Israel pressures Bush to Bomb Iran...

[Imagevision]

Bush is coming under enormous pressure from Israel - and from Israel's neoconservative friends inside and outside the US administration - to harden still further his stance toward Iran.

They want the American president to commit himself to bombing Iran if it does not give up its program of uranium enrichment - and to issue a clear ultimatum to Tehran that he is prepared to do so.

They argue that mere rhetoric - such as Bush's recent diatribe, in which he compared Iran to al-Qaeda - is not enough, and might even be counter-productive, as it might encourage the Iranians to think that America's bark is worse than its bite.

Hard-liners in Israel and the United States believe that only military action, or the credible threat of it, will now prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, with all that this would mean in terms of Israel's security and the balance of power in the strategically vital Middle East.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=5&article_id=75489

Is this the October surprise?

[PCIntern]

1. Now there's a source...

:sarcasm:

[tularetom]

2. Maybe they can subliminably play for him

that old Beach Boy's song parody from the '80's? I'm beginning to wonder if Israel has the best interests of the US at heart.

[JohnyCanuck]

7. As I see it,

Israel has Israel's best interest at heart. Period. End of story. Israel's main concern as far as US well being goes, is to ensure the US taxpayer funded gravy train keeps rolling on.

[Scurrilous]

3. Jewish heavy-hitters swing at Iran

<snip>

"The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs announced Tuesday that it had enlisted Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel and internationally renowned lawyers Irwin Cotler and Alan Dershowitz to its campaign to expel Iran from the United Nations.

The JCPA will be circulating a document at the UN calling for Iran's ouster based on the UN Charter, which says that member states "that have persistently violated the principles contained in the present charter" can be removed.

The JCPA is maintaining that Iran has violated the convention against genocide by its threats to Israel and pursuit of nuclear weapons, as well as abrogated the foundational charter's requirement that member countries "refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has indicated he plans to addess the UN General Assembly in the near future, even as the United States considers imposing sanctions for its pursuit of a nuclear program."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1157913616078&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[Hugin]

4. Hmm... I wonder if they realize

"refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state."

After Iraq, this same argument could be used against the U.S. as well... Those who live in
glass houses, etc.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Not to mention a recent excursion into Lebanon.

Seems like I recall a bit of a "..use of force against the territorial integrity.." there.

[Bucky]

6. I really hope Elie Wiesel hasn't tumbled into bed w/these neocons

Expell Iran from the UN? What on earth could possibly come of this effort? And with all due respect to the JCPA, a cricket doesn't threaten to toss a tiger out of the zoo.

[Bucky]

8. Israel may just attack Iran. I'm certain the US won't--and probably can't

The retaliation would be swift and deadly. We've got too much equipment floating in the Persian Gulf in range of their missiles. It would be a worse miscalculation than Iraq by several factors.

[garywild]

9. Give I'm Some

I can think of several places beside IRAN that need some nuclear weapons. The US should give them some for free. The only requirement is that we should have a self destruct mechanism and keep those codes secret. Just for future reference of course.

[tnlefty]

10. Welcome to DU, garywild!

:hi: