Netanyahu: Containment policy for Iran won’t work

[DonViejo]

Source: Salon/AP

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s prime minister says a policy of containment for Iran will not work because Tehran is guided by a “leadership of fanaticism.”

In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” to be aired Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also says he disagrees with those who argue that going to war with Iran would be worse than a nuclear Iran.

“Iran is guided by a leadership with an unbelievable fanaticism,” he said. “You want these fanatics to have nuclear weapons?”

Washington wants to give diplomacy and sanctions more time to pressure Tehran to abandon its suspect nuclear work.

But Netanyahu has warned repeatedly that Iran is perilously close to acquiring a nuclear bomb. Earlier this week, he criticized the U.S. specifically over its containment policy, saying peaceful methods are not working.

Read more: http://www.salon.com/2012/09/16/netanyahu_containment_policy_for_iran_wont_work_3/

[madaboutharry]

1. So did his old friend Mitt tell him

he will get a green light if he (Mitt) is elected?

[CoffeeCat]

6. Of course mitt gave BN reassurances

That he would take th US into war eith Iran if he was elected.

Netanyahu has been saber rattling and complaining about the US's response to Iran.

I'm not quite clear on how close or productive the relstionship is between Obama and Netanyahu--but it is clear that Mitt is working overtime to convince Netanyahu of his love of war.

It's quite disgusting.

[nanabugg]

2. And neither will a preemptive strike. Stop costing us our lives and our treasure! nt

[McCamy Taylor]

3. Why is Israel so preoccupied with Iran when Al Qaeda is much more aggressive and dangerous?

Could Israel be working for the NeoCons who want us to invade Iran for its oil? Since Al Qaeda is the U.S.'s biggest enemy and Iran is the enemy of Al Qaeda, should not we be courting Iran?

[Selatius]

13. Iran is a convenient distraction for Israeli right-wingers to deflect attention from economic issues

Netanyahu is not terribly popular with respect to the domestic situation inside Israel. There's high unemployment and social services are not up to the task of covering everybody. People want a strong safety net and a solution to an anemic economy. There are constant protests against his economic policies. They need jobs, and they're tired of waiting.

Traditionally, the Labor Party would be at an advantage in such economic times, but as long as the issue of war is the main topic, Likud will continue to control the national dialogue and the legislative agenda, and Likud is filled with people from the right to the far-right, and Likud is seen as strong on national defense. Labor, on the other hand, is seen as more dovish, so when war threatens, people may trust Likud more.

The consensus is that Iran's leaders have not yet decided to build a bomb. They may be moving to the point where they obtain the capabilities of creating a fission bomb, and I don't think that is in dispute. What is in dispute is whether the leadership in Tehran will utilize such a capability to build a bomb or simply continue to use the capability to enrich uranium for domestic use. Likud's position is that merely the Iranian capability of building a bomb is intolerable.

[Fuddnik]

4. There are fanatic leaders running around the Mideast.

The biggest one is named Nut N Yahoo.

[MichiganVote]

5. Read the lips of American Mother's and Father's. Do not expect our sons to bail

your raggedy, worn out, BC attitude asses out. Fight your own damn conflicts.

[Canuckistanian]

9. +100

[polly7]

7. Speaking of fanatics with nuclear weapons ...

that nutcase needs to look in a mirror.

[Canuckistanian]

8. Yeah, right

And the Likud Party doesn't have a "leadership of fanaticism”

[DallasNE]

10. So Netanyahu Sees War As The Only Option

This isn't Bosnia where an air campaign can bring down the government with help from rebels on the ground. Nor is it Iraq where the government was already hated and the military command was weak -- plus Iran has double the population of Iraq.

Any kind of war with Iran, whether air only or air and ground will cause oil shipments from that area to stop and that would really crash world economies. And how would China respond? Simplistic talk like that coming from Netanyahu must simply be ignored. The geopolitical issues are far to complex to allow simpletons like Netanyahu to be given a voice.

[defacto7]

11. He just wants it... that's all.

Why do these media guys in the US press allow him lip service? More Payola?

[davidthegnome]

12. What an idiot.