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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Military action if Iran sanctions fail — Netanyahu |
| 2011-03-19 |
| [Arab News] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday the world must make clear that Iran would face "credible military action" if sanctions do not shut down Tehran's disputed nuclear program. Netanyahu, in an interview on CNN, said it was clear Iran was pursing its nuclear ambitions despite international sanctions and was getting a lot closer to obtaining nuclear arms. "They have enriched enough material now almost for three nuclear bombs," he said. "They still have to re-enrich it again but that is what they are doing. "The only thing that will work is if Iran knew that if sanctions fail there will be a credible military option." Asked what would constitute a credible military action, Netanyahu said: "It means action that will knock out their nuclear facility." The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on Tehran for refusing to freeze its uranium enrichment program, which Western powers suspect is aimed at producing a nuclear weapon. Iran denies Israeli and Western allegations that it is enriching uranium to produce atomic arms and maintains that its program is for peaceful energy needs. Netanyahu said if military action was taken, he would prefer that it be led by the United States. He said a nuclear-armed Iran would not be just a concern for Israel because it would pose the risk of proliferation. "This is not just our problem. This is the problem of Europe, and the United States," he said. In a wide-ranging interview, Netanyahu also said he was not surprised that Soddy Arabia had dispatched forces to Bahrain after weeks of pro-democracy protests in the Gulf Arab island state. "I think they are concerned with a possible Iranian takeover of Bahrain, which would put Iran effectively within spitting distance of the Arabian Peninsula," Netanyahu said. "Soddy Arabia is working to protect its own interests. But there is a very large global interest in making sure the world's oil wells, that the largest reserves of the world's oil supply do not fall into Iranian or pro-Iranian hands," he said. Asked about the pro-democracy protests sweeping the Arab world, Netanyahu said the Middle East would have "a brilliant future" with real democratic change. However, The infamous However... he said that if Iran remains immune to change "and meddles in other places and transforms them into so-called Islamist republics... I would say that is the worst nightmare." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #12 Whoa! That Iranian nuke stuff is still going on? I guess me and Barry forgot all about that, what with Japan and basketball season and figuring out how not to do anything about Libya but still appear Presidential and concerned. Personally, at this point, I'd say the best the Israelis can hope for from the US is that we don't actively get in their way when time finally runs out. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2011-03-19 15:15 |
| #11 TW, if BHO hasn't lost the monied part or all of the Jewish vote, I don't know what it's going to take. Agreed, JohnQC. But reality and what the honourable gentleman believes are not necessarily the same. He still believes in the magic persuasion of his voice and of people projecting their beliefs on the blankness of his wonderful self. All it takes is pushing that Reset button, and he'll be good to go. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2011-03-19 11:53 |
| #10 Yea, well I'm not giving up hope. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-03-19 11:04 |
| #9 TW, if BHO hasn't lost the monied part or all of the Jewish vote, I don't know what it's going to take. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2011-03-19 10:48 |
| #8 But would settle for USA not backing, let alone leading, "international response" against Israel in the aftermath of what has to be done. And may have to settle with the USA leading the international response against Israel in the aftermath. It depends on whether President Obama is certain he has lost the monied part of the Jewish vote, heading into the next election. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2011-03-19 10:33 |
| #7 #3 Netanyahu said if military action was taken, he would prefer that it be led by the United States. Hell, we can't count on BHO to defend the U.S. As Gingrich said he is the spectator-in-chief. Judging from BHO's past behaviors towards Israel, you'd best not count on him--he is untrustworthy to his allies. There is nothing like encouraging tin horn dictators like inaction. We are essentially leaderless at this time. Besides BHO is too busy making his basketball picks, supporting union thugs, and checking out Rio to be bothered with such trivial things as Japan, Libya, or Iran. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2011-03-19 10:28 |
| #6 Israel's best bet is still sabotage operations, but they cannot rely on non-lethal ones. They are going to have to kill a lot of Iranian experts and destroy a lot of stuff to put the brakes on this stuff. And time's a wasting. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-03-19 09:20 |
| #5 Asked about the pro-democracy protests sweeping the Arab world, Netanyahu said the Middle East would have "a brilliant future" with real democratic change. No comment on the likelihood. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-03-19 06:05 |
| #4 Netanyahu said if military action was taken, he would prefer that it be led by the United States. But would settle for USA not backing, let alone leading, "international response" against Israel in the aftermath of what has to be done. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-03-19 06:04 |
| #3 Netanyahu said if military action was taken, he would prefer that it be led by the United States. If Obama had to be dragged along in order to support Libyan muslims with whom he claims an ideological or cultural affinity, there is scant likelihood he could be induced to help Israel with whom he has demonstrated hostility. Good luck with that Mr. Netanyahu. |
| Posted by: Lampedusa Omese6523 2011-03-19 05:50 |
| #2 ION CHINESE MILITARY FORUM > SYRIAN TV SAYS SECURITY FORCES,PROTESTERS CLASH, in three areas = regions of Syria. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-03-19 01:30 |
| #1 The Malaysia "Nuclear Parts destined for Iran" scandal thingy. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-03-19 01:09 |