By: Jeffrey Klein
Examiner.com
The White House meeting today, between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama, may be their last before Israel decides to unilaterally launch a military strike against Iran’s feared nuclear facilities–before its’ “window of opportunity” would be closed forever.
President Obama assured Netanyahu that the United States “will always have Israel’s back” even while pursuing a “window that allows for a diplomatic resolution.” And shared that … “When I say all options are on the table–I mean it. Having said that, I know both the prime minister and I prefer to solve this diplomatically,” according to a FOXNews article this afternoon.
Although Netanyahu acknowledged his gratitude–he made his position crystal clear by saying that Israel will be the “master of its fate.”
“Israel must have the ability always to defend itself, by itself, against any threat–[the] sovereign right to make its own decisions. I believe that’s why you appreciate, Mr. President … that’s the very purpose of the Jewish state: to restore to the Jewish people control over our destiny,” Netanyahu said.
The problem for Israel is that its non-nuclear weapons systems would become ineffective the moment after Iran moved its nuclear manufacturing elements into hardened subterranean facilities–after that the Jewish state would be totally dependent upon Barack Obama’s judgment for the protection of their country.
And, Benjamin Netanyahu has no greater trust in Obama’s foreign policy judgment than most everyone here in the U.S.–particularly in view of the forces that are publicly squaring off against Israel.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, an Obama appointee, recently stated that “the Iranian regime is a rational actor and it’s for that reason, I think, that we think the current path on Iran is the most prudent path at this point,” according to a February 22, 2012 Virtual Jerusalem article.
That is a scary conclusion given that for decades Iran has publicly threatened to wipe Israel off the face of the map.
If that language is not unsettling enough, having Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov warn Israel not to attack Iran over its nuclear program is down right onerous.
“Of course any possible military scenario against Iran will be catastrophic for the region and for the whole system of international relations. Therefore, I hope Israel understands all [of] these consequences … and they should also consider the consequences of such action for themselves,” Gatilov said at a news conference.
U.K. Foreign Minister Douglas Hague claimed, from a very safe distance, that … “I don’t think a wise thing at this moment is for Israel to launch a military attack on Iran … the … world should be giving a real chance to the … very serious economic sanctions and … the readiness to negotiate with Iran.”
France’s Nicolas Sarkozy, who is also facing reelection now, said earlier this month that “the solution is never military.”
If the United States had used these criteria for decision making during World War II, all of Europe and Russia would be speaking German now.
Finally, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano, said recently [that] … “The agency continues to have serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program,” as he acknowledged failure in his latest attempt to probe such suspicions, while listing recent atomic advances by Iran.
Regardless of the Russian sabre-rattling and benign neglect of China, I suggest that they are really the “rational actors” in this theatre, not Iran, because they have bright futures that are largely, and ironically, tied to their commerce with the United States and Europe.
The fact of the matter is that the longer President Obama waits to lay out “red-lines” for Iran–the more likely it is that unilateral military actions by Prime Minister Netanyahu will force the hand of the U.S. into the immediate implementation of a defense shield for Israel.
Perhaps Barack Obama wants to vote “present” this time too, and abdicate the Iran “trigger” to Netanyahu–who would like to see a freeze of the troubling “Arab Spring,” as well.
Copyright (c) 2012 by Jeffrey Klein
