Emanuel: Thwarting Iran hinges on Israeli-Palestinian talks

[ironhorsedriver]

Thwarting Iran's nuclear program is conditional on progress in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, according to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Israeli TV reports said Monday that Emanuel made the comments in a closed-door meeting the previous day with 300 major AIPAC donors.

Last month, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Israel that it risks losing Arab support for combating threats from Iran if it rejects peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

Clinton said Arab nations had conditioned helping Israel counter Iran on Jerusalem's commitment to the peace process.

link


Rahm Emanuel says no help on Iranian Nukes, unless Israel starts talks with Palastinians.

[Mr Mannn]

Hmmm. Do as we say or we allow your enemies to utterly annihilate you.
I never thought I would hear the US threaten Israel with a second genocide.

This should clue Israel in. Take out Iran on your own and dictate terms to Washington for a change.

[thundley4]

If Israel is smart and I think they are, they no longer will give the US much, if any prior notice of their intended military actions regarding Iran or any other country.

[Carl]

This is just plain sadistic.

Negotiate with an enemy that has sworn your annihilation and we will play nice with another enemy that has sworn the same.

Israel is not stupid and knows that despite lib naivete,the Islamists can never be trusted on that issue as it is sacred dogma to them.

[Attero Dominatus]

I hope Israel just Ignores Obama and his cronies and does what is necessary for survival.

[Sam Adams]

I hope Israel just Ignores Obama and his cronies and does what is necessary for survival.

Me too.

Say what you want about Obama and Emanuel. They certainly know how to play hardball.

But who thinks the US can influence Iran anyway? Iran is not going to give up its nuclear program just because we ask them to do so. Even when Bush was president, there was not much we could do. But now, the situation is worse, because the US grows weaker by the day. Israel needs to defend itself, and hope for a better administration in Washington someday soon.

[DumbAss Tanker]

The Jerusalem Post story at the link is somewhat ambiguous.  I can't really tell if Rahmbo is saying I-P progress is a touchstone and prerequisite for US support, or whether he only meant it was essential before any of the Arab countries would back sanctions against Iran.  I tend to think it is the latter, since that is pretty much a statement of fact, while the first would be a huge policy shift on our part.

[Sam Adams]

The Jerusalem Post story at the link is somewhat ambiguous.  I can't really tell if Rahmbo is saying I-P progress is a touchstone and prerequisite for US support, or whether he only meant it was essential before any of the Arab countries would back sanctions against Iran.  I tend to think it is the latter, since that is pretty much a statement of fact, while the first would be a huge policy shift on our part.

You may be right. On the other hand, this president is not above throwing anyone under the bus. It's a wild guess on my part, but I think Emanuel is basically saying, "Look, we would like to help you, but peace in the Middle East requires Arab support, so we will try to fulfill their wishes. You are either on board this bus, or under it." Yeah, it's a major policy change, but these people think the US has been completely wrong until now anyway.

[jediab]

Speaking from a religous point of view, I believe more and more that Obama will be the American President who abandons Isreal. The Bible says that in the end times, Isreal will stand alone.

[Bluesuiter-Retired]

Not a bible thumper mind you, but doesn't the good book spell out that Armagedon will begin there?

It is very feasible that "the dear leader" will turn his back on Israel and ignore iran getting a nuke and using it on Israel.  Israel will respond in kind, but will take ERASE every a-rab urban center in iran and syria from the map.

GAME OVER

[jediab]

Not a bible thumper mind you, but doesn't the good book spell out that Armagedon will begin there?

Isreal will be the focal point for most of what goes on during the Armagedon.

It makes sense that once Isreal stands alone, without the support of the US, she will be vulnerable. That would create a very tempting target for those who want Isreal destroyed.

[Sam Adams]

Isreal will be the focal point for most of what goes on during the Armagedon.

It makes sense that once Isreal stands alone, without the support of the US, she will be vulnerable. That would create a very tempting target for those who want Isreal destroyed.

This is bad theology. The dispensationalist view of eschatology is wrong.

[ReaganForRushmore]

Me too.

Say what you want about Obama and Emanuel. They certainly know how to play hardball.

But who thinks the US can influence Iran anyway? Iran is not going to give up its nuclear program just because we ask them to do so. Even when Bush was president, there was not much we could do. But now, the situation is worse, because the US grows weaker by the day. Israel needs to defend itself, and hope for a better administration in Washington someday soon.

Yeah, playing hardball will get millions killed......There can be no peace in the Middle East until one side wins. A nuclear Iran will not stop with Israel, it wants to establish the Caliphate with Iran leading......madness while BO fiddles

[USA4ME]

It's Reuters, so take it for what it's worth.

Israel would inform, not ask U.S. before hitting Iran

(snip)

So while no one questions Israel's willingness to attack should it deem U.S.-led talks on curbing Iranian uranium enrichment a dead end, such strikes would almost certainly entail at least last-minute coordination with Washington.

Israel would want to ensure that its jets would not be shot down by accident if overflying U.S.-occupied Iraq, and to give Americans in the Gulf forewarning of possible Iranian reprisals.

"Whether or not Israel got the green light from Washington to attack Iran is almost immaterial, as everybody in the region would believe that the U.S. was complicit," said Karim Sadjadpour of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

One U.S. diplomat envisaged Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak telephoning Pentagon chief Robert Gates, unannounced, "to give a heads-up and explain" once the mission were under way.

Gates and the U.S. military brass have voiced distaste for pre-emptive strikes on Iran, which says its uranium enrichment is for legitimate electricity production, not weapons. But their public comments have acknowledged that Israel could break rank.

"I do not doubt that Israel will do what it thinks it needs to do, regardless of whether the U.S. approves," said Mark Fitzpatrick, non-proliferation expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

"Israel would seek forgiveness, not permission."

A retired Israeli general who advises the government on strategic issues suggested there was a tacit synchronicity in recent messages about Iran from Israel and the United States:

"The Israeli threat adds urgency to Obama's calls for diplomatic engagement, and should Israel take things into its hands, the Americans retain wriggle room, some deniability."

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE54523R20090506?sp=true

I do think Israel would tell Dear Leader to shove it, and they should, as should everyone.

.

[Sam Adams]

The worst aspect of all this is that Iran may interpret Obama's remarks as some sort of green light to attack Israel. Obama has made war in the Middle East more likely. I hope that is not his actual intention.