YOU, AS A CHRISTIAN, WILING TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY?
Elect Romney and you will have your wish of war with Iran.
That still doesnt answer my question? And besides North Korea has made simular boasts. Again what does Israel do for the U.S and why would we plunge into another conflict with nothing to gain.
Israel does a lot to the US. The list is too long to put here. Further, we will plunge into another conflict with nothing to gain for the simple reason that by not doing it we'll have A LOT TO LOSE.
And... the war drums are beating once again....
Is there anyone with enough b@lls to answer my question?
China protects N. Korea, hence the continued existence of that 'nation'. Iran's oil has always gone to Europe and Asia, I don't see where people get off suggesting the US is out to steal it.
Israel does a lot to the US. The list is too long to put here. Further, we will plunge into another conflict with nothing to gain for the simple reason that by not doing it we'll have A LOT TO LOSE...
Why? Because people ouritght hate the man. Not abstract hate – pathological, personal hatred.It’s kind of scary to witness at first, so give Bernie a pass.So you are okay with the fact that Bernie's position is that anyone who opposes Obama is a racist?Why should we give him a pass when he calls us racists?As for Obama, well you tell me why he said, Under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket, from an Obama interview with the San Francisco Chronicle editorial board in 2008. Why would he wish to inflict upon the American people more hardship by skyrocketing their electricity rates?What about his healthcare plan? Has it lowered insurance premiums by $2,500 like he promised? Nope. I mean come on, Tom tell me one thing Obama has done that has improved this country.Are more people employed or unemployed now than in 2008?Are gas prices higher or lower now than in 2008?Are we doing more or less to explore and utilize domestic energy now than in 2008?Which terrorists have stopped and changed their mind about attacking us now, since Obama took office in 2008?You are telling me that you can't see why Americans think Obama hates the United States?Like I asked give us ONE example of how Obama has made America better.Reply
And North Korea starves and brainwashes their people among other atrocities. Are they any better then Iran or is this about oil?
God bless The United States of America.
President Obama 2012 !!!
This is not about electricity nor positive energy this is about power and beleif. This uranium is power to this country they know it and the USA knows it . To take it away from IRAN will mean to take its power, the one thing that has its eneimies on there toes, the one thing that gives the people of IRAN somthing to beleive in and stand for; the right to equal power. The USA is smart to antagonize ISRAEL to be the first to test the waters before she gets her hands dirty.
Can someone tell me what Israel does for us? Why is North Korea Pakistan and the Saudis allowed nuclear warheads? Iran must know if they would use one on a country they would be destroyed. Does anybody believe other then the Israel that Iran wants to commit suicide?
Do YOU believe that 11 years ago a group of Muslims committed suicide in order to kill thousands of Americans? If THEY could do it why Iranian leader CAN NOT?
All those 9/11 muslims were Sunni, They came from our allies namely Saudi Arabia. I cannot recall one suicide bomber that was Shia, from Iran, Iraq or Syria. Funny how Saudi Arabia which is the most intolerant country in the Middle East is getting arms from America and American support. Until someone shows me where Iran has attacked the west I prefer to ignore the propoganda.
You mention Muslims as the ones who committed the treacherous act of 9/11.....but if you look at the footage of the buildings going down, it look like a control demolishion. ( take that for whatever it means)
Another question thinker23- while there is photos of some middle eastern men , who were in the airports the day of the attacks,'..........who actually claimed responsibility for the attacks? Usually terrorist organizations are quick to lay claim to some act of terror. But immediately the mass media had a host of suspects all line up.
to markmywords, the passenger list was how they came up with the names of the terrorists. phone calls, picture text etc. as for the building looking like a demolition, the building was like a box, lots of structure outside and open inside. once planes at full fuel capacity slammed into the buildings, the heat of the burning fuel weakened the buildings to the point of collapse. because of the outter structure is why the building did not tip over rather fell upon its self and straight down. each floor had 4" of concrete with steel trusses. once the steel gave out the sheer weight of the concrete pancaked each floor all the way down gaining momentum all the way down. there is no doubt that the building was toppled by the plane alone. there was no demolition at all. the technology of the building was very good at the time of building, but they could not have foreseen large jetliners slamming into them 40+ years later.
They were the ones who gave the USA questionable information on Iraq concerning weapons of mass destruction, that mind you have never been found in Iraq yet. How many soldiers and noncombatants were killed base this Israelis information????
The fact is tha Saddam not only HAD weapons of mass destruction but he USED them killing more than 60,000 Iraqi civilians. Is not USING such weapons a convincing enough evidence of HAVING them?
wipe out Iran
the cancerous regime of the terrorist state of devil Iran needs to be surgically removed. Its evil is unquantifiable
Is there any evidence that Iran has made significant progress and after more than a decade of trying is about to demonstrate a nuclear capability?
Or is this just Israel posturing for more political attention during US election season?
70 years ago it took three years for the Americans to design, build and use atomic bombs from scrath using the 1940s technology. Do you REALLY believe that the Persians are SO DUMB that they're incapable to do the same in more than 10 years using the technology of the 21st Century?
We are people of USA We are very tired of you both Israel and Iran go to hell let us live in peace in this great land.
let*... thats how i feel.. no war is big enough to over come! israel will stand forever! though they are snooty. can't argue with Jesus Christ!
Right. The Israelis did not argue with Jesus Christ, they killed him. Wake up and realize you need to get educated.
I'm afraid that it's YOU who should be educated, my friend. You will be amazed to discover that the Jew named Jesus Christ was arrested, tried, convicted and executed BY THE ROMANS. Not by Jews.
Jesus drove the money lenders out of the Temple, that was the charge. He appeared in the Roman Court and it was the Jewish Rabbi's who charged him.
tupper... CHARGING someone is not the same as KILLING him.
if they feel threatened... le them do as they please... israel has the protection of christ!
When Jerusalem has been vapourised by Iranian nuclear weapons, then the United Nations will know that it is time to do something. The incompetent Amerikan government should continue to stay out of it.
if isreal wants iran wiped out so bad then why dont they do it?? why chicken foot around and provoke the US into it? all this saber rattling is very boring. isreal and iran, crap or get off the pot so to speak. do something or s t * u. this have been going on 60 +years. shut up already. you are causeing turbulence and waves in the world economy. get over yourselves. if this is over land dispute, then who has had the land for over 60+ years? stop bickering. defectors of the brittish came to america and took the US as their own in the 1700's, you going to over turn that one? this 2000 year jihad has to stop. it is getting you no where, and killing people on both sides. shows thier governments dont care about the people.
the UN is more incompetent than the US, if iran nukes isreal, they wont do anything.
That warmongering Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can go directly to hell.
I'm no Putin fan but Russia will never allow action against Iran, and rightfully so.
Somehow I doubt that the Russian leaders will be wiling to vaporize half of their own country in order to protect the Ayatollas...
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I'm writing from Tehran, Iran. I was born since the beginning of this brutal regime take in power, and I'm sorry for myself. Despite the fact that Iranian regime may not never attach Israel directly, but they will support Hezbollah to continue their terrorism activity against Israel or other countries for sure and it would be very very DANGEROUS to let Religious Radical Iranian regime reach nuclear weapons. Both for Iranian people and for the whole world.
I think USA should compensate for all the efforts that 33 years ago helped this religious regime take power in Iran in first place.
Are you saying that Iran was better off under that tyrant the Shah, supported by America. Do you have to be reminded that it was America that overthrew the Democratically elected government and installed the Shah.
so why dont your people overthrow your leaders
I'am pretty sure an attack on Iran's nuclear plants means meltdowns and war, not what the world needs.
How about an offer to build them solar power plants to replace the electricity produced by their nukes in exchange for us to dismantle their nuke plants. If they are truly only interested the electricity they will accept the offer. If you think this is a freebie, consider that they have a large investment in these nukes that they will lose. Why should we and whoever partners with us pay to build them solar power plants, consider the cost of war, or how about gas prices that will increase as result of that war.
We need to find ways to work together with our neighbors on this planet if at all possible, imagine how much better an option like this would be than the pain and suffering that will result from war.
Iran already rejected all such offers.
Where was that information reported? I've been unable to find it.
yeah give more of our money away like its free. to the people that want to kill us. why cant it be in trade for oil?
War will cost us much more money.
No more wars for the zi0nist beast.
Hi. Today i read in many israeli papers and sundaytimes, that israel is planning to use EMP nukes agains Iran. I am wondering why a nuclear state is thretening a NON-nuclear state with nukes and world still sitting down and no doing anything is disarming Israel.
Israel will only use force against Iran as a last resort in case there will be no other way to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. This is not a "threat" but a perfectly legal warning. Israel (and every other state) has the right to defend itself.
A nuclear state launching an attack on a non-nuclear state is not self defense.
KEEP AMERICA OUT of the middle east quagmire, we can't afford another war.
David Steven... If a murderer armed with a knive will try to kill you and your family members you certainly will not even try to SHOOT him because SHOOTING someone without a gun is "not self defense".
Obama should tell Israel to propose their own red lines and try to convince us they make sense. Netanyahu wants to make this an issue for the election to try to get Obama out. He's just being a p r i c k, which he does well.
israel is asing the US and other Western states to establish these red lines COLLECTIVELY. If it will not work Israel will have to establish these red lines unilaterally.
It is time for us to face the possibility that Israeli spies may have infiltrated our government from top to bottom. Until we face this very real possibility, we are sitting ducks. The great majority of these spies are Ivy League educated and easily blend in. They look like us. They dress like us. They talk like us. It would be an easy feat for them to gather information (a/k/a/ “dirt”) on high ranking officials and other key people and then use that information to control them – for the interests of Israel and against the interests of American citizens. If anyone, especially anyone in the media, dares to examine this danger, they are immediately muzzled, labeled “anti-semite” and professionally neutered. Israel is a miniscule nation halfway across the world and consisting of only 8 million people. One has to ask how can it dictate so much of our foreign policy and garner so much power over our elected leaders? As citizens, we must begin to ask these questions and not stop until we are given proper answers.
Don’t forget that Israeli spies have also successfully convinced fundamentalist Christians that they are so special that the end-of-times could very well happen during their lifetimes. And of course for that to happen, there must be war and mayhem in that region. Little do they know that the Israelis are laughing at them behind their backs, calling them the fools they are for freely giving away their blood and treasures for this religious fantasy.
It is likely that the US would like Israel to take the necessary steps to help contain Iran...keep in mind that Israel is a small country, but a major US partner in the very messy anti American Middle East. However, nobody needs or wants another expensive war. Let's hope negotiations will prevent it.
I am starting to think you are right...
Molly: Oh I don't know about Bush leaving South America alone. He has puehsd threw a couple of trade agreements, was pushing hard for one with Columbia and has behind the scenes turned up tensions between Chavez and Venezuela and some of it's US friendly' neighbors. Clif & Chris: Yep, if the super volcano in Yellowstone erupts, it's the end of the world as we know it, with no rapture for the phony christians either.
John – Don't forget the fact that many of the top U.S. officials (in both parties I might add) of Jewish ancestry do in fact hold dual Israeli/U.S. citizenship. A quick fact check will prove my point – this is absolutely not "propaganda". It's clear there is a pretty blatant conflict of interest occurring here and it is deeply worrisome to me that we are beholden to this country. I love my country, but we have many of our own problems that need solving. And yes, even in addition to our own hard work to see us through these times, we even need to work with our friends and allies abroad to solve many of our shared challenges. But that absolutely does not mean we need one particular ally to rag us into a pointless war, because of undue influence at the highest reaches of our government.
Can you NAME at least ONE of those "top U. S. officials" and SHOW his/hers Israeli passport? Thank you.
Obama is as clear as mud on Iran. Israel needs to strike and be done with it. Get rid of Obama and get it done.
Israel cannot handle Iran. They want U.S. men and women to fight and die for their lie. If Israel is so powerful, they should jump. A man does not need permission from another man to jump on another one. There is nothing between Israel and Iran but air an opportunity! Every war that the imposter state fought they were saved by the U.S. Jordan will fall within the next year, then that will be the beginning of the end for the imposter state that was created in 1948.
Actually, they handled Iran very well back in 1980, 0r 81, cant remember which. I'm sure you are too young to remember, but that year the Israeli air force struck Irans nuclear facilities and destroyed them in about 10 minutes. The response from Iran and the rest of the Arab world was a lot of jumping up and down, but they did nothing.
The other Arab nations done want Iran to have nukes any more than Israel does- and, luckily, they have Israel to do the dirty work and take all the flack. And, luckily for the rest of the world , Israel doesnt really care what anyone thinks of them ( I guess maybe they remember nazi concentration camps better than the rest of us) and will do the right thing.
just to be accurate, the airstrike was against a facility in iraq, not iran
If Iran obtains Nuclear weapons it will be a Nuclear power in the oil rich Gulf. If America will not need oil it should not be a big deal. If the US needs oil poor Iran will try to take over some of the countries just like Saddam. At that point we will be facing a Nuclear power among our oil supply. Who does not think it is a big deal is living in Disney land.
Satanjahu needs serious counseling. The world knows that Israel has a huge nuclear capability. What's his problem? Maybe he thinks we don't know about the hundreds of nuclear head Israel has. Grow up, man. The whole world is struggling financially and you want to go to war. Why don't you take a pill before going to bed, Satanjahu.
If my neighbor was running around with a gun yelling that I and my family members will die soon I would be worried... even if I had three machine guns in my kitchen.
Netenyahu is a child. It is HE who needs to realize that Iran is only playing head games with him and he is feeding right into it and reacting emotionally as Iran hopes he will do. Iran would NEVER attack Israel. Iran knows that the US military would obliterate them if they actually attacked Israel. The US political and military leaders have tried to explain this to Netenyahu, but he cannot understand this because he is an emotional child.
Thats not the point. Iran getting nuclear weapons would be a disaster.
Do you think a regime that had no problem sponsoring terrorists who drove two jetliners full of innocent screaming victimes (including children), into buildings would have any problems supplying the same terrorists with a nuclear device? Do you think the terrorists would hesitate to use them?
Seems the Israelis are the only ones who have thought this through
Jim you are so wrong it is scary. The oppressive revolutionary government of the theocratic run Iran actually OPPOSED 9/11 and sponsored a public day of prayer and sorrow for the victim of 9/11. Google it, it was widely covered by the media. Careful how you interpret rhetoric, especially three times translated. People like you are how shady politicians get us into multi-decade foreign wars.
Oh, sorry, I didnt know that. Well that just PROVES thier innocence.
After all, I havent ever heard of any fundamentalist government telling lies.
I feel much safer. In fact, lets just give them some weapons grade uranium for their peaceful nuclear program- after all, any government who "opposed" 9-11 is safe in my books!
Jim get your facts right the 9/11 muslims were Sunni from your Ally Saudi Arabia. I can't name a suicide bomb attempt ever by a Shai muslim from Iran.
tupper... I can reacall A LOT of suicide (and not suicide) bombings committed by SHIA Muslims from Lebanon. Did you ever heard about Hezbollah?
Iranian leaders may "win" this game by CONVINCING Israelis that they're going to attack... As a result they will lose their country and, possibly, their lives. Are you sure that THIS is what Iranian leaders want?
In America we are struggling everyday . Our main focus to create more JOB , we had 2 war and spent billion's of dollar , we don't need no more war , If Israel can do it them self then go a head do it , If you can't just stay quite . bunch of Warmongers
It is true America required more jobs and its ecconomy back . At the same time , The truth is If isreal dowen by arabs or Iran which is their main objective ,(NOT GOING TO HAPPEN) then america itself washed by Arabs and IRAn & Pakistan in no time . You don,t have place to creat jobs then . It is high time to re-establish the POWER OF AMERICA & ISREAL at the earliest to get the World back on track . And it is need of the hour .
What F u smoking. America washed by arabs. Dude US don need Israel to creat jobs but US do need to cut off all aids to every one including Israel and Pakistan . Use that money to build America and tell the world to fuc* off.
This could, in fact, be the most ridiculous thing I've ever read on CNN.
If you are an American and write English this poorly, no wonder we are "struggling." Obviously our public education system has failed.
I couldn't agree more. Another argument that we need to stay out of another war and spend money at home. We were suckered into the Iraq war based on lies, We wasted precious lives, time, and resources on Iraq when we should have been in Afghanistan from the beginning and perhaps that war would be over by now. I for one and very glad that Obama is not jumping the gun (excuse the pun) on this one. If Israel feels so strongly about destroying Iran, than do it. But not by using the U.S. We have our own problems to take care of. No one steps in to help us.
I'm just wondering – Why do we American's spent money for Israel to attack on other nation ? And in other hand If Israeli's got that much power why don't they go for fight or attack with Iran "ISRAEL" got 300 Nuke don't they ? We American don't beg to the other nation like Israel . Please Israel leave America alone and do it your self if you got any balls in between your two leg
Actually that is not true. We give Arab countries more.
between american foreign wars and political refusals to reform medicare/social security, i wonder if the next revolution in the US will not be rich vs poor or black vs white but young vs old.
there is the carrot and there is the stick. the carrot approach would be to reassure the israelis that the US is willing to attack iran at a given point, so they should not attack themselves. the stick approach would be to say, "if you attack, no more foreign aid ($3 billion/yr)." the advantage of the carrot approach is that american political candidates can get big $ and support from jewish and evangelical voters. the advantage of the stick approach is that the US does not constrain its future options and that it does not sacrifice its sons and daughters in a war against a country 2.5x the population of iraq with a much more organized gov't than saddam's. it's america's choice.
Israel will not use force against Iran unless as a last resort in case there will be no other way to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. If it happens, however, Israel will not ask for anyone's permission to defend itself.
what are you talking about? they are asking the US to declare "red lines" and have publicly admitted that they are taking the US elections into account in planning military actions. in fact, it is questionable whether israel could even destroy the iranian nuclear program, as it has been at least partly moved underground. of course israel wants the US to help, and if you think otherwise, you are living under a delusion. i am glad that i am not of draft age nor do i have sons who are. otherwise, myself or my family would be fighting israel's war. yet another middle eastern war for america would be basically rolling out the red carpet and bowing to china as the new inheritor of the world.
Zu78... Did you disagree with something I've said (and I mean disagree with MY WORDS)? If so WHAT WAS IT?
That's ez .yes I can.pnm9pnm. Better letter.pnm.
I have two sons. One is 23 and one 31. I am proud of both of these young men. The oldest with his wife are pttiicrpaaing in many of the non-profit companies in the El Paso County area. He coaches young men in basket ball and life. My youngest just returned from a year in Afghanistan with the Army. I have raised these young men to work hard and be proud of their accomplishments. I encouraged them to understand The importance of participation in our country by understanding the issues and voting for the best person or solution. Both of my sons are selfless when dealing with those less fortunate. They get angry when someone takes advantage of their good nature and mistakes their soft spoken words for weakness.I could have retired 2 years ago with a modest income. I have met my educational goals last year. There are things on my bucket list I have not done, but many do not seem as important now as they did in the past. I work now to fund my sons’ Roth IRA because I see them and their children unable to achieve what I have in life. This is not because they are incompetent, but because their opportunities have become limited due to the actions of this administration.My sons are ignorant of how the current administration’s policies are changing the country and their futures. (Most of the country have similar thoughts.) They have not seen how changes that have been made in the past 2 years affect a people and their country. They do not have anything in which to compare current situations.We have regular discussions when we are all in town. Before the last election, they considered Obama and his vision as being viable. We each made a case for and against. My main argument was the lack of experience and his association with people who want our country to fail. Theirs was that they wanted to end racism and they felt a black president could support that effort. In the end, they too became as concerned as I with the associations of Obama. They felt they couldn’t trust him. We were all right.My sons grew up alone while I spent more than 3 years in Iraq. They chose to look after each other. Two young men, who once trusted their government to do the right thing, now do not trust their government or their president. They see their cost of living going up because of energy costs. Food prices are going up.In the beginning, we thought that the president was inexperienced and would eventually understand what the right thing to do for the country. Lately, we are beginning to believe that lack of experience cannot account for the direction the president and his administration is moving this country. We are not alone. We all fear for the future!Good post Dr John!Reply
our deranged pres has done nothing to support israel a country he hates i hope the jewish people vote repub this fall
Um yeah I am sure they will do that.
If American JEW love that much Israel ( Which is illegal country ) then all Jewish should go back to the Israel . Oh let me think, ahaha Vampire can't feed another Vampire
By your poor writing skills I doubt that your name is Eric. I hope for your sake you don't live downwind fron Isfahan.
Israel is not telling anyone what to do. Israel is saying what Israel will do in case there will be no other option than use of force against Iran. The determination of WHEN force should be used can be done collectively by the US and other countries (this is EXACTLY what Netanyahu is asking for) or unilaterally by Israel. It should be pretty obvious that the Israelis will not sit idle waiting to be nuked.
And how is Israel going to strike? They have to cross, Jordanaian and Iraq to get to Iranian airspace. The sites themselves are a deep in Iran. You can bet those approaches will be heavily guarded by a nasty air defense network. Expect the sites to be heavily guarded by both ground and air assets. Israel does not have stealth aircraft, so their chances of success are very small. If they launch their Jerico missiles instead, expect a huge backlash from the international community. If the US decided to enter on Israel's side, expect Russiaand and/or China to enter on the Iranian's.
In response to any attack, Iran will just tell Hezbollah to unleash their rocket on Israel. I would not be surprised if Hezbollah deploys it's chemical rockets. If Iran does not fire a missile at Israel, the US has no grounds to intervene.
Israel will respond with a new push into Lebanon and prolly get beat again. If they do succeed this time the casualty rates will be horrific.
At the end of all this Israel will have lost it's strike fighters, it's northern cities will have sustained casualties, and The Supreme Leader in Iran will pass away from laughing so hard at the folly of it all.
Now if Israel just holds tight and let those sanctions work. It would be Israel laughing when Iran capitulates.
"Israel does not have stealth aircraft."
Or maybe Israel's stealth program is so good we aren't aware they exist?
Rick from LA... You should read something about ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads. You will be surprised...
Damn! I recommend the books Perfectly Legal' and Free Lunch' by NYT's ivttseigavine journalist David Cay Johnston. Learn how the super rich are screwing the rest of us through tax loopholes and schemes.Both books are eye openers and unbiased in the blame. One thing I learned was that it was the democrats back in 1975 who changed the usury laws of this nation. The interest rates charged today by banks and credit card companies were illegal before 1975.It also shows how the I.R.S. and the SEC look the other way when the super rich like Bill Gates and other CEO's, movie stars and athletes use these schemes that cost the poor, middle class and upper middle class and shareholders billions in tax dollars.My conclusion: Just more proof that we aren't being represented and should just tell congress and the I.R.S. to stick it!
This subject is getting very tiresome. Sounds like kids saying, " I dare you to cross this line. " again and again and again.
Israel should stop telling us what there going to do, or telling us what to do. How about asking Russia or China for help and give us a break.
Obama should tell the Israelis that he won’t lift a finger against Iran until they stop building settlements and show real progress on negotiations with the Palestinians. Enough is enough.
You will be surprised but progress in negotiations can only be achieved when BOTH sides are willing to negotiate. Therefore, as long as the Palestinians are unable and/or unwilling to cease violence, recognize Israel and negotiate a peace agreement there will be no negotiations and no progress.
why should israel negotiate?pulled out of gaza--missiles & terror attacks.offer arafat regime approximately 95% of territory asked for--rejected--start infitada. negotiating does not mean getting all of what you want. palestinians want israel to disappear.not going to happen.
Israel should and WILL negotiate because Israelis are willing to live in peace. NOT to die at war.
Netanyahu = Republican WarMonger
You obviously have no idea what it is like to live in the middle east. It is a very tough neighborhood. It is not kansas.
Netanyahu blew up at U.S. ambassador Dan Shapiro. Nice choice of worlds Elise
funny russia needs to nuke usa britain ireland and israel these guys want a 20 megaton nuclear warhead its time mess up these 4th grad irish school girls run to daddy.
Why don't you like Russia saeed? If they did what you suggest they would be destroyed. They know for a fact that they can't win a war with the U.S. even without her allies joining in to help. A nuclear warhead would be destroyed before it had a chance to make the U.S. air space and a retaliatory attack would be almost instantaneous. Thank goodness Russia has more common sense than you do!
Do you know nothing about ICBMs and sub launced nukes? Chances of shooting one down is slim to none. If Russia attacked the U.S. with nukes, both countries would be radioactive smouldering crators. Neither side would be victorious because both sides would be dead.
Saeed Russia should do that to the Arab countries. This way Arabs can be martyrs for the world. They all will get 72 virgins. I think I can even get a fatwa to guaranteeing them 144 virgins.