You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Obama Promises Israel Use of U.S. Bases for Iran Attack If It Will Wait
2012-02-29
Excerpt:
U.S. intelligence and special operations officials have tried to keep a dialogue going with Israel despite the high-level impasse, offering options such as allowing Israel to use U.S. bases in the region to launch such a strike, as a way to make sure the Israelis give the Americans a heads-up, according to the U.S. official and a former U.S. official with knowledge of the communications.

Truth or dare....?
Neither: it is, rather, control if they can trick the Israelis into going along. After all, once the Israelis agree to make use of U.S. facilities and devise a plan to do so, the plan can be derailed by refusing the use of the facilities. "No, not yet, wait a while longer."

Sure, the Israelis would eventually tire of this and go back to Plan B, but in the meantime perhaps things have changed to render Plan B obsolete.
Posted by:Uncle Phester

#14  Obama will get the black vote whatever he does or more like dosent do.

It will be interesting to see in November, Gruth McGurque5303 -- I'm reading about surveys that suggest a surprising number (which number varies, so I wouldn't dare predict what it might be, even were I clever enough to do such things) are not satisfied with their economic situation these days, and blame it on the honourable gentleman they put into office last time round. Voting for the other guy may well be a step too far, but staying home instead of voting is easily done.
Posted by: trailing wife    2012-02-29 23:57  

#13  This is total bull.

So the offer is "You can use all our bases, just not today."

And when the day comes to do the deed? "Not today." is the answer.

Wave off that.
Posted by: rammer   2012-02-29 23:23  

#12  "I would almost bet Bebi would time this thing to screw O's reelection chances."

Go Bibi!
Posted by: Barbara   2012-02-29 18:20  

#11  TW

Obama will get the black vote whatever he does or more like dosent do.
Posted by: Gruth McGurque5303   2012-02-29 15:25  

#10  My apologies for misspelling your name, Mr. Clinton. I'm having a problem with posting half-cocked today for some reason.
Posted by: trailing wife    2012-02-29 13:28  

#9  .the US has never voted out a president during a war.

A war we were fighting, Bil, not a war said president refused to fight. A nice majority Americans are strongly pro-Israel, and something like 3/4s are at least somewhat pro-Israel. If Israel gets hit or is seen to be going it alone, it won't change minds, but will be a final straw for a lot of voters to get them to go to the polls and vote against him, I think.
Posted by: trailing wife    2012-02-29 10:49  

#8  Â Wait until when?

There is always "until it's too late," gorb. Whether that is until Iran has nuclear weapons, so that Israel can do nothing because of the actuality of the threat, or until the world realizes Israel is on her own, or until Israel can be forced to a regional nuclear disarmament conference...lots of "too lates", all of which harm that shitty little country all his friends loathe, led by that man who made him look bad.
Posted by: trailing wife    2012-02-29 10:42  

#7  An Israeli strike on Iran could be the empty suit's October surprise...the US has never voted out a president during a war.

I would almost bet Bebi would time this thing to screw O's reelection chances.

PS everyone that has anything to do with ME intell, policy, or relations in DC is a limp wristed negotiate forever weinie. We would have to fire the entire DOS and start from scratch to ever have any sense or logic in our ME affairs.
Posted by: Bill Clinton   2012-02-29 10:19  

#6  Yeah right...this from the administration who's chief intell officer, Clapper, said that the Muslim Brotherhood is mainly a secular non-violent organization.
Posted by: Jack Salami   2012-02-29 09:52  

#5  Diego Garcia?
Posted by: RandomJD   2012-02-29 09:45  

#4  We have bases closer to Iran than Israel? Don't count lend-lease places that have third party clauses* to them. Other than an aircraft carrier, someone point out a wholly owned and operated American base in that region.

*the 'oops, we missed the small print thingy that prohibits us actually carrying through with our agreement'.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2012-02-29 09:42  

#3  Wait until when? After the election when he no longer has to maintain any kind of facade?
Posted by: gorb   2012-02-29 09:01  

#2  Will Obama also promise to provide lebensraum (living space) to the Israelis should things go badly?
Posted by: Besoeker   2012-02-29 07:46  

#1  I don't buy it. Offering the use of our bases makes us complicit in the act. Might as well take part in the actual strike and work to ensure its success.
Posted by: SteveS   2012-02-29 01:10  

00:00