If we allow Israel to attack Iran

[pscot]

Should President Obama return the Nobel Peace Prize?

[tabatha]

1. Obama does NOT want an attack on Iran.

Period.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

18. Exactly

[eridani]

29. True, but there has been pressure to attack from neocons for many years

So far sanity has won out, but only constant public attention to the issue will make sure that that remains the case.

[Warren DeMontague]

2. How about if we allow Iran to build a nuclear weapon?

Seems to me it's a shitty set of circumstances all the way around.

[sabrina 1]

7. How about we mind our own business. Who made us king of the world? The only ones

threatening anyone, are the ones WITH the nukes, that would be us and Israel. We are the threat, not Iran and the whole world knows it.

What this tells everyone is that they better start arming themselves with Nukes because the principle threat to the world regarding invading other countries right now, the US, only invades countries, like Iran, that does not have them.

Even Bush apparently refused Cheney's demands to invade Iran. Insane as he was it seems some sanity penetrated his brain and in the end, made one good decision. Let's hope this president does the same.

If Israel wants to start a war with Iran, let them do it on their own, and let them know they cannot count on the US wasting more lives because of their stupidity. Also to deter any such c craziness, end any funding they get from the US. We don't need WW111 at this point, although the Banksters who cannot clean up their mess, might like the distraction, especially since their lives won't be on the line.

[Warren DeMontague]

9. the phrasing of the OP presumed we'd "allow" Israel to attack.

I'm sure if Israel attacks Iran, it won't be positioned as something we "allowed".

But beyond that, you know, good luck with your list of demands, there.

[pscot]

19. Israel is our client state

we pay their military budget. Whatever they do has our dirty fingerprints all over it.

[tabatha]

24. Please listen to Chris Mathews show from today.

There is much to be learned about a complex situation.

There are a lot of people including the military in Israel who do not want to attack Iran.

[JSnuffy]

13. We will help 'cut out the cancer of Israel'

Don't kid yourself about who is threatening who...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9059179/Iran-We-will-help-cut-out-the-cancer-of-Israel.html

[Bobcat]

15. They better start arming themselves with Nukes

Iran would only be following Kissinger's (and his hero Metternich) fundamental principle of foreign policy. They would be seeking a "balance of power" between themselves and Israel.

[nanabugg]

13. That would be a great idea! then nobody would start any crap with anybody else.

Had Saddam had a nuke, do you think we would have invaded? Nobody's talking about invading Pakistan, India, or even N. Korea for that matter. Iran needs to protect itself from the only nations to bomb another nation unprovoked.

[Stratetalker]

3. I would submit

That Israel would do whatever they feel they need to do...in spite of what we think, not because of what we think....

[trof]

4. Allow? Seriously?

Israel is a loose cannon.
We can't 'allow' them to do anything.

[Poll_Blind]

5. Well, as critical as I am of the President he doesn't have much of a choice in the matter.

He can do what he can do but remember, the current Israeli government is arguably the most conservative ever with downright bigots such as Avigdor Lieberman in the cabinet and Netanyahu at the helm. Netanyahu would love nothing more than to see Obama tossed out in the 2012 elections and he can potentially precipitate a showdown between Obama and Israel by launching military action against Iran and then calling the President and essentially saying "So what are you going to do about it? If you want to be re-elected in 2012, you'll throw in with us on this."

Even if "throwing in" could lead to a regional war or a situation even more dangerous.

I pin a lot of shit on Obama because he's responsible for a lot of shit. But on this point, with what I believe I know of the situation, Obama is not behind an Israeli first strike against Iran.

If it should come to pass that the President is confronted with such a situation, he had better do some clear thinking about what he's willing to do next.

PB

[pscot]

20. Ah, the poor, pitiful helpless President

[Poll_Blind]

22. Well, if you believe Obama has all sorts of power over Israel, give us some details HOW. nt

PB

[Safetykitten]

28. He singlehandedly made the unemployment rate go down. War? Sorry...no can do.

[bluestateguy]

6. We cannot "allow" or "not allow" a nation to defend itself

That will be their prerogative as a sovereign nation.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

32. pre-emtivly attacking somebody is defense? who knew n/t

[gateley]

8. If we "allow" Israel to attack Iran? We're not the boss of Israel.

I don't think Netenyahu would ask for our permission. And if he he did and we said please don't, I don't think that would stop him if that was the goal.

[Motown_Johnny]

11. +1

[chowder66]

10. Gen. Martin Dempsey reportedly warned Israeli leaders last month that the U.S. would not participate

..."Panetta, speaking in Brussels yesterday, refused to comment on Ignatius’s column but told reporters that “Israel has indicated they are considering this, and we have indicated our concerns.” The Associated Press reported Panetta’s comments in an article emphasizing that “Israel’s major allies in the West are working hard to talk it out of a unilateral military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, arguing forcefully that an attack ultimately would strengthen, not weaken, the regime in Tehran.” And in a seeming effort to deter an attack, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey reportedly warned Israeli leaders last month that the U.S. would not participate in a war against Iran initiated by Israel. "....

more at the link

http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/02/03/417988/israeli-us-officials-serious-reservations/

[sabrina 1]

17. Good, I hope they stick to that.

The American people cannot afford another war. Anyone who wants to start one, better do it on their own and take the consequences, using their own troops, not ours, enough of whom have died for all the wrong reasons.

[chowder66]

23. It's definately worth paying attention to carefully. eom

[slay]

12. We have to make it clear to Israel we do not support them attacking Iran - and we will not help them

i think that's probably the most we can do.

[lunatica]

16. WTF?!

I don't follow your logic at all.

[pscot]

21. I believe you.

[cliffordu]

25. Please explain how "we" allow Israel to attack anyone??

[L0oniX]

26. The Nobel Peace Prize means less than nothing at this point in time. n/t

[RZM]

27. And how would we stop them?

Short of using force ourselves? Seems like that would be an even bigger reason to revoke the prize.

Israel will do what they want and at the end of the day, Obama won't be able to do much to stop it. If they decide to do it, that's what will happen.

Israel is definitely not a US 'client state.' The US supports Israel, but we are not Israel's boss. Given that the administration is opposed to a strike, we very well end up finding out exactly how far our influence goes. My guess is not nearly as far as some seem to think.

[Nye Bevan]

30. If we allow Iraq to stockpile WMDs.....

this "not allow" stuff usually ends badly.

[sendero]

31. "Allow"..

.... I don't want to control the actions of Israel any more than I want Israel to control the actions of the US.

My assessment of the situation is that this is Israel's problem and they are free to deal with it in any way that does not involve us.

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. I know there is this illusion that we dictate all bidness round the world

It might come as a shock, but influence does not translate into dictating policy on a sovereign state.