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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
US nuke umbrella for Israel
2008-12-12
The US president elect has reportedly decided to bring Israel under its 'nuclear umbrella' after receiving warnings by Tel Aviv officials.

Barack Obama's administration will propose equipping Tel Aviv with the nuclear deterrent apparatus reinforcing the protections already in place against any strike, Haaretz reported a source close to the US president-elect Barack Obama's team as saying. "The US will declare that an attack on Israel by Tehran would result in a devastating US nuclear response against Iran," the source added.
This is incredibly dumb. First off, Israel has nukes and everyone knows it. If Tehran gets too frisky the Israelis will clobber them. Second, no one -- no one -- actually thinks the U.S. would value Tel Aviv as much as it values New York. Third, after being told the last four years by the likes of Think Progress and Kos that the whole 'Iran has nukes' complaint was just a come-on by the neo-cons to get us to invade Iran, now we're being told that Iran may get a nuke soon.
The comments come amid increased Israeli attempts at representing Iran as a regional threat with Israeli officials claiming that Tehran's uranium enrichment programs are aimed at 'building a nuclear weapon'. The officials have moved so far as claiming a nuclear Iran would pose an existential threat to Israel and have, therefore, pressed for a military option against Iran.

Tehran, a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), denies the Israeli claim, insisting that its enrichment program is solely directed at the civilian applications of the technology.
And now not even Bambi believes them ...
The UN oversight agency for the Iranian nuclear program, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in its latest report that it has 'been able to continue to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran'.

Notwithstanding the Israeli pressure, many US foreign policy experts have advised the US president-elect's administration to engage Iran with diplomacy; a move which would not be well-received among powerful pro-Israeli lobbies in Washington.

Obama himself has voiced plans to enter into dialogue with Iran over the matter while threatening to press sanctions should the Islamic Republic defy Washington's demands.
Who believes the latter after he's pledged the former?
The United States, under the presidency of George W. Bush, has long supported its staunch Israeli allies, pursuing a carrot-and-stick policy toward Tehran regarding its nuclear program.
So Bambi's going to wield the carrot and maybe even pick up a twig. And we were told the Bush policy had failed ...
Obama who chose to lead his presidential campaign under the banner of 'change' is hoped to reverse his predecessor's hawkish approach on Iran's nuclear activities.

The Israeli insistence seems, however, to be aimed at ensuring that Obama does not live up to his campaign promises. Israeli oficials have made clear their opposition to any sort of 'change' describing talks between Tehran and Washington as a sign of 'weakness' emenating from the White House.
Posted by:Fred

#13  Bama's a lying, cowardly, druggie motherf*cker. No way he'll back anything up for anyone. Israel, if you depend on anything this guy says, we'll be watching Hitler's successors finish the job he started.
Posted by: Jolutch Mussolini7800   2008-12-12 23:42  

#12  If I would Israel I'd take that to mean to build more Nukes like crazy. I don't think Bambi has lived up to any of his promises has he?

The question is - if push comes to shove will Bambi push the button or bow to the UN in a "above my pay scale" kind of way?
Posted by: CrazyFool   2008-12-12 20:44  

#11  ...Has anyone considered that this is Bambi's way of being able to say to the Mullahs, "Hey - we tried to get them to stop, but they wouldn't listen. Real sorry about that reactor, tho."

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2008-12-12 14:00  

#10  The assumption has to be that the Mad Mullahs will use a nuke if they ever get their hands on one, deterrent or no. They are crazy so the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction that we relied on with the Soviet Union doesn't work. The Soviets were sane. The Mad Mullahs are not. So the only sane policy is a preemptive attack on Iran to make damn sure they never get their hands on a nuke. If Bambi can't figure that out the Israelis will and then what's Bambi gonna do?
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2008-12-12 12:00  

#9  Yeah, better get that one on paper. But even then, the guy doesn't play straight.
Posted by: gorb   2008-12-12 11:44  

#8  And what if Iran just decides to do it anyway and Bambi doesn't live up to his promise?
Posted by: DarthVader   2008-12-12 10:24  

#7  Nobody gives up nukes.



Except South Africa, but that was just so they wouldn't fall into the 'wrong hands'.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2008-12-12 09:59  

#6  You mean like the British and French gave up their nukes for the American umbrella?
Posted by: Procopius2k   2008-12-12 08:29  

#5  We'll give propose giving you a slice of 'nuclear umbrella' if you open your kimono for inspections and dismantle...., etc. (Strategic pay-for-play). And of course the IDF will NOT! An empty promises. Game over, proposal dead, you're on your own Tel Aviv. NEXT!
Posted by: Besoeker   2008-12-12 07:14  

#4  Israel will have to admit having them first. Or just quietly cough them up.
Posted by: gorb   2008-12-12 03:27  

#3  Spot on, AzCat.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2008-12-12 03:04  

#2  What Bambi isn't telling anyone just yet is that in exchange for his promise he'll demand that Israel give up all of its own nuclear weapons. Bank on that shoe falling after he's in office.
Posted by: AzCat   2008-12-12 02:01  

#1  It is foolish to change position when your enemy has thought you would. If you stay behind that cement divider I/we have made for you, you may remain protected.

If not, you are just as stupid as the foolish euroPEONS that they have been joking with for years.

Peace is not possible when you discuss it with 30 year old wolves.

Come on Bambi, Sing our chourus of "Do I know you?".

Please.
Posted by: newc   2008-12-12 01:48  

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