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
Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Netanyahu Says May Have To Act Before U.S. On Iran
2013-07-15
[AnNahar] Iran is moving "closer and closer" to building a nuclear weapon and Israel may have to act before the United States does, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday.

"They're edging up to the red line. They haven't crossed it yet," Netanyahu said on CBS News's "Face the Nation."

"They're getting closer and closer to the bomb. And they have to be told in no uncertain terms that that will not be allowed to happen."

Netanyahu went on to say that Israel had a more narrow timetable than Washington, implying it may have to take unilateral action to halt Iran's controversial nuclear program.

"Our clocks are ticking at a different pace. We're closer than the United States. We're more vulnerable. And therefore, we'll have to address this question of how to stop Iran, perhaps before the United States does," he said.

Netanyahu said Tehran has been building "faster centrifuges that would enable them to jump the line, so to speak, at a much faster rate -- that is, within a few weeks."

Netanyahu said Iran's nuclear policies were unlikely to change under its next president, moderate holy man and former nuclear negotiator Hassan Rowhani, who will assume power on August 3.

"He's criticizing his predecessor (President Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad) for being a wolf in wolf's clothing. His strategy is be a wolf in sheep's clothing. Smile and build a bomb," Netanyahu said.

He urged the United States to make clear to Rowhani that it will not allow Iran to build a nuclear weapon, and that military force "is truly on the table."

"We've spoken many times, President B.O. and I, about the need to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons," Netanyahu said.

"What is important is to convey to them -- especially after the election -- (is) that (the) policy will not change," he said.

"If sanctions don't work, they have to know that you'll be prepared to take military action -- that's the only thing that will get their attention," he added.

Iran for years has been at loggerheads with world powers over its nuclear drive, which Western nations believe is aimed at developing an atomic weapon capability.

Tehran insists its nuclear program is entirely peaceful, but the sanctions imposed over the standoff have isolated it internationally.

An Israeli official warned, meanwhile, that Iran could try and strike a deal ahead of a meeting Tuesday of six world power to discuss Tehran's nuclear drive.

Tehran could propose "a temporary cessation" of their uranium enrichment or even "possibly converting some of the 20 percent enriched uranium to a lower level" in return for a "partial lifting of sanctions," the official told Agence La Belle France Presse on condition of anonymity.

"This is an insignificant and meaningless concession," he said, calling it "another example of the deliberate policy of the Iranian regime to deceive the international community."

"Israel will totally oppose such an Iranian idea, and we will reject all proposals that do not include the following: a complete cessation of all uranium enrichment; the removal from Iran of all enriched materials; the closure of the illicit underground facility in Qom; and the total cessation of work at the plutonium reactor," the official added.

Netanyahu declined to comment on reports that Israel had carried out air strikes on July 5 near the Syrian port city of Latakia to destroy Russian-supplied anti-ship missiles.

"Oh God, Every time something happens in the Middle East Israel is most often accused. And I'm not in the habit of saying what we did or we didn't do," he said.

"My policy is to prevent the transfer of dangerous weapons to Hizbullah and other terror groups," he said.
Posted by:trailing wife

#4  Well Barry is kinda busy. Have some golf, a federal show trial fail, get 18, a va cay to plan, duff a round, and oh get Morsi out of jail.

El prez is going to have to succeed at something big soon, and my money says it won't have anything to do with (willingly/openly) supporting Israel.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2013-07-15 10:22  

#3  Lol Grom! Excellent!
Posted by: Ptah   2013-07-15 08:51  

#2  
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2013-07-15 02:18  

#1  IOW Nuke-wannabe Iran has crossed or is about to cross over yet another of POTUS Bammer's "red lines", to which the Bammer = USA had seemingly failed once again to do or enforce anything.

The anti-US Globalists + aligned are takinga very dangerous risk by unilaterally giving up US Power-n-influence to OWG + "Multi-Polar World" where US downsizing + pullout W-O-N-T be interpreted by Amerika's enemies or protagonists as DE FACTO GEOPOL WEAKNESS, I.E. THE US IS NO LONGER WILLING ANDOR INCAPABLE OF PROTECTING ITS NATIONAL + OVERSEAS INTERESTS.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2013-07-15 01:17  

00:00