Israel Makes Preparations for War

[ChristianCoffee]

The text of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to AIPAC-

I am 100% behind you, Israel.

[Fenris]

Today's news:

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton wrote to Iran's chief nuclear negotiator on Tuesday, accepting an offer to meet to discuss Tehran's nuclear program.

Ashton represents six powers - the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany - in dealings with Iran, and her offer of talks came after weeks of consultations with them.

So they can talk and talk and talk while Iran enriches uranium....

This pretty much guarantees an Israeli strike.

[BrianW]

Just when I think that I could not respect Prime Minister Netanyahu even more than I already do he steps up and delivers a speech like this and my respect for him grows once again.

[Sojourner55]

Most humourous and at the same time the most disingenuous line of Obama's speech -

"Don't worry Israel, I've got your back....."

I bet that got a few leaders snickering.

It's interesting that he makes statements like that to a Jewish audience, yet pushes for pre-1967 borders when he isn't.
As far as having Israel's back, they'd better make sure he doesn't have a knife in his hand.

[Fenris]

A video about why pro-Israel types don't especially trust Obama.

It's about 30 minutes long, but worth the time to watch.

[keck553]

Or reaching for the object protruding from their uncovered side....

I like Santorum's characterization:

"Speak loudly and carry a toothpick."

[Fenris]

From the Weekly Standard

When Israel Acts, Will the U.S. Have Israel's Back?
William Kristol
March 6, 2012 12:29 AM

Monday night, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said simply and clearly, "When it comes to Israel's survival, we must always remain the masters of our fate."

But not according to President Obama. His timetable for acting against Iran would precisely undermine Israel's ability to determine her fate. President Obama wants to wait to act until Iran is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. And by that point Iran will have entered what Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak calls a "zone of immunity"—when Israel, with lesser capabilities than the U.S., might well no longer be able to act to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. If Israel is to act, it must be before Iran enters that zone. Otherwise, Israel will be in the position of depending on the U.S. to act later to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. This dependence on another nation is what an Israeli prime minister cannot accept.

The issue is not whether Israel can trust President Obama to do what he says—or whether Israel could trust any American president on a matter of such gravity. The issue is not whether the president is right to be confident that the U.S. would see an Iranian breakout and could act in time. The issue is not even how an Iranian nuclear capability, pre-breakout, would transform the region for the worse. These are all secondary issues.

The Israeli prime minister insists that Israel remain the master of her fate. The American president is willing to let the Iranian nuclear program go to a point where Israel would no longer be master of her fate. This is the fundamental disconnect. And this disconnect can result in only one outcome: Israel will have to act.

It would of course be better if President Obama were not wedded to a timeline that fails to recognize the imperatives of Israel's security. The task of American friends of Israel is first to try to persuade President Obama to act sooner than he now appears willing to do, to persuade him that the United States should stand arm in arm and side by side with Israel. But if President Obama continues to insist that it is Israel who takes the lead, the task of American friends of Israel will be to ensure that President Obama at least lives up to his promise Sunday that "when the chips are down, I have Israel’s back."

The chips will soon be down. When Israel acts on behalf of the civilized world, the least the American president can do is to have her back.

[ChristianCoffee]

The Israeli prime minister insists that Israel remain the master of her fate. The American president is willing to let the Iranian nuclear program go to a point where Israel would no longer be master of her fate. This is the fundamental disconnect. And this disconnect can result in only one outcome: Israel will have to act.

I agree with this: if the US will/cannot act, then Israel need to do whatever she has to insure her survival. To myself, it seems a sif the only country in Israels "corner" is the US, and that right now is like having wet toilet paper watching your back.

[Fenris]

Umm wow, this is weird....

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza's Hamas rulers said Wednesday they would stay on the sidelines if war breaks out between Israel and Iran, easing a key Israeli concern and distancing the Islamic militants from their sponsors in Tehran.

Why?

In recent months, Hamas has distanced itself from longtime allies Iran and Syria, mainly over Syrian President Bashar Assad's brutal crackdown on regime opponents.

Iran repeatedly urged the Hamas leadership in exile, based in the Syrian capital of Damascus, to side publicly with Assad. Hamas refused, and its top leaders have left Damascus in recent months, seeking refuge in Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and other countries in the region.

Craaazy.

[Fenris]

Well, Iran's media denies that report.

Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior official of the Palestinian Hamas movement, strongly rejected a recent BBC report which quoted him as saying that Hamas would take no action in case of an Israeli invasion of Iran, and warned that any Israel or US attack on Iran will be reciprocated by Hamas's crushing response to the Zionists.

BBC Persian's website alleged in a report on Wednesday that the No. 2 Hamas official in the Gaza Strip has assured that his movement would not take any action in the face of an Israeli attack on Iran.

Al-Zahar strongly rejected the BBC claim as unfounded and a lie.

"Retaliation with utmost power is the position of Hamas with regard to a Zionist war on Iran," Zahar told FNA on Wednesday afternoon.

Zahar rejected the possibility of any Israeli aggression against Iran, but meantime, reiterated that Hamas will give a crushing response to not only the Zionists but also to "whoever helping them" in such an attack.

[keck553]

Wow, not much has changed since T.E. Lawrance.

[Dravenhawk]

It's interesting that he makes statements like that to a Jewish audience, yet pushes for pre-1967 borders when he isn't. As far as having Israel's back, they'd better make sure he doesn't have a knife in his hand.

HA! I thought the exact same thing when I heard Obama say that. I gotta share the love or I would rep ya brother. - - - - Dravenhawk

[ChristianCoffee]

It's interesting that he makes statements like that to a Jewish audience, yet pushes for pre-1967 borders when he isn't.
As far as having Israel's back, they'd better make sure he doesn't have a knife in his hand.

I agree: and have been saying the same type of thing for a while now.

[paidforinfull]

A video about why pro-Israel types don't especially trust Obama.

It's about 30 minutes long, but worth the time to watch.

Thanks - I'm downloading this clip and will watch it.

[Fenris]

200 rockets fired from Gaza into Israel over the last 4 days.

If it's made the news I haven't seen it...