"Although Israeli officials play up the supposed threat of annihilation from a nuclear-armed Iran, the major concern is that an Iranian bomb would end Israel's exclusive possession of nuclear weapons in the Middle East and undermine its dominance of the region. Iran might then be able to force major territorial concessions on behalf of the Palestinians."

This is the reasoning behind Israel's constant pushing for war with Iran. They don't want to make any concessions.

This is the reasoning behind Israel's constant pushing for war with Iran. They don't want to make any concessions.

Bullseye!

Obama's distancing may be in advance of a planned Israeli attack. That would put him in the position to say he was dragged into the conflict. He doesn't have the 9/11 Bush had to attack Iraq, but he can stand by while Israel makes the first move.

but he can stand by while Israel makes the first move.
~Ray

Israel currently lacks air to air refueling capability.

srael currently lacks air to air refueling capability.

Or so the public is led to think. Or they have an airfield somewhere along the path. I seem to recall that the Israelis had practice exercises to work out the logistics.

I seem to recall that the Israelis had practice exercises to work out the logistics.

Indeed with US assets..

Air to air refueling capability is grossly expensive and hard for Israel to justify in both expense and as being defensive.

Buddy stores won't get them to Iran and back with a big strike package. As well Israel couldn't get it done in one strike.

As well Israel couldn't get it done in one strike.

Well they could but that is a whole different story.

As well Israel couldn't get it done in one strike.

#7 | Posted by Zap at 2009-04-05 08:50 AM

They could, but again they need our monry.

As well Israel couldn't get it done in one strike.

#7 | Posted by Zap at 2009-04-05 08:50 AM

They could, but again they need our monry.

I guess you missed my point.

Getting it done in one strike would require being the second country to use nuclear weapons.

To use them preemptively would put Israeli in a position that even the Israeli rightwing nuts should fear..

I'd say Nutty yahoo's pissing all over the US's long term position on a two state settlement is a way bigger threat to US "close realtionship with"/subservience to Israel than this.

Of course, that assumes Obama and the Dems have the balls to tell Nutty and Israel to stuff it and walk away. And that I seriously doubt. Israel has pwned the US government for decades, no matter who is in the WH.

Well Zap. I hope you are right. Whatever happens, we still can never trust what politicians say. The Israelis have gone so far off the deep end, they are capable of anything.

The Israelis have gone so far off the deep end, they are capable of anything.

Indeed..

Israel currently lacks air to air refueling capability.

#4 | Posted by Zap at 2009-04-05 08:19 AM

Israel would have to cross Iraq air space in order to attack Iran so the U.S. would be blamed for any attack by Israel on Iran since the world would figure we gave them our permission to cross over. I wish Israel would stop trying to drag the U.S. into another war!

...Of course, that assumes Obama and the Dems have the balls to tell Nutty and Israel to stuff it and walk away. And that I seriously doubt....

Not to mention there are always those who think another war is just what's needed to kick us out of this economic depression we're in.

If we gave permission to Israel. Attacks on soldiers would go through the roof again. The Shia would go crazy again with the IED's.

Not to mention there are always those who think another war is just what's needed to kick us out of this economic depression we're in.

That's quite scary. You have to wonder if the administration will be less likely to pursue diplomacy when armed conflict has the well-proven "bonuses" of stimulating the economy and keeping our Israeli friends happy.

One thing's for sure - I'm not fighting a fool's war.

all nations turn their backs on israel in the end of days - it IS written.

God help u.s. when we do.

#18 | Posted by nanc at 2009-04-06 07:42 AM | Reply | Flag: Dumber than Buffalo Bob

Israel and the Jews have a history that isn't appreciated by the average American...or European for that matter. They MEAN it when they say a nuclear Iran won't be tolerated. I think they have no faith in the "sanctions," "negotiations," and pure bullshit taking place in regard to Iran's nuclear program, although all that has seemed to work well with North korea....LOL. I think Israel is paying attention to THAT too.
Read what Adm. Mullen says:

"Benjamin Netanyahu formally became Israel's Prime Minister last week, and he could not have been blunter about the strategic challenge ahead: "It is a mark of disgrace for humanity that several decades after the Holocaust the world's response to the calls by Iran's leader to destroy the state of Israel is weak, there is no condemnation and decisive measures -- almost as if dismissed as routine." He added, "We cannot afford to take lightly megalomaniac tyrants who threaten to annihilate us."

Americans in key positions have noticed this Israeli message. In a meeting Thursday at the Journal, Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told us that "there is a leadership in Israel that is not going to tolerate" a nuclear Iran. Tehran's atomic designs, he said, were a matter of "life or death" for the Jewish state. "The operative word is 'existential.'" When we asked him whether Israel was capable of inflicting meaningful damage to Iran's nuclear installations, his answer was a simple "Yes."

"Israel would have to cross Iraq air space in order to attack Iran so the U.S. would be blamed for any attack by Israel on Iran since the world would figure we gave them our permission to cross over."

If that WAS to happen, I expect the world would react in MASS protest kinda like they did when North Korea's missile flew over Japan. The UN is probably drafting up a strong letter about it which will be published in six months or so.

... major concern is that an Iranian bomb would end Israel's exclusive possession of nuclear weapons in the Middle East and undermine its dominance of the region. Iran might then be able to force major territorial concessions on behalf of the Palestinians."

This is the reasoning behind Israel's constant pushing for war with Iran. They don't want to make any concessions. -- #1 | Posted by rastaninja

I think there's more to it than that. I doubt Iran's nuclear program is nearly as threatening as the possibility of being abandoned by the U.S.

Obama has repeatedly signaled in campaign speeches and by favoring Samantha Power that his vision of the Middle East includes an alliance with Iran. Power is so hostile to Israel that she has advocated a U.S. occupation (of Israel).

But if Iran becomes a trustworthy ally, the U.S. no longer has a need for Israel, and Israel's evolution into a terrorist state makes them a liability. Additionally, Iran has oil, and Israel doesn't.

The June elections could easily lead to a friendly government in Iran, so Netanyahu has only 2 months to push the U.S. into behavior that would alter the election results and/or derail our progress in some other way.

Please...if there is a God, let this happen!

The realization that Israeli interests are not synonymous with US interests will go a long way toward resolving many of our problems, both foreign and domestic.

all nations turn their backs on israel in the end of days - it IS written. God help u.s. when we do. -- #18 | Posted by nanc

I have mixed feelings about this. I have friends who have lived there on and off, and generations of Israelis have created something remarkable -- they did indeed make the desert bloom.

But Israel has become a terrorist state, and not just because of manipulation by their leadership. Livni and Barak (head of Kadima and Labor) reportedly executed the Gaza Massacre to out-butch Netanyahu before the election. The ordinarily reasonable friends I have there completely tune out reality -- you cannot convince them that slaughtering Palestinian children is even questionable.

I've got a single action solution that will solve all the problems.

BOMB ISRAEL!!!!!

there, problem solved.

baby and the bathwater, lipz.

#19 | Posted by CapnBligh at 2009-04-06 07:46 AM | Reply | Flag: ignorance is bliss

does it matter, lipz? there will still be jews. the problem isn't with the land, it's with God's people.

Aren't xtians God's people?

"Israel currently lacks air to air refueling capability." - Zap

Israel has 3 KC-130H refuelers.

F-15 (25) Ferry range is 3,500NM

does it matter, lipz? there will still be jews. the problem isn't with the land, it's with God's people.

#28 | Posted by nanc

I don't have a problem with jews, per se. They are just about as irrelevant, ignorant and evil as the other religious peoples, no more, no less.

I have a problem with Israel and the israeli zionist gov't. They use every weapon that they can find to further a zionist agenda, which is basically the same agenda as the american talibaptists and the islamic fundies use. Fuck all of them is what i am saying.

But, in the past, everyone was called out on their evil except the zionists. It is time to change that. Israel does not exist without american tax dollars. Outside american and british military considerations, there is no reason for them to exist. Jew-ville is New York and Miami and both of those places are better than israel.

Just found this.... very interesting...

"Jew-ville"

Thanks for making Theodore Geisel roll in his grave.

Jew-ville is New York and Miami and both of those places are better than israel.

I thought it was Hymietown
#34 | Posted by kanrei

That was the first thing that I thought to post but thought better of it and went with the Dr. Seuss Whoville pun.

♫♫Dooon't bring me down...♫♫

Why does it seem that DR posters who hate Israel are more eager for Israel to attack Iran than DR posters who don't hate Israel? Something to think about...

The realization that Israeli interests are not synonymous with US interests will go a long way toward resolving many of our problems, both foreign and domestic.

#23 | POSTED BY IRAQIBUKKAKE

Amen.

I wonder why so many Americans feel that Israel's safety and security is our responsibility?

Why does it seem that DR posters who hate Israel are more eager for Israel to attack Iran than DR posters who don't hate Israel?

#36 | Posted by moder8

I'm gonna throw the bullshit flag on this statement. It has no basis in any reality I am aware of.

Since I am one of the most open and umemotionally attached Israel haters, I think I can speak with authority.

I do not want Israel to attack Iran. I don't want Israel to attack anyone because, under our current configuration, Israel attacking someone is seen by the rest of the world as the US attack or agreeing to attack someone.

And I agree with Rast, why is Israels safety and security our problem? If they want to attack Iran, please by all means, go ahead, but don't dial up the US when the retaliation comes.

I've got a single action solution that will solve all the problems.

BOMB ISRAEL!!!!!

I'm sure Hamas is recruiting.