Israeli PM makes appeal to US voters: Elect president willing to draw ‘red line’ with Iran

[TomCADem]

Source: Washington Post

WASHINGTON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took his case on Iran directly to U.S. voters Sunday, telling the American public in televised interviews that the White House must be willing to draw a “red line” on Tehran’s nuclear program, comparing Tehran’s nuclear program to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and reminding Americans of the devastating repercussions of failed intelligence.

His remarks were an impassioned election-season plea from a world leader who insists he doesn’t want to insert himself into U.S. politics and hasn’t endorsed either candidate. But visibly frustrated by U.S. policy under President Barack Obama, the hawkish Israeli leader took advantage of the week’s focus on unrest across the Muslim world and America’s time-honored tradition of the Sunday television talk shows to appeal to Americans headed to the polls in less than two months.

* * *
Obama’s Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, has said he is willing to take a tougher stance than Obama against Iran, although his campaign has declined to provide specifics. He has also aligned himself personally with Netanyahu, casting the Israeli leader as a longtime friend.

Meanwhile, Obama is reported to have a strained relationship with Netanyahu, chastising Israel for continuing to build housing settlements in areas disputed with the Palestinians.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-diplomat-no-daylight-between-us-israel-on-stopping-iran-from-developing-nuclear-weapon/2012/09/16/daba8028-0001-11e2-bbf0-e33b4ee2f0e8_story.html

---

For goodness sakes, Romney should just appoint Netenyahu as his Secretary of Defense and Sheldon Adelson as his Secretary of State. I don't think I have ever seen a foreign leader so willing to attempt to manipulate the U.S. election in such an outspoken manner. If there ever was any doubt that a vote for Romney is a vote for war...

[liberal N proud]

1. Netanyahu wants the US to fight his war!

He wants Americans to die for Israel.

[oberliner]

4. "He wants Americans to die for Israel."

It's amazing that people can actually think this.

[JRLeft]

16. It is because he does. Israel can go at Iran alone. And if you want

to go to war with Iran, please volunteer your services.

[oberliner]

17. You think he wants Americans to die?

You don't think he just wants Iran to not have nuclear weapons and thinks a "red line" from the US would deter them from pursuing them?

As for me, I sure as hell don't want anyone to go to war with Iran, be it Israel, the US or otherwise.

I'd love to see Iran make the decision not to go down the nuclear road.

[bahrbearian]

32. Maybe Israel should destroy its own Nuclear weapons as a sign of good faith.

Then they could negotiate from the high ground.

[lumpy]

38. Right. They should step up to the high ground.

n

[blublu]

107. Isreal/highground?

Nah, that's one good example of an oxymoron.

[oberliner]

41. That would be great

It also would be neat if Iran acknowledged Israel's right to exist in peace and security.

[Missycim]

102. ROFL

LOL that was a good joke, destroy the only thing keeping your country in one piece.

[sabrina 1]

33. Why? They have as much right as Israel, the US, North Korea, Pakistan or anyone else

to have nukes.

However, I have a better suggestion. How about the US, Israel and everyone else get rid of THEIR nukes?

What's with the focus on this one country when so many other more dangerous societies have nukes?

Until those pressuring Iran get rid of theirs, especially since they are far more likely to use them, there isn't much sympathy in the world for Netanyahu's attempts to influence THIS country to go to war over this issue with Iran.

Let's put pressure on those countries that actually HAVE NUKES to get rid of them. Iran doesn't even have them. This is so ridiculous.

[oberliner]

43. Isn't nuclear non-proliferation an admirable goal?

I think that, generally speaking, fewer countries with nuclear weapons is better.

I also agree that countries that do have them ought to phase them out.

[Bohunk68]

88. Non-proliferatio

You do realise that Israel is not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, don't you?

[oberliner]

89. Yes, along with India and Pakistan

All three ought to sign and ratify.

And these who are signatories, i.e. Iran, ought not to violate the agreement.

[doxyluv13]

82. To take you seriously

What is on the other side of a "red line" beside war? Anything? Netanyahu want the U.S. to agree in advance to go to war, then he'll tell us what the "red line" is. Also, any violation of the "red line" is apt to be determined by intelligence which is debatable and very prone to falsification and manipulation.

The idea that Netanyahu wants Americans to die fighting Iran for Israel boils down to this. Israel can't set back the Iranian program very much by itself, so it needs the U.S. military to carry some of the burden which will certainly result in casualties. Also, fact Israeli warplanes would have to cross Iraqi airspace (which the U.S. controls) to attack Iran, so we'll surely be in it, like it or not.


If you really want Iran to turn away from nukes, encourage Israel to stop threatening war on it. Beside being criminal, Israeli threats of war are pushing Iran toward thinking they need the bomb for self-preservation against an increasing desperate and irrational, and hyper-powerful, Israel. Have you forgotten that the Shah's pile of yellow cake had not moved in decades before GW Bush began his policy of Middle East Regime change? to stop threatening war on it. Beside being criminal, Israeli threats of war are pushing Iran toward thinking they need the bomb for self-preservation against an increasing desperate and irrational, and hyper-powerful, Israel. Have you forgotten that the Shah's pile of yellow cake had not moved in decades before GW Bush began his policy of Middle East Regime change?

[oberliner]

91. What is on the other side of a "red line" beside war?

Presumably, the idea is that, once aware of the red line, they will back down and not move beyond said line. As many have noted, the Iranian regime is not suicidal. In theory, the US "red line" would deter them in a way that nothing the Israelis could say would.

I think the Israeli government would be thrilled if Iran stepped back from their pursuit and no one went to war. I certainly don't think they want to see Americans killed - that is a grotesque and preposterous accusation in my opinion.

Netanyahu, perhaps delusionally, believes that Iran wants to get nukes for potential use against Israel (is some form or another) He, therefore, wants to do everything possible to prevent that from happening. It's one thing to suggest, as many reasonably do, that he is being paranoid and misguided, it's another to say that he wants Americans to die.

[doxyluv13]

104. wouldn't have taken you seriously if I'd checked your other posts before

It's very likely Iran would ignore your 'red line' because it will not have any legal standing unless the U.N. Security Council votes for it, and it won't. Israel has no right to attack Iran anyway. Developing a nuclear weapon has never been a legitimate, legal reason to go to war.
If Netanyahu wants war with Iran, and he can't do it without involving the U.S., then is he obviously okay with American's dying to preserve Israel's nuclear monopoly. If you want to say he's merely indifferent to spilling American blood for his ends, and doesn't actually crave it, I'd agree.

[oberliner]

106. Thanks

Welcome to DU - all the best!

[bahrbearian]

110. Right On

[snooper2]

97. Why don't they just bomb the fuck out of each other and get it over with?

[oberliner]

98. Or maybe they just need to have a beer together

Maybe Obama can ship them a six pack of the White House special brew.

[Marrah_G]

2. Dear Israeli PM:

Please go fuck yourself.

Dear Israeli People: Please vote these asshats out of power.

[nanabugg]

52. I believe this shit is backfiring on Bibi. It is helping Obama more than Romney. nt

[christx30]

59. He's saying

Dear American voters... I know your country has been at war, in one form or another, for 10 years. You've spent trillions of dollars that could have been spent on health care, infrustrure improvements or other ways that could have helped your people instead of the defense contractors. I need for you to think of the defense contractors at this time. Iran is bad news. So what's one more war?

Love,
Bibi

[Pirate Smile]

63. If Bibi thinks telling the American people that Romney will be more willing to start a war with Iran

& that's a real vote-getter then he has truly misread the current mindset of the American people.

[Scairp]

76. Took the words outta my mouth

He believes that if Israel attacks Iran on it's own that we will have no choice but to jump right in. And he may be right, I don't know, I'm not informed enough about international politics to understand what might happen if Israel started dropping bombs on suspected Iranian nuclear facilities. He's just dying to attack Iran because he is convinced that they are going to attack Israel sooner rather than later and he wants help. Great Britain wouldn't go without us, if at all, and my guess is he believes that Romney will jump in with both feet should Israel start bombing Iran and Obama would not. I don't know if he's right, if Romney has told Netanyahu privately he would do so but I believe Netanyahu is a warmonger and won't be happy until he starts up with Iran. What he would accomplish should he go ahead with this insanity is to start WW III. That's just my ignorant opinion of course. I really hope those in Israel's parliament are doing something to stop him from plunging the world into another horribly destructive war, and this time a nuclear holocaust is a real possibility, especially with unstable countries like Pakistan and (probably) North Korea possessing nuclear weapons of unknown numbers.

[oberliner]

3. Benjamin Netanyahu: 'People Are Trying To Draw Me Into The American Election'

WASHINGTON -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he knows people want him to say whether President Barack Obama or Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has better policies toward Israel, but he doesn't want to go there.

"I know that people are trying to draw me into the American election. I'm not going to do that," Netanyahu said during a Sunday appearance on CNN's "State of the Union."

"This is not an electoral issue. It is not based on any electoral consideration. I think there's a common interest of all Americans to stop Iran," he said. "What's guiding me ... is not the American political calendar. It's the Iran nuclear calendar."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/16/benjamin-netanyahu-obama-romney_n_1888103.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012

"President Obama has said that he's determined to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons and I appreciate that and I respect that." Asked again if Obama has thrown Israel under the bus by not being more firm with Iran -- a reference to a charge by Romney that Obama has "thrown allies like Israel under the bus" in his first term -- Netanyahu replied, "There is no bus."

[azurnoir]

9. seems like Netanyahu is drawing' himself in

it could almost be considered a self portrait of sorts

[lumpy]

20. Bibi has brazenly inserted himself into the US presidential election through his

very obvious statements, contrary to his denials. Romney has allied himself with those who want US interference in Israeli war concerns.

[oberliner]

23. He doesn't want Iran to get nuclear weapons

He has been going on about this for some time, not just during election-time.

Every interview he's given over the past four years has involved him saying basically the same thing on the subject.

[lumpy]

36. Well Iran is not too happy that Israel has nukes either. Yes, he has been

begging the US to join him in fighting with Iran for a long time. It is foxy game playing for him to inject himself into US presidential election time knowing full well that Romney (with McCains help) might support a first strike in Iran. What is holding him back from striking Iran before they develope the nuke? Afraid the use of Israeli nukes might create fallout?

[oberliner]

40. Understood

My only point is that I don't think he is saying this now for political reasons. I think that he has held this same position consistently for a while and repeats it every chance he gets. I think that pundits and reporters ask him questions to get this kind of controversy (like asking if he thinks Obama threw Israel under the bus).

I think what is holding him back is opposition within his own coalition. From what I've read there is a 50/50 split within that group as to whether or not to strike.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

58. And yet Bibi wants to attack Iran.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/16/world/la-fg-israel-iran-debate-20120817

http://news.yahoo.com/netanyahu-containment-policy-iran-wont-023716625.html

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/16/politics/israel-netanyahu-interview/index.html

&quot CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Sunday that the United States must establish a clear "red line" that Iran cannot cross with its nuclear program if it wants to avoid war."

Not avoid war with Israel. Avoid war with the USA.

He has been going on about this for some time, and is going about it the wrong way.

[oberliner]

61. Which would be a huge disaster

And I totally oppose this desire on his part.

However, my argument is that he is saying what he is saying because it is what he believes, not because he is interfering with elections.

The US certainly has made statements about what it would like to see from Israel on various fronts - statements that could be seen as being friendlier to some parties over there than others.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

70. I respectfully disagree.

If he wasn't trying to insert himself into American politics he would be making his case via private communique with Clinton and Obama.. To the extent that he has been doing this out in the open makes it political theater and a hot potato: effecting US politics in an election year.

[sabrina 1]

35. He's wrong, there is no common interest among the American people to stop Iran

by getting into another war in the ME. I wish he'd stop trying to speak for the American people.

"I know that people are trying to draw me into the American election. I'm not going to do that,"

Who are these people? The ONLY people who would have any right to do that would be the American people. And they generally don't take kindly to foreign leaders interfering in their elections or anything else for that matter. He doesn't seem to realize, he has no power here. He is Israel's PM and that is it.

[oberliner]

37. Maybe so

I think the people he is referencing are the reporters on CNN and Meet the Press who ask him questions that seem designed to engender these sorts of responses. Like asking him if he thinks Obama is throwing Israel under the bus and whatnot.

[Politicalboi]

5. STFU Nut N Yahoo

Why don't you fight Iran you POS all on your OWN. And I mean all alone. I'm sure the people of Israel don't want to get nuked.

[Lionessa]

12. +1

[tblue]

29. +1

[teddy51]

6. If the US needs to do anything, they need to get the Nukes out of Netanyahu's hands.

[tavalon]

7. Great

Now, That yahoo is one of Romney's surrogates!? What a clown car!

[jtuck004]

8. And then change your name to the United States of Israel. n/t

[notadmblnd]

10. What a snake

Israel and it's policies is at the root of all mideast problems. I think most American know this and are tired of it. Israel needs to do the right thing and leave the US out of their shit stirring in the mideast.

[oberliner]

11. "Israel and it's policies is at the root of all mideast problems."

Wow - all of them?

[lumpy]

24. Certainly the Palistinian issue is a big part of the problem.

n

[oberliner]

27. What about the civil war in Syria?

What about repression of women in Saudi Arabia?

Surely one cannot hold Israel responsible in those cases.

[lumpy]

48. So far I haven't heard anyone state that Israel is responsible for problems in

Saudi Arabia or Syria. I do know that Israel has problems with the Palestinians and we know why. Maybe that is the reason there is resentment toward Israel in other Mideast countries as well as resentment by many people in this country. Any other reasons?

[oberliner]

51. Did you not see the post I responded to?

I quote the remark that I took issue with. That remark does state that Israel is responsible for all of the problems in the region.

[TomCADem]

73. I Do Think Netenyahu Could At Least Try ...

...to meet the US halfway with respect to the expansion of jewish settlements into Palestinian areas. It seems like Bebi is trying to have his cake and eat it to by engaging in a policy that antagonizes Muslims in the middle east while also demanding support for a unilateral war on Iran.

[oberliner]

75. I agree with you

Pretty much completely 100 percent.

[reACTIONary]

56. When I think of "problems in the middle east" I think of problems that...

...affect the United States. The civil war in Syria is a problem that affects us and isn't influenced or caused by Israel. But the repression of women in Saudi Arabia, as bad as it is, isn't really a problem for us.

[oberliner]

57. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

I think the repression of women in Saudi Arabia is a problem for all of us.

[reACTIONary]

68. Sure, but...

... it isn't the same sort of problem that we would have if the war in Syria were to spill over to other countries and cause a world oil shortage.

It's a "spiritual" sort of problem, not a "material" sort of problem. And it isn't specific to the Middle East or any other region. Injustice, according to our sense of it, is pervasive and exists the world over. Furthermore, all of the world is not in agreement on what does and does not constitute justice. In Saudi Arabia, the oppression of women is not considered an injustice.

I think we need to lead in the world by living in accordance with our own standards of justice, and teaching others why we believe in them and stand for them. If they are not adopted by others, it should cause us concern, but I don't think it should be considered a problem for us.

Just my perspective.

[oberliner]

71. I hear ya

I get what you are saying, certainly. Makes sense.

I do, however, think it is unfortunate that we in the US turn such a blind eye to so many injustices around the world since they don't really impact our national interests.

But this straying way off the topic, so I'll leave it there.

[loli phabay]

13. yeah if only israel would cease to be then all would be good and pleasant in the ME

[notadmblnd]

19. I didn't say that, you did.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

62. I disagree on that. Thre are a lot of problems in the mideast, and the USA has probably

more to do with some of them. Israel has caused some of the guff while the Arab states, and Persians the rest. The policies that had kept dictatorial rulers and kings on thrones has had a lot to do with the problems that be.

[LeftishBrit]

83. Can't stand Netanyahu; but Israel is not at the root of 'all mideast problems'

The war in Syria and oppression that led to it; the dictatorships in many mideast countries, a few of which were recently overthrown but most remain; the harsh regime in Saudi Arabia - none of these were caused by Israel. The current mess in Iraq was caused by US: the USA and UK. It is arguable that the USA and UK also sowed the seeds, in the 1950s, that ultimately led to the mess in Iran. None of this is caused by Israel.

[GeorgeGist]

14. Nyet 'n yahoo ...

[Brigid]

15. Sorry, pal.

If you're begging me to vote for Romney, it isn't going to happen. And there is nothing in it for us to pick a fight with Iran for your sake. You must think we have unlimited resources. In case you haven't figured it out yet, we're tapped out.

[JRLeft]

18. This, it is past time we stopped killing Muslims. No more war.

[skeewee08]

21. Netanyahu please go away

[chuckstevens]

22. Goal?

If he thinks he is helping Mittens, he is having the opposite effect. I don't think Americans want to be bullied into a major with with Iran and so far President Obama had not been pushed in that direction.

Israel needs moderate leadership and they should stop treating the Gaza Strip as a 21st Century Warsaw Ghetto. I know some will be offended by that remark. I believe the Holocaust is the greatest injustice in all of human history and a strong Israel is vital to the Middle East. However, the state of Israel should not be allowed to keep brutalizing the Palestinian people. If a two state solution were finally created, I believe 70 % of Islamic terrorists dollars will dry up.

[uwep]

25. George W destablized the Islamic world

and now Romney and Netanyahu are lighting the fuse with their talk of war. If
Romney becomes the next president, God help us all.

China, Russia, South Korea and Japan are stirring the pot in the far east and in
conjunction with the instability in the Islamic world an intelligent and cool head
is needed. Could it be the Mayans were right?

[newspeak]

47. yep, little boots escalated destabilization of the ME

and, I don't think it was for the benefit of americans; but, for oil companies and war profiteers. anyone who backs dictators like pinochet have no right hollering about giving the ME democracy; anyone who becomes president by a supreme court decision, voter intimidation and voter suppression, has no right hollering about spreading democracy--more like spreading bullshite.

I miss Rabin. after he was assassinated, why in the hell did the israelis vote in the hawks-some who might have had a hand in his death? it seems that those who want peace and compromise are sacrificed at the altar by those who gain from the region being destabilized.

[Autumn]

26. Israel is not MY country. You want that fucking Mitt so bad, take the silly fucker

and while you are at it, take a few of his repuke cronies. We would be much better off without them. Asshole.

[marmar]

28. I'm making an appeal to Israeli voters.......

....... please toss this warmongering Bush-like cretin out of office.

[LeftishBrit]

85. +1000!

[Thinkingabout]

30. W always turned his head but Obama uses his cool head.

Isreal is always begging for money and if the PM wants to pay for US efforts then he needs to put the money up first.

[azurnoir]

31. and which candidate has said he would go to war with Iran? n/t

[OnyxCollie]

53. Hillary Clinton

Clinton says U.S. could "totally obliterate" Iran
http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/04/22/us-usa-politics-iran-idUSN2224332720080422

On the day of a crucial vote in her nomination battle against fellow Democrat Barack Obama, the New York senator said she wanted to make clear to Tehran what she was prepared to do as president in hopes that this warning would deter any Iranian nuclear attack against the Jewish state.

"I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran (if it attacks Israel)," Clinton said in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America."

"In the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them," she said.

"That's a terrible thing to say but those people who run Iran need to understand that because that perhaps will deter them from doing something that would be reckless, foolish and tragic," Clinton said.

[bahrbearian]

96. Hillary to Iran " Do as I say , Not as I do"

[treestar]

34. Why would we vote based on what he wants?

We have other issues. Geez, what an asshole. That could hurt Rmoney.

[sabrina 1]

42. Absolutely will hurt Romney. Independents who might have been on the fence re

Obama, can be mobilized now to stop Netanyahu from getting the patsy he wants in the WH to get his war in Iran going.

Democrats should use this to convince voters who might have been planning to stay home, that if for no other reason, they need to stop Romney/Netanyahu from taking over our Military and starting yet another disastrous war in the ME.

[williesgirl]

39. he should keep his fucking warrior nose out of our

elections! go back to Israel where he belongs.

[greenblume]

44. Keep your stinkin' nose . . .

. . . out of our elections. I don't want American soldiers dying for Israel, period.

[tomm2thumbs]

113. interference in elections

really ends up doing the opposite -- at least if people pay attention and figure out any manipulation going on.... hopefully people recognize things like that through the game playing that sometimes happens

_____


btw, welcome to DU!

[mykpart]

45. What has happened to the old Israel?

The Israel who, when offered assistance during the six day war, said, "No, thanks. We can handle this ourselves." Israel may very well be the only country in the middle east that has always been our ally, but I'm a little disappointed when they want to set US foreign policy. I would love for someone to talk me down.

[newspeak]

49. uh, you mean the six day war

when israeli planes bombed our ship?

[mykpart]

60. I remember the war, but I truly do not remember

planes bombing our ship. After I read your post, I tried to find something about that, but came up empty. Please, can you direct me to some websites where I can read about that attack? What ship was attacked? I'm really feeling old that I don't remember that.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

64. The USS Liberty Incident

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident

[mykpart]

69. Thank you Daneel.

Your link has been very helpful.

[newspeak]

72. thanks for answering, I just came back

must have been some really piss poor pilots to mistake a US naval ship.

[LibGranny]

46. WTH is this guy doing getting involved in US politics if NOT FOR rMoney and his backer, Adelson!

I hope Obama's cool head prevails and isn't goaded into starting something with Iran. If Israel wants this so badly, let them do it and leave the US out of it!

[julian09]

50. Will a double white line do? nt

[polichick]

54. Netanyahu and Romney deserve each other - and neither one of them...

...gives a shit about the American people.

[aquart]

55. Benjy, stop behaving like a moron.

I mean that in the nicest way.

[Panasonic]

65. I have a solution: Drop Bibi and the rest of his Likudniks in the middle of Tehran

and have him ask what the Iranians want.

Maybe they'll buy him a big fat stinking clue.

[dkf]

66. Wow. I can't believe how blatant he is being about this.

Color me flabbergasted.

[DallasNE]

67. This Isn't Just Wrong, It's Despictable

A recent poll showed Obama gaining strength with Jewish voters and that spells disaster in Florida for Romney. Along comes Netanyahu with a direct appeal to these Jewish voters to vote for Romney. And to make the case he uses a revised version of history. As someone who was on active duty during the Cuban MIssile Crisis I have retained a pretty clear memory of the history of that event, as I am sure do others that were involved in one way or another. Kennedy did not force the Soviet Union to remove those miissles without something in return. In this case it was American missiles deployed in Turkey that were removed in exchange for the Soviet Union packing up their missiles in Cuba and taking them home. Also, he misstates what intelligence was saying in the lead up to 9/11. President Bush was first told that al Qaeda had a cell operating inside the US on May 1, 2001 with progressively more alarming warnings right up through the August 6, 2001 warning that bin Laden was determined to strike inside the US. It wasn't the intelligence that was faulty, it was the lack of leadership that instead saw Iraq as the biggest threat and pretty much ignored bin Laden. So, Netanyahu got a couple of pretty important things dead wrong. (Yes, I still remember a co-worker coming up to me on 9/11 and saying, come here, I want to show you something. I walked to his desk and he had CNN pulled up on his PC showing the first tower after it had been hit. After several seconds of disbelief I turned to my co-worker and said "bin Laden". He quietly nodded his head yes. It seems that Bush is the only one that took some time to come to grips that bin Laden, not Saddam, was America's biggest threat).

[TomCADem]

74. I Want A President Whose Decision Is Based On The American People's Interest, Not...

...the interest of Sheldon Adelson and his puppet, Netenyahu.

[Jack Sprat]

77. I think you're right.

I don't remember such brazen foreign intrusiveness in an American election. Netenyahu is a native Philadelphian isn't he? He probably considers himself an exception to the norm.

Netenyahu is clearly desperate to attack Iran, but he wants the U.S. to do the attacking. It seems to me he is determined to act as America's commander in chief regarding an attack on his neighbors.

I think Romney is strongly hinting to Netenyahu that he will let him act as the U.S. minister of defense if he can get elected. Of course, Romney would get down on all fours and howl at the moon in front of a packed joint session of Congress if it would make him President. Romney has agreed to eat dirt, chew grass, drink fresh blood from a bull's severed head, IF HE COULD JUST BE PRESIDENT.

[MurrayDelph]

78. Tomorrow is the first day of Rosh Hashanna

and at every temple I went to when I used to go with my parents (they're gone, and even if I wanted to go to one, the nearest one to the town I live in now is almost 100 miles away) they would interrupt the services to raise money for Bonds for Israel.

I don't now if the posturing from Israel at the moment is true fear of the Iranians, whether it is Israel trying to favor the Republicans (and simultaneously pressure the Democrats), or if they are just trying to drum up better business during a depression, but I think it may ending up biting them in the butt (and I don't think tuchus is Kosher).

[TomCADem]

80. The Irony Is That Israeli (Non-Sheldon Adelson Owned) Media...

...Seems a lot more critical of Netenyahu and his efforts to manipulate the U.S. election than our domestic media, and you would think that Israel's domestic media should know more about Netenyahu than our media.

[agentS]

79. We've already drawn a red line! What more does this guy want?!

So far the only red line mentioned by Washington today and over the years has been no Nuclear weapon in Iran.
I think that for most people in the world, at least those willing to respond, then that is enough of a red line.

reminding Americans of the devastating repercussions of failed intelligence.

WELL NO SHIT SHERLOCK! The Iranians DON'T HAVE A DAMN BOMB! Show me the intelligence report that they are months away from a nuclear bomb test!
.....
....
....

I'm waiting...

[chill_wind]

81. Yikes.

Talk about circumventing protocols, diplomatic channels and entire Heads of State. I'm trying to think of any former precedent of anything quite like this. I can't.

[LeftishBrit]

84. Fortunately, I doubt that Netanyahu has any influence on how Americans vote

The convergence between the right-wingers of different countries is unfortunately increasing all the time. When I joined DU in 2004, there was plenty of collaboration between the American and British Right on foreign policy, but not on domestic policy - now we have British politicians praising Republican economic policies, trying to imitate American right-wing policies on education and health, and in one case (Hannan) organizing a 'Brighton Tea Party'. Liam Fox, our ex-Defence Secretary and still a British MP, has apparently been advising Romney (this is after he got sacked by Cameron - and it's not easy to get sacked by Cameron! - for his actions as Defence Secretary). And now Netanyahu opens his mouth. But I don't think that either is likely to influence American voters, any more than the American Right will in general influence our voters or the Israeli voters, much as they may try.

[joshcryer]

86. Thank fucking god for Obama.

Fuck. Netenyahu is a fucking disgrace.

[sendero]

87. We've spent enough lives and treasure..

... trying to solve Israel's problems. Time for them to grow up and solve their own.

[Odin2005]

90. Go fuck yourself, Nut-N-Yahoo!

[mojo2012]

92. Americans should be able to read between the lines

Netanyahu IS trying affect the U.S. elections and get Romney into presidency. He IS trying to get Americans to fight his war with Iran. He IS in bed with Adelson (and Romney).

As quickly as the protests spread, wouldn't you think if the U.S. and Israel struck Iran, then the ENTIRE region would organize against the U.S. It wouldn't be just a war with Iran, it would be a war with the entire Muslim world.

Romney doesn't want to lead or govern, he wants POWER, just like at Bain. He would send U.S. soldiers in without any regard to their lives or to the lives of their families while keeping all his own family protected including the avoidance of sending any of them to war.

Americans DO NOT want another war. Americans want U.S. nation building (fixing). I wish ALL the members of the U.N. would make a simple PUBLIC statement individually and tell Netanyahu to stay out of the U.S. elections.

I wish the media would STOP giving Netanyahu U.S. airtime. It gives him an green light to push his agenda and take advantage of the fact that Americans do not know the complexity or repercussions of the situation and would vote with emotion rather than rational.

[sellitman]

93. The 300 pound bear in this room is never addressed.

As if it doesn't exist.

Does anyone here think for a moment that Iran won't Nuke Israel the minute it gets the bomb?

That question is never brought up when discussing the two countries.

Will the threat of mutual annihilation have cooler heads prevail as it did the the US & Russia or will the Fanatics get access to a nuclear war head?

[OnyxCollie]

95. I don't think for a moment that Iran will nuke Israel the minute it gets the bomb.

What would they have to gain?

As for keeping the US from attacking Iran, an OPEC country, I see that as a likely scenario.

OPEC Wish List
Kuwait -Got it
Iraq -Got it
Libya -Got it (kinda)
Iran -Need it
Venezuela -Need it
Saudi Arabia -Calling the shots

[Hell Hath No Fury]

101. No, I do no think they will.

They are not suicidal -- they simply want what all other nuclear capable countries have gotten: a place at The Big Boys Table. Once India and Pakistan got The Bomb they became world players, they suddenly mattered and were catered to. Iran wants the same thing.

[AnOhioan]

112. You are joking right? How would Iran (or their leaders) benefit from starting a nuclear conflict?

They would not, therefore, they won't attack.

[Ash_F]

94. Jews will still go 80+% Obama...

...not buying into the right wing spin.

[randome]

99. "I'm not trying to interfere in U.S. elections but...ROMNEY!!!"

This fool needs to shut up.

[ancianita]

100. Adelson's mouthpieces -- Rmoney and Netanyahu

[Hell Hath No Fury]

103. Fuck Bibi.

That is all.

[L0oniX]

108. Cut off all funding.

[Wolf Frankula]

109. Needed Memo from the State Department

Mr. Netanyahu,

For attempting to interfere in US elections, you are declared persona non grata. You have eight hours to leave the United States and never return. If you attempt to speak to the press or electronic media you will be forcibly expelled immediately.

Also, we will immediately cease all aid, military and non-military, to Israel. All co-operation will cease forthwith. AIPAC is dissolved, and Israeli assets in the United States are frozen.

Finally, let it be known that we will consider any aggressive act by Israel to be an attack on the United States, to be dealt with by maximum force.

Wolf

[AnOhioan]

111. American citizens make appeal to Israeli citizens...get rid of Bibi.