Obama's atomic umbrella: U.S. nuclear strike if Iran nukes Israel

[Deutschbag]

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1045687.html

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's administration will offer Israel a "nuclear umbrella" against the threat of a nuclear attack by Iran, a well-placed American source said earlier this week. The source, who is close to the new administration, said the U.S. will declare that an attack on Israel by Tehran would result in a devastating U.S. nuclear response against Iran.

But America's nuclear guarantee to Israel could also be interpreted as a sign the U.S. believes Iran will eventually acquire nuclear arms.
Secretary of state-designate Hillary Clinton had raised the idea of a nuclear guarantee to Israel during her campaign for the Democratic Party's nomination for the presidency. During a debate with Obama in April, Clinton said that Israel and Arab countries must be given "deterrent backing." She added, "Iran must know that an attack on Israel will draw a massive response."

Clinton also proposed that the American nuclear umbrella be extended to other countries in the region, like Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, if they agree to relinquish their own nuclear ambitions.

According to the same source, the nuclear guarantee would be backed by a new and improved Israeli anti-ballistic missile system. The Bush administration took the first step by deploying an early-warning radar system in the Negev, which hones the ability to detect Iranian ballistic missiles.

Obama said this week that he would negotiate with Iran and would offer economic incentives for Tehran to relinquish its nuclear program. He warned that if Iran refused the deal, he would act to intensify sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Granting Israel a nuclear guarantee essentially suggests the U.S. is willing to come to terms with a nuclear Iran. For its part, Israel opposes any such development and similar opposition was voiced by officials in the outgoing Bush administration.

"What is the significance of such guarantee when it comes from those who hesitated to deal with a non-nuclear Iran?" asked a senior Israeli security source. "What kind of credibility would this [guarantee have] when Iran is nuclear-capable?"

The same source noted that the fact that there is talk about the possibility of a nuclear Iran undermines efforts to prevent Tehran from acquiring such arms.

A senior Bush administration source said that the proposal for an American nuclear umbrella for Israel was ridiculous and lacked credibility. "Who will convince the citizen in Kansas that the U.S. needs to get mixed up in a nuclear war because Haifa was bombed? And what is the point of an American response, after Israel's cities are destroyed in an Iranian nuclear strike?"

The current debate is taking place in light of the Military Intelligence assessment that Iran has passed beyond the point of no return, and has mastered the technology of uranium enrichment. The decision to proceed toward the development of nuclear arms is now purely a matter for Iran's leaders to decide. Intelligence assessments, however, suggest that the Iranians are trying to first accumulate larger quantities of fissile material, and this offers a window of opportunity for a last-ditch diplomatic effort to prevent an Iranian bomb.

Looks like nothing will change when it comes to policy with Israel, of course I didn't expect otherwise with Emanuel, Biden, and Hilary at his side. I hope Obama and Hilary's diplomacy works. This can only draw more anger from extremists.

[Sam_Spade]

So much for diplomacy.

[AugustWest]

*sigh* can we wait until he drops the nukes before we go questioning Obama?

[IGOTJOINTS4YA]

Originally Posted by Sam_Spade

So much for diplomacy.

That's american politicians for you, say one thing to get elected and do another. Where's all the sheep that will justify this?

[Buzzard]

change

[stoned budda]

Is this what turret's challenged VP Biden was referring to? Is this the test that will show Obama has a spine of steel?

[Gloom]

Neither Israel or Iran are Arab countries.

[aaronman]

If there is one thing we know about our government, they love to ignore intelligence. Even though NIE reports Iran had halted their nuclear weapons program in 2003, our politicians are still yearning for war.

Outgoing US Intel Official: Iran Has Not Restarted Nuke Program


Go Obama!

[ciao stupido]

Okay, no, this is bullshit. First off, Fuck Israel, if they still got beef with Iran, then fuck them, that's their own problem. Maybe if they wern't so aggressive, there would be no beef between them. Second of all, fuck Obama, if he's gonna go through with this, that means were just one step closer to seeing the annihilation of the human race, and over what? because some country exists in the middle of nowhere desert? wtf kind of reason is that!? Damn dude, its time the people of America start to listen, and look where this is going. None of our politicians are listening to us anymore, they're just in it for themselves. Riots in Greece are only the beginning, Its our duty as a democratic nation to kick out the government if it is failing us, well, nows the time, fight back, riot, everywhere across America, we need to do this if Obamas plan for change is to fight one nuke with even more nukes. Comeon guys this is our time to stand up, make them listen to us in one united voice, don't let it pass by, otherwise we may all be dead by then.

[Nosketch78]

Israel is a failed state. It never could have succeeded, and its time that it is put to rest before millions are killed due to political games.

[poseidon0513]

well we would obviously have to do something if israel was attacked...they are our allies and if we sit back and do nothing a negative global image may be projected

[aaronman]

Originally Posted by Nosketch78

Israel is a failed state. It never could have succeeded, and its time that it is put to rest before millions are killed due to political games.

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

All Israel has to do is go back to 1948 borders, follow UN resolutions 194 and 242, and share 'Al Quds' or Jerusalem with the natives and there would be no problem.

They have been run by an idiotic regime, supported by America, which will not make appeasements for peace. The solutions are so simple, and the majority of Jewish Israelis even agree with the terms of the 1992 Oslo accord which never went into effect.

To quote Ahmidinejad, the occupying regime needs to vanish from the pages of time.

[Nosketch78]

Originally Posted by aaronman

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

All Israel has to do is go back to 1948 borders, follow UN resolutions 194 and 242, and share 'Al Quds' or Jerusalem with the natives and there would be no problem.

They have been run by an idiotic regime, supported by America, which will not make appeasements for peace. The solutions are so simple, and the majority of Jewish Israelis even agree with the terms of the 1992 Oslo accord which never went into effect.

To quote Ahmidinejad, the occupying regime needs to vanish from the pages of time.

Israel will never give up any land to the Palestinians. And even if they did, the rest of the middle east will never accept even their reduced existence as a state on their holy land.

1948 was before the rise of radical Islam. Things are different now buddy.

[IGOTJOINTS4YA]

Originally Posted by Gloom

Neither Israel or Iran are Arab countries.

yeah us in the west forget that Iran even though have arab traites they are truely persian which is a slight difference.

Originally Posted by Nosketch78

Israel will never give up any land to the Palestinians. And even if they did, the rest of the middle east will never accept even their reduced existence as a state on their holy land.

1948 was before the rise of radical Islam. Things are different now buddy.

Radical religion has been around since before the dark ages, it has only been since 911 we have tried tagging on religion with radicals. Aaronman is right, you are talking pretty nieve when it comes to this subject, there are probly just as many radical christians who feel the need to protect Israel is on the top of our list and would advocate nuclear war. The fact is 99% of the middle east would be more than happy with israel if they went back to there 48' borders, the other 1% would be ignored and life would move on.

[aaronman]

Originally Posted by Nosketch78

Israel will never give up any land to the Palestinians. And even if they did, the rest of the middle east will never accept even their reduced existence as a state on their holy land.

1948 was before the rise of radical Islam. Things are different now buddy.

Where do you get your sources, the White House press release?

According to an Al-Najah University study the majority of Palestinians support Israeli withdrawal, and would be happy with it. Over 70% support a ceasefire. You think the families over there enjoy the violence? Are they all radical Islams to you?

The only thing different today is the use of anti-Palestinian propaganda on simpletons.