Posted on 03/31/2009 12:07:21 PM PDT by lewisglad
The message from Israel's new prime minister is stark: if the Obama administration doesn't prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, Israel may be forced to attack.
An Atlantic exclusive by Jeffrey Goldberg
In an interview conducted shortly before he was sworn in today as prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu laid down a challenge for Barack Obama. The American president, he said, must stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons—and quickly—or an imperiled Israel may be forced to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities itself.
“The Obama presidency has two great missions: fixing the economy, and preventing Iran from gaining nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu told me. He said the Iranian nuclear challenge represents a “hinge of history” and added that “Western civilization” will have failed if Iran is allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
In unusually blunt language, Netanyahu said of the Iranian leadership, “You don’t want a messianic apocalyptic cult controlling atomic bombs. When the wide-eyed believer gets hold of the reins of power and the weapons of mass death, then the entire world should start worrying, and that is what is happening in Iran.”
History teaches Jews that threats against their collective existence should be taken seriously, and, if possible, preempted, he suggested. In recent years, the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has regularly called for Israel to be “wiped off the map,” and the supreme Iranian leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, this month called Israel a “cancerous tumor.”
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
Don’t forget that it was Obama who sent MILLIONS to Gaza purportedly to help with “recovery” after the latest round of fighting... I don’t think there’s anyone here at FR at least who believes that load of bull. Like the money REALLY went to the PEOPLE? Yeah, right... It’s not buying food or shelter, I could almost GUARANTEE it’s buying MORE bombs, missiles, ammo, guns, etc... These are people who use their citizens as cannon fodder on PURPOSE! It’s not like they care how many die in the process of their trying to claim Jerusalem.
There was a thread about this back during the election... In the summer it seemed he was letting his gray grow back in, and then a few days later it was jet black again... Obama should be a spokesperson for “Just for Men” Hair Dye!
He’s definitely starting things off on the right foot, IMHO. I hadn’t realized until refreshing my memory on Netanyahu’s biographical info. that TODAY is his FIRST day back in office! He’s not wasting ANY time — that’s for sure!
Tell Netanyahu Israel has to protect its own interests and so do we. Tell Netanyahu he is on his own and pull all support.
Sure it did, man made disaster makers are people too.
LOL.
Roger that!!!
It is a shame that 78% of American (liberal) jews voted for Hussein. Israelis wanted Juan McCain 3 to 1.
Bibi spoke at a local large church a few years ago. I think Christians were among his biggest supporters during his recent “wilderness” years.
I mention wilderness years because that is what they referred to Churchill almost exile from power just before WW2. Churchill warned everyone but they largely ignored him.
LOL — good point... :)
Bush didn't do it because he didn't want to destabilize Iraq. He didn't want to start another war before he finished another.
Now, I think Israel's chances of really setting back Iran's nuclear capability alone are slim.
But then, Democrat presidents only go to war when our very survival is at stake and never before. It's a grim reality but striking preemptively is a necessity with the weaponry loose in the world.
Only if Obama dared go through the rest of the Israelis. They are a warrior nation by necessity.
The difference is FroZone can actually produce results.
This is looking like the classic “Good cop, Bad cop” strategy. Obama offers a carrot and Bibi threatens a stick.
My only concern is the Iranian elections underway. Moderates have selected a single candidate rather then multiple factions with the hopes of unseating the current president. If Bibi goes overboard with threats, even moderates will have to support the hardliners.
ping
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