Did you see this? Apparently Bush convinced Israel not to attack Iran in 2008.

[Danger Mouse]

:scared:
What the hell is Israel thinking? What are we coming to when BUSH is the one being rational and putting a stop to this nonsense?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/11/iran.israel.nuclear/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. Part of me believes this Gaza offensive is timed precisely as to rope Obama into it.

I may or may not be a lunatic, but it seems plausible, no?

[Danger Mouse]

2. I've also heard speculation that they're doing it NOW...because Obama might tell them to stop.

[truebrit71]

16. Yep. That's the way I see it too...

...they KNEW that Obama would have told them to knock it off if they had tried it on his watch...

[AZBlue]

23. I've heard the same - and every day it seems more and more like that.

[Bluzmann57]

5. Yep. It has to be some kind of conspiracy

against the incomong administration. Or here's another theory. Israel just doesn't give a damn what the rest of the world thinks and will do anything to prevent their country from becoming extinct.

[EconomicLiberal]

9. Isreal is is in no danger of becoming extinct.

More hyperbole from the Isreal apologists.

[Bluzmann57]

11. Maybe not

But not everything is some type of sinister conspiracy as some around here think. And that was my point.
And it's spelled Israel. I didn't invent it, but that's how it is.

[oberliner]

12. Might want to learn to spell the name of the country you are talking about

Got it wrong both times.

[EconomicLiberal]

13. Yeah, I accidentally switched the 'a' and the 'e'

Big fucking deal. Everybody knew what I meant. This is a common tactic the Israel apologists use to excuse their hyperbole.

[Danger Mouse]

15. There are plenty of people in the Arab world who would like to see Israel wiped off the map.

There are a few people on DU who would like to see Israel wiped off the map.
That's the cold truth.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

26. Israel is absolutely not going to become extinct.

Gee, with your comment, you must have loved the last 8 years of Bush. He surely didn't give a damn what the rest of the world thought either.

[Hippo_Tron]

7. Also because of the Israeli elections coming up

Although in that case I can't say it's entirely morally unjustified. If Netanyahu wins then things will be a lot worse than they are now.

[Danger Mouse]

10. Our actions might influence who wins in Israel...

the last thing we want is a reactionary.

[liberalmuse]

8. Absofuckinglutely.

Same thoughts here. It's like some sick, frat boy hazing. "Let's fuck with the freshman".

[bluestateguy]

3. Looks like he decided to take a pass on that war with Iran the neo-cons wanted

and if that is the case, then I am compelled to cough up (a small bit of) praise.

[Danger Mouse]

6. Heh, seems like 2008 marked the only times when Bush was ever right about anything.

[Ichingcarpenter]

I give credit to ADM Michael Mullen putting his foot down on this

and even went public stopping it as chairman of the joint chiefs.

Don't forget this was when the 7 missing nukes fiasco was going on at the same time.

I considered those times very dangerous and Mullen put a stop to the Iran nonsense.

[grantcart]

14. When the 'insider' books are written I am guessing that Gates will

have also been shown to give Bush an ultimatum.

[Ichingcarpenter]

18. I was gonna add Gates .... We remember the hysterical media rhetoric

about Iran coming out of the MSM that late fall to early winter. The story said
'early' 2008 this happened so it does coincide to preparation needed and
what was occurring in stories that you had to filter out. A lot of coincidental deaths
also surrounding those stories too.

I believe both men refused to play along with it and only stopped Bush (the neo-cons) because
of their power in the Defense Department.

It will be interesting to see the story when it finally comes out.
And then the 'real' story comes out years later.

I believe it will be more than just the Israeli connection pushing the Iranian incursion. This is why,
I think Obama kept Gates on for now because of his actions back then.

Bush had nothing to do with it. There was a power play going on and
almost an insurrection within the Defense Department between the opposing factions.

[windbreeze]

28. I absolutely believe Gates said NO WAY....n/t

[Mz Pip]

4. He still has a few days left.

I can only hope he can maintain that rationality for a few more days.

[Uzybone]

17. The story was a bit surprising

But I guess even Bush knows when his political capital has been completely expended.

[Pierre.Smooth]

19. Interesting

Thanks for the link.

[Danger Mouse]

21. You're welcome, and welcome to DU, also.

:hi:

[democrat2thecore]

20. After Rumsfeld was fired he changed a lot

If you think about it, he's pissed Dick Cheney and the neocons off on just about every foreign policy decision since Rumsfeld was axed. Cheney no longer had his ear 24/7 and that has shown.

[Occam Bandage]

24. And a good part of that is Gates. Gates is the real deal. nt

[ecstatic]

22. As the world's economies crash, WW3 is exactly what we need

:eyes: :puke:

[merh]

25. Sure GWB told Israel that

and there were WMDs in Iraq. :sarcasm:

I don't believe it, it is just part of the planned violence - Bush is allowing this (he called Condi and told her not to vote in favor of the cease fire) and it is being done for the greatest damage before Obama takes office. They are saying Bush talked Israel out of attacking Iran so he can have a legacy.

the asshole is a liar.

[nyccitizen]

27. Israel wanted to destroy their nuclear facilities, not invade...

We're not talking some kind of Iraq-style invasion. And it was a similar attack by Israel on Iraq's burgeoning nuclear program in the '80s that set Iraq's nuclear program back decades.

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