He never met a twisted, fascist dictator he wouldn't appease nor bow to.
Posted on 08/21/2012 5:45:20 AM PDT by crosshairs
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is determined to attack Iran before the US elections,” Israel’s Channel 10 News claimed on Monday night, and Israel is now “closer than ever” to a strike designed to thwart Iran’s nuclear drive.
The TV station’s military reporter Alon Ben-David, who earlier this year was given extensive access to the Israel Air Force as it trained for a possible attack, reported that, since upgraded sanctions against Iran have failed to force a suspension of the Iranian nuclear program in the past two months, “from the prime minister’s point of view, the time for action is getting ever closer.”
Asked by the news anchor in the Hebrew-language TV report how close Israel now was to “a decision and perhaps an attack,” Ben-David said: “It appears that we are closer than ever.”
He said it seemed that Netanyahu was not waiting for a much-discussed possible meeting with US President Barack Obama, after the UN General Assembly gathering in New York late next month — indeed, “it’s not clear that there’ll be a meeting.” In any case, said Ben-David, “I doubt Obama could say anything that would convince Netanyahu to delay a possible attack.”
The report added that Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak believe Obama would have no choice but to give backing for an Israeli attack before the US presidential elections in November.
There is considerable opposition to an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the report noted — with President Shimon Peres, the army’s chief of the General Staff and top generals, the intelligence community, opposition leader Shaul Mofaz, “and of course the Americans” all lined up against Israeli action at this stage.
But, noted Ben-David, it is the Israeli government that would have to take the decision, and there Netanyahu is “almost guaranteed” a majority.
Other Hebrew media reports on Tuesday also said Netanyahu had despatched a senior official, National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror, to update the elderly spiritual leader of the Shas ultra-Orthodox coalition party, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, on the status of the Iranian nuclear program, in order to try to win over Shas government ministers’ support for an attack.
There is no upside to Bibi making such a pre-election move.
It won’t happen.
What affect will an attack have on the US Presidential election? Will the country see that President Obama is a weak sister? or will the country rally around him?
The “O” inertia is well known to everyone on earth. Israelis know that they cannot count on “O” for anything and least of all, moral support.
I think their ‘attack’ (if such an action is planned) won’t take place with “O” in office. Our allies are by now conditioned to expect the bum’s rush on this kind of thing.
Even if “O” goes along with their plan, Israel cannot seriously expect he will remain supportive to the end. “O” has proved too often that he possesses NO resolve, either personal or professional AND his integrity as a leader is problematic.
It proves the old saying: ‘What’s bad for America is bad for the world.’
Obama would make yet another scripted “gutsy call” (for peace.)
He would condemn the Israeli aggressors and demand a cease fire long enough for the Iranians to regroup and attack.
Politically, you’re probably right. There is no upside to a pre-november attack but survival trumps politcs. If Bibi really believes Iran will have a workable nuke before November, he’d attack to prevent it.
Maybe before the election is better than attacking in the lame-duck timeframe.
No way this matter will wait until after Inauguration.
Just how can zero spin an Israeli attack on Iran to make himself the hero of the operation?
And, how many times will he use the personal pronoun in the announcment?
“If you’re gonna talk, talk; if you’re gonna shoot, shoot!”
—Eli Wallach as The Ugly in “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”
I wonder if this has it backwards. Iran’s theocracy knows that the only way it can get away with an attack on Israel and survive intact is with Zero in the White House. Israel must have some intelligence, and maybe some similar deductions, that if Iran is going to attack them, it must be before Zero is voted out, and Israel can count on the USA as an ally again.
Any talk of Israel attacking Iran then may be meant as being pre-emptive talk, letting Iran know that if they see any evidence, or get any intelligence, that Iran may attack or sponsor an attack on Israel, Israel will attack first.
If Israel really was going to attack Iran, then the first we would know about it was when the smoke cleared over Teheran.
It may happen...Larry....Iran may already have nukes in their country...given to them by rogue nations. Bibi has a lot to be concerned, and If i were him I sure as hell wouldnt worry about if Obama got re-elected or not.
The Israelis are very good at mis-direction.
I heard some Fox talking heads agreeing that this would probably help to solidify support behind Obama. I really hope Netanyahu understands this, and that he will wait until after the election.
I think higher oil prices are an automatic and that hurts the Kenyan.
Israel could attack on the day after the election, or night of election if it appears zero will win. That way, they would have the maximum amount of distraction w/o giving zero the edge before the election. If mitt wins, Israel will have more confidence working with and coordinating action with an ally.
We held elections during a bloody civil war.
We held elections during WWI & WWII.
We held elections during any number of relatively small conflicts on other continents.
We held elections during the aftermath of the 1968 Democratic National Convention and other domestic riots & conflicts.
There is no reason to cancel/suspend elections here under the indicated scenario.
I suggest FReepers get involved in their local elections to ensure they take place as scheduled, regardless of orders from the top.
He never met a twisted, fascist dictator he wouldn't appease nor bow to.
Believe it or not, Netanyahu (as well as any other world leader for that matter) has his own worries and could not care less about how his actions affect Obama’s re-election campaign. No matter what Barry told them all at the G-20.
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