Obama to Iran and Israel: 'As President of the United States, I Don't Bluff'

The Atlantic ^ | 2 March 2012 | Jeffrey Goldberg

[ShadowAce]

Dismissing a strategy of "containment" as unworkable, the president tells me it's "unacceptable" for the Islamic Republic of Iran to have a nuclear weapon.

At the White House on Monday, President Obama will seek to persuade the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to postpone whatever plans he may have to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months. Obama will argue that under his leadership, the United States "has Israel's back," and that he will order the U.S. military to destroy Iran's nuclear program if economic sanctions fail to compel Tehran to shelve its nuclear ambitions.

In the most extensive interview he has given about the looming Iran crisis, Obama told me earlier this week that both Iran and Israel should take seriously the possibility of American action against Iran's nuclear facilities. "I think that the Israeli government recognizes that, as president of the United States, I don't bluff." He went on, "I also don't, as a matter of sound policy, go around advertising exactly what our intentions are. But I think both the Iranian and the Israeli governments recognize that when the United States says it is unacceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, we mean what we say."

The 45-minute Oval Office conversation took place less than a week before the president was scheduled to address the annual convention of AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying group, and then meet, the next day, with Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House. In the interview, Obama stated specifically that "all options are on the table," and that the final option is the "military component." But the president also said that sanctions organized by his administration have put Iran in a "world of hurt," and that economic duress might soon force the regime in Tehran...

[C210N]

Since blaring the exact hour and minute for the Afganistan departure.

[flatfish]

“I also don’t, as a matter of sound policy, go around advertising exactly what our intentions are.

Yeah right. Like when we’re gonna pull out of Iraq or Afghanistan.

[tacticalogic]

'As President of the United States, I Don't Bluff'

He tried to bluff his way to covering illegals under Obamacare. Joe Wilson called him on it, and he folded like a cheap lawn chair under Michael Moore.

[ShadowAce]

When he says “I dont Bluff” he:

Every single time he brags about what he does or does not do, he eats his words.

He makes me sick that he is leading this country.

[tiger63]

The HMIC and canidate for a firing squad runs his Bozo mouth again.

[allendale]

Sounds really tough. Good campaign fodder. The reality is that the biggest threat to Obama’s reelection is a shooting war in the Persian Gulf. Obama has failed to diplomatically isolate Iran. China and Russia arm and support them. India buys its oil. Those blue water ships in the narrow confines of the Persian Gulf are at great risk Iran has been armed with shore based anti ship missiles and has demonstrated the technical ability to land and seize a drone.Significant casualties or the loss of capital ships would be politically devastating. Obama will of course lecture Natanyahu but he will take no chances. Already his administration has been promoting the cover line that “there is no evidence that Iran has actually made the decision to assemble a nuclear weapon.” Shortly after Netanyahu leaves the US, most elements of the 5th fleet will depart the Persian Gulf. Iran will get its nuclear weapons.

[silverleaf]

Only a stupid putz would make such a comment

Imagine what Putin, the russians, the Chinese must really think of obama and-by extension- all Americans for electing such a person

[Mouton]

Yeah right Obami, and Charlie don’t surf either.

[mardi59]

LOL What a moron. The only thing Obama can be counted on for is a good laugh.

The line should read “I’m not tough”. The world knows he’s a coward.

[silverleaf]

since after he announced our troop withdrawal dates from Iraq and Afghanistan? and isnce after he unilterally announced he was ending missile shield over easteen europe? And since he announced unilateral nuc warhead reduction?

Same sound policy used by Roosevelt and Truman to assure the Nazis and Chicoms of when we’d be leaving Europe and Korea, right?

[pyx]

I wonder if Hussein Obama will stick his finger into the chest of Benjamin Netanyahu at the meeting on Monday.

[silverleaf]

since after he announced our troop withdrawal dates from Iraq and Afghanistan? and since after he unilterally announced he was ending missile shield over Eastern Europe? And since he announced unilateral nuc warhead reduction?

Same sound policy used by Roosevelt and Truman to assure the Nazis and Chicoms of when we'd be leaving Europe and Korea, right?

[The Sons of Liberty]

Obama to Iran and Israel: 'As President of the United States, I Don't Bluff'

How about illegal alien Usurper in Chief?

[AU72]

Bibi is not going to gamble Israel’s existence on Obama’s promises.

[ShadowAce]

I hope not.

I don't believe that Israel is in any danger of being eliminated, but I hope its leaders are smart enough to do honor to Him who is protecting her.

[Rummyfan]

Even without any context it's hard to interpret that picture as anything other than rude on Obama's part. Surpised Bibi didn't slug him....

[TribalPrincess2U]

wink, wink.

[Rummyfan]

Obama will argue that under his leadership, the United States "has Israel's back," ....

That's just laughable right there!

[married21]

He doesn’t bluff. All those apologies are genuine.

[StonyBurk]

The great DIVIDER marches on. Typical of all serial LIARS the 0 no longer can tell when he is telling a LIE and seems genuinely befuddled that everyone does not simply kiss the ground when he speaks the oracles of Allah from the Offal Office.