Posted on 03/15/2018 3:36:00 PM PDT by DoodleDawg
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his security cabinet his assessment is that President Trump will most likely withdraw the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal in May, according to two ministers who attended the meeting.
The backdrop: Netanyahu was briefing the security cabinet Sunday on his meeting with Trump earlier this month. He said Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and Chief of Staff John Kelly had all been present for the discussion on Iran.
According to the two ministers, Netanyahu said in Sunday's meeting:
"I think Trump is very close to withdrawing from the Iran deal. The meeting was very important. Trump spoke in front of all the most senior members of his administration and told me that if the nuclear deal would not change significantly the U.S. will withdraw." The prime minister's office did not dispute this account but refrained from commenting on it.
Israeli officials say that the departure of Secretary of State Tillerson is another sign that Trump is headed towards withdrawing from the Iran deal. They said Israel was very happy with the appointment of Mike Pompeo as the new Secretary of State mainly due to his hawkish views on Iran in general and especially on the Iran deal.
Tillerson was almost non-existent when it came to the U.S.-Israeli relationship and was perceived in the Israeli government as "problematic" due to his opposition to U.S. withdrawal from the Iran deal. Tillerson visited Israel once during his time in office and even then it was with President Trump. Pompeo visited Israel three times during his first year as CIA director.
Netanyahu issued a statement yesterday welcoming Pompeo's appointment and praising his abilities and experience. Netanyahu's statement did not mention Tillerson at all.
But it's not much of a scoop. Trump's hatred of the Iran deal is well known. The scoop would be Trump not withdrawing rather than withdrawing.
The question is what Netanyahu thinks will happen next?
We’re not in the Iran deal. Obama did not have legal authority to commit the U.S.
Good.
Trump cited differences on the Iran deal as one reason for Tillerson’s being fired.
You can argue legality but in it we are. The question is what people think will happen when we're not.
He also went behind his back.
McConnell could have demanded that Obama submit “the deal” as a treaty to the senate.
When Obama wouldn’t release “the deal” to the senate, but in His magnificence allowed individual senators to view “the deal” in a SCIF, I decided not to vote in the 2016 congressional election.
Pubbies are much more comfortable in the minority. Our post-17th Amendment senate is an institution without a purpose.
You can argue legality but in it we are. The question is what people think will happen when we’re not.
Why does the journalist deceive us with this title: “Privately”. The article’s existence shows this to be not true...
The dots - Tillerson fought the Embassy move and he is gone. McMaster always hated Israel and he fought the move. He will be next. I am not sure about Kelly at this point. Pence has always been an Israel supporter. Think of the movie “The Godfather”, where Mike tells Tom Haden he is out because he is not a ‘war time Consigliere’. Tillerson was Tom Haden. Pompeo will be a wartime Concigliere. Also, I hear that John Bolton will replace McMaster. Again, pro Israel. Netanyahu is getting ready to clean iran’s clock, which could involve eventually drawing Russia into the fray. None of this is based on fact - just guessing.
It's an agreement. Trump doesn't have to ignore it. Obama got us into it, Trump can withdraw us from it.
It’s possible the President wanted this discussion to come out, but couldn’t have his own people “leak” it.
It was another public gesture made by Barry that was official-looking but essentially unlawful.
This administration leaks like the Titanic. Trump doesn't have to have someone do it for him.
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