I thought Natanyahu's speech was very good

[Cosmocat]

It was clear, well stated, factual.

I think he is was respectful toward President Obama.

We just have to get past the next five weeks and then be able to deal with this on our end without the republicans mucking it up.

[jpbollma]

1. I agree

I didn't think he was disrespectful to the United States in any way and quite frankly I never thought he would be. Although the Democrats probably relate more to the Israeli Labor Party, they are one of our strongest allies. Parties change hands and real allies realize this. Now, the number one concern should be handling this without any loss of life if possible.

[Cosmocat]

10. I think he did a nice job

of making up a bit for how the republicans dragging him into the presidential race. He complimented president Obama for his leadership on the sanctions and made a point to say that have worked to have an ecomomic impact. Then said he was working with him and will continue to.

Not over the top, but made it clear who the CIC is and who he expects to work with moving foward.

I think if it were not for the election, potentially they already would have come up with the red line.

But, my guess is once they clear November, they will sit down and hammer it out.

I think his point was well stated that doing the redline can prevent war, while not doing it can allow the kind of creep that does lead to it.

[tama]

2. Each to his tastes

you get your kicks from criminal warmongers and mass murderers, fine.

[powergirl]

3. I felt that he was trying to scare and bully Americans into war

and the American people are tired of war. And we shouldn't telegraph our military strategy at a UN Meeting. I am a strong supporter of Israel and I don't think the majority of Israelis support Netanyahu's position on this. It is a complicated issue and that is why I don't like the oversimplification to go to war - reminds me of W and Iraq.

But I respect your opinion Cosmocact -

[Evergreen Emerald]

4. Is his assumption accurate?

He assumes, like assumed of North Korea, that the erratic regime would destroy the world.

[Scootaloo]

5. Well, some people like free jazz, too.

There's no accounting for taste.

[jpbollma]

6. Well of course he is trying to

galvanize stronger action against Iran. I for one don't support all of his ideas (or even 95% of them). I just thought that given his obvious differences with Obama, he was respectful and stuck to a lot of facts. He of course was patronizing just as all other speakers are at the UN when they are pushing their interests.

[dballance]

7. You are joking right?

I can 't tell you how offended I am that a foreign dictator feels it necessary to insert himself in our election process. Your problem with Iran is your problem and not the problem of the USA. Israel you hypocritically have nuclear weapons and dane to say other countries may not.

Netanyahu has absolutely no business speaking on US topics during an election year. Can you imagine the outcry if a US President were to talk about Israeli issues during their election cycle?

Really, just go fuck yourself Bibi.

[jpbollma]

8. Deep breath

A foreign dictator? I am not a fan of his policy, but he is no dictator. Bush 2 was closer to a dictator considering he lost the popular vote. I agree he should not intervene in US politics and I was annoyed when he gave some dog whistles recently. Saying Iran is Israel's problem and no one else's is extremely simplistic. I hope no conflict occurs because the innocents usually bare the brunt. However, Iran is no friend to the US or various other countries. This is not an "Israel only" problem. With that attitude we would not have any international alliances.

As for Israel having nukes, in theory I agree that it is hypocritical, however, they are the only Middle Eastern country that has been attacked by literally all of their neighbors at once. They have a population less than that of the population of the state of Michigan. I can see why they would feel the need.

Devil's advocate, why isn't he allowed to speak on US subjects? We do it to everyone all the time. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[JoDog]

9. Pardon me. Netanyahu is not a dictator.

You are, of course, entitled to whatever opinions you may hold about the man, his government and their plans. But you are not entitled to your own facts. Bibi is not a dictator. He is the prime minister of a democratic country. One of the few true democracies in that region, actually. He is prime minister because his party either won an overwhelming majority in elections or won a bare majority and formed a coalition (I think the second is the case right now).

Love him or hate him, your characterization of him as a "foreign dictator" is way off base.

[Cosmocat]

11. actually, I think it did the exact opposite

I heard him actually try to walk back how the republican party has drug him/Israel into the election.

He complimented President Obama on his leadership on the sanctions and made a point that they did work economically.

He made it clear that they talk and have a good relationship, and the way he talked about it made it clear he was the person he was going to be working with in the future.

It was not over the top, or directly interjecting himself into it, but frankly, he was more deferential to President Obama in a manner that highlighted him as CIC than I thought he might.

I personally hate how our politics caters to israel constantly, but I thought it was a darn good speech.

[Indykatie]

13. Bibi's More Respectful Tone No Doubt Tied to Tanking Romney

Of course he was publicly respectful towards the president. He sees that he will have to deal with a second Obama term. I think he has been trying to insert himself into the political race this year and thought initially that Romney was a winner. He now sees he has a weakened hand. I do not agree with much of our Israel policy and often feel we are captive to Israeli politics. While Bibi is no dictator I dislike him almost as much as Ahmadinejad. The two of them deserve each other.

[Cosmocat]

16. I absolutely hate

that our politics is so driven by Israel.

I agree about that totally.

But, they are in a tough spot, and what he laid out about Iran's timeline with regard to being able to make a bomb fits with my understanding of it.

[CitizenPatriot]

20. It's an interesting turn

in light of the fact that his earlier public statements on TV are being used conveniently by Republicans against Obama in this election season. Bibi knows he has crossed a line with Obama. IMO he's walking it back now, and I'm not buying it.

Respect is a two way street and it's consistent. I don't see that from him right now. I support Israel, I support the Israeli people who do NOT want a war and many of whom do not agree with Bibi, but he is taking over with the Adelson free paper shoving right wing talking points down Israeli's throats.

I read somewhere today that Bibi is a mythomaniac, and I have to agree. He does nothing without an agenda, as any good politician, and this show was not about respect. He is trying to avoid crossing a line he already crossed.

[leftynyc]

14. Dictator? Get a fucking dictionary, will ya? (n/t)

[Mr.Bill]

12. The bomb diagram was very effective.

If you're eight years old.

[LittlestStar]

23. That's the level most adults operate at.

[GeorgeGist]

15. I heard people swoon ...

when Colin Powell lied US into war with Iraq.

A million dead later and he's hawking his book "It Worked for Me".

[Cosmocat]

17. Except

there IS an actual threat here.

Powell sold on a lie he did not even believe at the time.

[progressivebydesign]

18. and why is this America's problem?

Seriously. Israel is not the 51st State of America.

It's just so surreal to have a Country like Israel which treats the Palestinians like garbage and subhumans, going on TV telling us that we need to help them from another agressive country.

[realFedUp]

21. Maybe by how much we budget every year for Israel....

It is the 51st.

[Cosmocat]

22. I get

the sentiment in regard to israel having too much sway in American politics.

And, Israel has its issues with Palestine.

But, Iran is still a problem that needs addressed.

They ARE developing nuclear material to create weapons, and they are not cooperating with the international community's requests to alter the path they are on. They also are an established bad actor, and truly cannot be trusted to have nuclear weapons capacity. And, his timeline on the development of their weapons is what i understand it to be.

It is a direct threat to Israel, but also a broader threat that will cause A LOT of problems.

I like Barrack Obama a lot, and he does not let anyone pressure him.

I suspect that after the election, we will see the US work with Israel more directly in the manner that he laid out.

[realFedUp]

19. Typical posturing

Yes, we are Israel and we have nukes but we don't want
any Muslim country owning nukes. Same old, same old.