Israel Warns Obama on Talks with Iran

[unhappycamper]

Israel Warns Obama on Talks with Iran
November 07, 2008
Associated Press

JERUSALEM - Israel's foreign minister said Thursday that President-elect Barack Obama shouldn't talk to Iran just yet, warning that such dialogue could project "weakness" - a first sign of disagreement with the incoming American administration.

Obama has stated a willingness to talk to Iran about its nuclear program, which Israel, the U.S. and others believe is aimed at developing an atomic bomb. His policy marks a departure from that of the Bush administration, which has refused to engage Iranian leaders.

Tzipi Livni, a contender for prime minister in February elections, noted in an interview with Israel Radio that Obama is not willing to accept a nuclear Iran.

But "dialogue at this time is liable to broadcast weakness," cautioned Livni, who is head of the governing Kadima Party. "I think early dialogue at a time when it appears to Iran that the world has given up on sanctions could be problematic."

Obama, who swept to victory in elections Tuesday, reasons that direct diplomacy with Iranian leaders would give the U.S. more credibility to press for tougher international sanctions. The U.N. Security Council already has passed three rounds of sanctions against Iran.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/israel-warns-obama-on-talks-with-iran.html?col=1186032310810

[ixion]

1. Israel can take a flying f*k at the moon

for all I care.

[screembloodymurder]

4. Me too!

One more word out of them and I'd send Iran the nukes.

[dennis4868]

5. I care about Israel...

and live there...but Israel should let Obama do the fuck he wants...nothing has work so far...talking to your enemy is not a sign of weakness...where do they get this shit from?

[screembloodymurder]

6. I was joking.

But now is not the time for Israel to make demands. Don't try to tie Obama's hands. Let's work toward a solution we can all live with ... reconciliation.

[ixion]

7. and I was speaking figuratively

I care about the humanitarian side -- the civilians -- who live there, no matter what religion they happen to belong to.

What irks me, though, are the Israeli counter-part of the neocons creating a never-ending war there, and asking us to help them do it.

I'm all for peace breaking out between Israel and Palestine, and not a bit for encouraging continued conflict.

[TahitiNut]

9. Ms. Livni is playing to the Likud/minority party wing in a typical "centrist" fashion.

The presumption that Israel (or ANY country) has some role in 'advising' the U.S. in its bilateral diplomatic relationships is the kind of autocratic muscularity that Knesset right-wingers seem to demand.

[tkayj]

2. Can someone please explain to me...

why it's such a bad idea to talk to our opponents to find out what they're really thinking, what they are really asking for, and whether or not there is a non-violent way to resolve the problem. If we never talk to Iran, then we only have one side of the story upon which to base our decisions.

Do you walk in to the room and discipline one kid simply because the other kid said he was picking on him? Or do you first ask the alleged aggressor what his side of the story is?

:spank: :wtf:

[Botany]

3. Dear Tzipi Livni,

Fuck off.

signed,
The United States of America

[Crowman1979]

8. Don't we remember the last time our military tried to help Israel out.

When in Lebanon during the early 80's, they were shooting at our Marines. Plus we cannot forget the USS Liberty. High ranking generals and admirals of both branches were all saying they were deliberate attacks, but the government would not listen to them.