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Jim R. Bounds / AP
This week's postponement of joint military maneuvers - and sharp remarks in Washington disowning the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist which many suspect was the work of Israeli agents - have fueled speculation that General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, may be flying in from Europe to lay down the law and rein in his close ally.
The United States' top military officer arrives in Israel on Thursday as the allies coordinate efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program - and play down suggestions they are at odds on strategy.
The United States, which is leading Western pressure on Tehran to curb controversial uranium enrichment, has voiced concern that the Israelis could attack their foe preemptively and deepen instability in an already volatile region.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a flashpoint and now tensions could escalate beyond angry rhetoric. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
This week's postponement of joint military maneuvers - and sharp remarks in Washington disowning the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist which many suspect was the work of Israeli agents - have fueled speculation that General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, may be flying in from Europe to lay down the law and rein in his close ally.
Officials on both sides rejected that idea: "Chiefs of staff deal with preparing their militaries for various options," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Wednesday.
"They don't deal in passing diplomatic messages."
Barak also said that any decision about an Israeli attack on Iran was "very far off." Like the United States, Israel does not believe Iranian assurances that its nuclear research has no military purpose. It says it would use force to prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring atomic weapons that Israel believes would threaten the survival of the Jewish state.
Along with an unusually dovish comment last week from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that U.S.-led economic sanctions against Iran appeared to be having an effect, Barak's remarks appeared designed to counter suggestions that Israel was losing patience with U.S. President Barack Obama's diplomatic approach.
Both sides also insisted that they postponed a joint air defense exercise, planned for May, for operational reasons that were entirely unrelated to the situation with Iran.
Tehran claims it has strong evidence that this week's attack on one of its nuclear scientists was planned and coordinated by the CIA. NBC's Ali Arouzi reports.
A record of barely concealed friction between Netanyahu's right-wing coalition and the Democrat in the White House has added to speculation about differences over Iran - differences which are now particularly sensitive as Obama campaigns for re-election in November and faces criticism from some U.S. voters for lacking vigor in his support for Israel.
Barak further played down the importance of Dempsey's first visit to Israel in his current capacity by noting that, as Israeli defense minister, he was in regular direct contact with his U.S. counterpart, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
"The dialogue between us is conducted on the basis of mutual respect," Barak said. "This administration gives unprecedented support to Israel's defense establishment."
A U.S. official said that Dempsey, who was to arrive on Thursday evening for a stopover after a European trip, was "meeting with counterparts and important close allies, regardless of any current political situations." He will leave again on Friday as Israel shuts down for the Jewish sabbath.
Iran denies seeking the bomb, but its secretive nuclear projects and advances in ballistic missile development have drawn international censure and sanctions. The U.S. navy has also maneuvered in the Gulf in the face of an Iranian threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic oil-export channel.
Israel, which is presumed to have the only nuclear arsenal in the Middle East, has urged Washington to stiffen penalties on Iran's energy sector and central bank, and hinted it could resort to unilateral attacks if it deems diplomacy a dead end.
Such differences between the allies have been seized upon by Obama's Republican rivals ahead of this year's presidential election. The incumbent says he is determined to rein in Iran and has sought to burnish his pro-Israel credentials.
Israel celebrated Tuesday the homecoming of Corporal Gilad Shalit, after it agreed to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in return. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports.
A senior Israeli official played down the unilateral Israeli "military option" on Thursday and appealed to U.S. interests in a Middle East where the popular Arab uprisings have shaken U.S.-aligned leaders, some of whom, like those in the Gulf, share Israeli and Western views of Iran as a threat.
"America is, to my regret, perceived in the Arab world as a country that has become weak and may be unable to provide them with the protection they desire in the face of Iran," Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor told Army Radio.
Should the Obama administration succeed in rolling back such perceptions among its Arab allies, Meridor said, it "would shore up their status, which is so important -- important for them and, by the way, for us -- in the Arab world."
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Leave a Comment:
The best thing that can happen to Iran is that its government is overthrown. I am not holding my breath.
Derek,
I'm writing this with great care, what makes you the arbiter of what's best for 75 million people? Their government can benefit from a few modifications, but so can ours. Iran is not some banana republic and this is not the 50's.
Last time US helped Shah overthrow a democratically elected government in Iran (to benefit US oil companies) things got nasty very quickly, eventually leading to an Islamic revolution in Iran
I bet you we're scolding Israel for using fake US passports in the killing of the Iranian scientist thus endangering US citizens, that is the reason the military exercise was cancelled. Or something close to it, like stop the assassinations since we and Britain condemned it
If our news media was not afraid of the jew powers the title should be
"US scolds Israel" . All our allies would have received a news headline
I hope it is about a US scolding being delivered to Israel, Gina, and not about starting a joint military action against Iran. Last thing we want is yet another war on money borrowed from China that our grandchildren will be paying for all their lives.
Yet Obama has been assassinating people. Like the American-born cleric in Yemen, hit by a hellfire missile launched from a drone.
And some voters feel that as the recipient of the largest share of U.S. foreign and military aid, Israel has attempted to take unfair advantage of our relationship, and has lacked vigor in their support of the U.S.
Lets face it folks !!!!
The pot has begun to simmer and as we all know . That ain't good !!!!
An interesting point. A crippling lien, really. I mean, if we were to prosecute a war that China opposed, they could simply stop buying our debt and we'd be stalled. I never thought about it before, but to a very large extent, China controls the US military. I doubt very much that US citizens would be particularly eager to buy US War Bonds like they did in WW2...
Reigning in Israel isn't even a consideration. Israel does what Israel needs to do and what Israel wants to do. And if the powers in Washington have a problem with anything Israel does they certainly don't need to send anyone to shake their finger at them in person. Iran has belligerently made the now famous remark that Israel needs to be removed from the map (in so many words.) Iran's fingerprints are also all over the map worldwide garnering friends from China to better than half the countries in South America. Reports of Iran making contacts with Mexican Drug Cartel heads were recently shared with the heads of Homeland Security. There are also indications that Hugo Chavez will offer Iran places to deploy Medium and Long Range Missiles in his country. Not that all of this has anything to do with Israel but it certainly shows Iran's intent worldwide and Israel certainly isn't excluded from Iran's Plans for Israel.
Your avatar says a lot about you as a human, and that isn't anything good. Do your homework and read history, we tried this in 1953, and it caused immense blow-back.
Second best is for Israel to drop a special egg over there so they, Iranians, learn not to play with the big boy's toys. It's out of their league.
Hey,
Gina-1764361, just what are your views about Jews? I see from some of your comments there might be just a bit of Jew-hater in you. I am surprised that other people commenting here haven't taken you to task for your bigoted remarks. Some of your remarks even suggest that you might have some sympathy for Iran. If you must take exception to what countries may have done, then stick to the facts rather than the tired old blame the Jew game.
Israel today said through their minister of defense that as long as the Atomic inspectors from the U.N have access to all sites and can do their work they won`t attack But it looks dark as they insulted the head inspecor who is Japanese and no friend of the U.S If Iran continues its hiding of the bomb sites.Israel will justifably attack and with the help of several countries.Iran is cornered and is ostracized even by their former "friends" If the inspectors leave without finishing their searches which must be complete or if they ar expelled.then Iran willl be attacked and justifiably so...And most of the world willl cheer.Even Arab and other Muslim countries!!
Observations!
The Straight of Hormuz is a major choke point but it will not arrest entirely the flow of oil past the grip of the Iranians. There is a major pipeline that flows from Abu Dahbi to Fujairah. This is about 70 miles off the tip of Oman at the tightest point in the Straight. It will not flow 15 million barrels per day but I would imagine it could flow nearly half of that and within 3-4 months we would have either the Straight open or another pipe flowing alongside. So, Iran is a no issue in the long run and in the short run everybody's enemy. Oil reaches $200, settles around $150 and eventually returns to $120ish. The rest of the world recognizes the risk of dependency and we see significant changes in the use of oil in our everyday needs.
Now, while all attention is on the south of Iran, Israel is demolishing the entire Nuclear ambitions of Iran. The war on the south destroys the ability to market a product they can't produce, "Oil" and the government is overthrown. In the midst of all this, Syria creates a new government and the region begins to cool off. The economy of Iran seizes and the support of Hezbollah and the other radicals ends. Lot's of things improve and the region enjoys stability which makes the world a better place.
Is Iran dumb enough or desperate enough? Well, they are about to experience a severe economic blow and if they do attempt to block the straight that will be the death blow to the radical regime and the zealot mullahs. Hopefully Iran will recover and the people will enjoy a real life without the extremes of the zealot rule.
@martin bart
The inspectors from UN should also inspect the nuclear stockpile of the zionist rogue state and demand its elimination so that a nuclaear-free middle east will prevail.
Henrich,
Great idea. Remove the only stabilizing entity and we will have peace like you've never seen and never will see. I don't think that's a good idea.
Let Israel fight their own wars. The USA can not afford another war..
So you think the best course of action is to bury your head in the sand on this one and just hope for the best after Iran acquires the nuclear weapons and deterrent that they're currently working towards?
@Sono
Guess what, sooner or later every nation will reach a point where they will obtain nukes.
It's the funniest thing when the US tries to defend Israel who has plenty of nukes and economic/global power bully lesser nations but sure don't have the balls to stand up to Pakistan/China/NK. When the USA disarms their own nukes, then we can start talking but we all know that will never happen in the name of "national defense". It's the exact same excuse Iran has; national defense since their enemies have nukes and they don't.
Israel has Nukes but they are not using them to destroy Iran or calling for the destruction of that @!$%# Hole Country.
The Iranians have killed lot's of Americans or did you forget that part.
big al claims that Iran has used weapons of mass destruction to kill Americans ... stop lying will ya!
Big Al, The Iranians have killed lots of Americans???? When did this happen??? Please provide evidence of this...I was not aware.......T
Iran has no ability to attack the US, Iran has never attacked the US Homeland.....nor have they threatend the US...
You comment that Iran has called for the destruction of Israel has been debunked many times and is patently false.......There are over one hundred thousand Jews living in Iran who refuse to live anywhere else and are not persecuted in any way....if Iran wanted to kill Jews why wouldnt they just start whacking the ones that live within arms reach inside Iran ??
Big Al-369306...define lots of Americans. As for not using nukes to destroy Iran, all you hear is Israel say they reserve the right to use force to stop Iran from developing their nuclear program.
Iran played a role in the bombing of the US Marine barracks, killing 241 Americans. Iran provides sophisticated EFPs to Iraqi insurgents, and supports Hesb'Allah and Hamas. Iran assists Syria, and works through them to repress Lebanon.
Steven B.......so the United States illegally invades a soverign nation based on a lie or faulty intelligence kills a couple of hundred thousand innocent civilians in Iraq...then you complain when a neighboring country who feels in might be next on the list for invasion provides IED support to the Iraqis??? The hypocracy here is stunning....
Hezbollah is a perfectlly legal political party and legitimate restistance movement in Lebanon and Iran has every right to support them...just as your own country has supported resistance movments around the globe to further its interests..... If you want to find the biggest recruitment agent for Hezbollah you need look no further than Israel, every brutal invasion and attack on Lebanon has served to swell its ranks. Your double standards are incredible. Not a word about US support for Israel the invader and bomber of Lebanon. Israel the killer of Lebanese civilians. Not a word about the illegal and brutal military occupation paid for and supported by US dollars. But should a powerless people fight back and, god forbid.....
Iran assists Syria.........just like your own country assists Israel, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and a couple of hundred other countries around the globe.....Iran has every right to form alliances with countries to further their interests..... and No steve they do not need permission from Washington....
Steven wrote -Iran played a role in the bombing of the US Marine barracks --
Oh really Steven? Where is your proof? Allegations are not proof. All you are doing is reciting Israeli propaganda. You have no proof Iran ever provided one weapon to Iraq. If a weapon did come from Iran, there is no way to tell if the Iranian government had any way of knowing about it or controlling the transfer. We cannot control our entire border with Mexico and it is much easier than that of Iran and Iraq. We have never caught any Iranian in the act of killing Americans.
We do know that America aided Iraq during its war with Iran, which helped to kill many Iranians. We know America arms Israel to the teeth,which helped them to kill many Lebanese civilians with F16s, Apache helicopters and cluster bombs in 2006. That is beyond dispute.
You must hate it when the truth comes out. Your repeat the same tired old lies, continually. Its getting quite old.
You know, I actually started to write out a response to the nonsense you just posted and then I realized it was a complete waste of effort b/c you clearly have no idea what you're talking about on any of the points you tried to make.
Hey? fb-1473462
What does the fb stand for?..................F--k'n Bonehead?
Your one sided "History Lesson" won't work on people who know the full facts. We aren't from some third world sh-t hole who's 'Religious Clerics' brainwash their followers from birth and feed them regurgitated propaganda to incite them to kill innocents either. Your vitriolic spew won't work on here. Take your idiotic ramblings to Iran and Syria and maybe they'll give you a parade.
All Iran said was that Israel should disappear as a nation, just like Yugoslavia did. No mention of genocide. Stop being fooled by the media and military industrial complex.
Waldo...you are in the third grade are you......thought you might be because of the name calling and lack of contrary substance in your post.......
Like Al Capone once said....."".Ya got nothin""
Your title suits you well because you dont even know where you are
thanks bonehead....I expect that from a troll. And your buddies in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp Navy ( IRGCN ) will have the region at war without anyone else's help when the wildeyed religious freeks start sinking shipping. Here's a little look at some of your friends for everyone to see:
http://www.slideshare.net/ISWPress/irans-two-naviesiranian-naval-commanders
http://www.slideshare.net/pletz/latin-america-irans-springboard-to-amereicas-backyard
Just a little insight into your Lilly White friends there fb. Read the bios on your Buddies. Real professional for Naval officers.
Still with the name calling??? I noticed nothing in my post was debunked by you.including my history lesson... so my post stands...
Someone posts something you dont agree with so you start calling them names......
Ralph, fb? are either of you actually American? geeze... you sound like a couple of terrorist sympathizers.
I never said it was false. Unless you can pull that statement out of rearend fb? Half truths are as bad as lies. You conveniently leave out FACTS in support of your one sided agenda. Go back to your madras; kneel and pray for forgiveness Omar.
Steven... Iran was not involved in the Marine barracks attack. It happened because US was involved in the war taking Israel's side (as always), and not being a true peace-keeper.
Col. Timothy J. Geraghty, the commander of the Marines in Beirut during the incident, has said that "the Marine and the French headquarters were targeted primarily because of who we were and what we represented;" and that,
Waldo. said..."I never said it was false. Unless you can pull that statement out of rearend fb? Half truths are as bad as lies. You conveniently leave out FACTS in support of your one sided agenda."
You cannot debunk my post and it stands...So in the end...like I said....all you can do is name call... that and tell me to back to Afganistan...
You chime in only to call someone names when you see a post that you disagree with......real mature Waldo... Go back and read thru your own thread so you can see how ridiculous you look....
.
While I do not support military action against Iran at this time, if they attack Israel, we absolutely must have Israel's back, and that is according to International law in the form of the U.N. agreements which led to the formation of the modern Jewish state.
I don't support endless military adventures, but there are lines that should not be crossed, and Iran attacking Israel or closing the Straits of Hormuz would cross those lines.
fb-1473462
Actually it's estimated at 40,000 and conditions of their treatment is divided.
Look up History of Jews in Iran.
xrayspex - Israel is the one threatening to attack Iran. What should we do if it is Israel that launches an attack and Iran responds. I say, let Israel try to finish what Israel started, alone. Iran has already backtracked form statements saying, they will close the Straits of Hormuz. The US has no business placing sanctions on Iran. It must be noted that in almost every case, it is a Jewish Congressman that writes the bills to place sanctions. It's a case of American Congressmen and women, working hard for Israel.
Brad Sherman, Jewish Congressman from California has Bill 6296 to place more sanctions on Iran in an effort to strangle Iran's economy by stoping the flow of their oil. These Congressmen should be voted out of our government. They represent Israel first, last and always. If there were to be a war over these sanctions, every American killed would be on the hands of these Zionists. Paul Wolfowitz and his cabal of Zionists, who worked along side him in the Pentagon, should be tried for the deaths of every serviceman and woman lost in the Iraq war. They were responsible for the gathering and dissemination of the false intelligence used to promote the Iraq war.
Latekate....I did the research. thank you.....its more like 100k.,,,,,,but my point was if Iran wanted to kill Jews...why not kill the ones living in Iran already..???....the Jews living in Iran are not persecuted at all ,,,so whether its 40k or 100k...my point remains the same....
fb-1473462
Your point is false, if you want proof see the International religious freedom report:Iran 2009. The estimates for Iranian Jews I've seen range from 10,000-35,000.
Jews have a long history in Iran, it's not like they recently immigrated there. When Khomeini took over most of them hit the yellow brick road. Those who remained have family ties, community ties so it's probably hard for them to leave. I'm sure they are tolerated for political reasons (sort of the way Coptic Christians are protected in Egypt since they also have historical roots there) but I'm pretty sure they are not always treated well, given the lack of human rights and travel restrictions in Iran. You of course can believe whatever you want.
In Iran there are even Jewish members of The Iranian parliament......Israel backed a plan and offered 60k in cash to all Iranian Jews to move to Israel and they refused......this is well documented......so if conditions were so bad for them in Iran...why didnt they accept and move???
There are also more Jewish cultural and historical sites In Iran than in Israel,,,,,,,
Another fine mess.. we can dispute the numbers all day long but.the point of my post was that if Iran wanted to wipe out the Jews as people are saying here...than why not wipe out the Jews living in Iran already at an arms reach???
Latekate
About half of them left, during the revolution large scale confiscations of private wealth and anti-Israeli sentiment caused those that could leave to do so. To give Khomeini his due he did issue a fatwa saying that they should be protected but even so you're quite correct in that they still face restrictions, the best that can be said is that the Government isn't consistent in enforcing all of them.
Right here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/iran-responsible-for-1998-us-embassy-bombings/2011/12/08/gIQAuEAAfO_story.html
Like shooting fish in a barrel.
The US acted within the auspices of the UN resolutions. Saddam routinely violated the resolutions which he agreed to to end the initial Gulf War.
That doesn't justify Iran killing US troops.
So much for your straw-man.
Cite?
fb-1473462
Did I say they wanted to wipe them out?
I said you where wrong that they weren't persecuted at all and I supplied evidence to back up my position.
Steven...the invasion of Iraq was never authorized by the UN....an authorization was never granted by the UN..Was also illegal under International law...The US invasion of Iraq was naked agression against a soverign nation that had neither threatend the US nor had they attacked the US.nor did they have the ability to do so.........The US killed several hundred thousand innocent Iraqis > Your argument that IEDS were supplied by Iran has been debunked and there is no evidence Iranians killed US troops....
Steven B...by the numbers in the last 50 years...your own country has bombed, attacked or invaded more countries, killed more civilians, overthrown more Govts around the world than all other countries combined.....
fb
Your point being?
Naked aggression against despotic regime that murdered it's own people and used gas against the Kurds, instead of condemning America for acting against Iraq you should condemn it for not acting against others.
The bulk of the innocent deaths in Iraq have been caused by the Iraqis themselves.
israel is no ally to US but a liability, she spied on US(Jonathan Pollard) and murdered US servicemen (USS Liberty). It is due to US bias-support of israel that makes US being hated by muslim community around the world.
It isn't that simple, Islam is a competing social, economic and political ideology so as with Communism it's inevitable that it should come into conflict with America and Western style Democracy.
Lets hope there is not yet another stupid war in the world.
My comment here is for the Russians, don't you realize you are infidels same as us? Wise up Russia once they get to us your next.
Americans are ignorant?
There are a lot of Muslims in US, the same in Russia.
Oh yeah Steven, Iran is going to attack America and then Russia. If they attacked America, it would be the last thing they ever did and they know it. Only in the tiny little minds of Zionists, does anyone believe Iranian leaders have a death wish.
This is GREAT news.
the IMPERALIST are US the U.S. can one imagine the U.S. taking on CHINA AND RUSSIA in a war that we were lead into by AIPAC that controls our leadership! only then would we amercians no what WAR really is!
You idiot we been fighting war's on two fronts for the last 10 years straight, before that it was NAM we thought that'd never end, and before that WWII, trust me dude Americans KNOW what war REALLY is. Get a clue.
Praziain you are comparing the 2 wars against Iraq and Afghanistan with possible wars with China and Russia and calling Ronald an idiot. Iraq and Afghanistan were never even a remote treat to the US and those wars have been fough on their turf. Wars with Russia and China would result in the deaths of millions and much destruction in America, as opposed to fighting on other continents.
With your apparent lack of ability to think that out, you should not be calling anyone an idiot.
Maybe you wouldn't mind, sitting comfortably in Israel, but Americans might have other plan. Remember, not one Israeli has been killed in any war in which America has fought. They didn't help us in Nam, in Iraq or in Afghanistan. I guess AIPAC talked to our leaders and they came up with an excuse for Israel to sit them out. Israel starts wars, America gets to fight them.
By the way, Praziain, I served in the US Navy in the 1950s and 1960s, my brother was a Master Chief and my cousin was a Warrant Officer.
No more wars for Israel. Remember the USS Liberty.
To Steven - your proof that Iran was behind the attack on the marine barracks is a joke, which comes from an article from the American Enterprise Foundation, a far right wing "think tank" comprised of neoconservative, Zionist war mongers. Because some judge rules that without some training from Iran, the attack would not have been possible, does not mean Iran ordered the attack or even knew an attack was to take place. The whole idea that America says Iran is the biggest sponsor of worldwide terror is only an indication of how much control the Zionists in our country really have.
We arm Israel to the hilt. Does that mean when Israel attacks Lebanon on their own, America becomes responsible? America armedand trained elements of al Qaeda in their fight with Russia. Are we then responsoble for al Qaeda attacks on America?
This is like shooting fish in a barrel.
The decision has already been made. Israel and the Middle East can not allow Iran, to have nuclear weapons. Every action until the attack, is just posturing. There are more countries involved in this planned operation, than the public will ever know!
making plans to attack another country is called "aggressive war" and those guilty of it can be punished by hanging under international law
MThompson......Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta stated on Face the Nation that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapon....Secretary of Defense of Israel Eud Barak has stated the Iran is not developing a nuclear weapon......The US has over 8000 operational nukes and Israel has over 400...Iran has none...The Us has military bases in every country that borders Iran, warships off their coast, drones in the air etc etc....At some point logic and reason have to come into play...if this overwhelming military advantage cannot placate your fear and anxiety over Iran...then nothing ever will....
fb- Iran is not a stable country. Iran is the worlds largest sponsor of terrorism. Iran is very aggressive in it's posture to it's neighbors. Iran backs Syria. Irans leadership is crazy. Iran is attempting to build a bomb. Panetta was playing Poker with Face the Nation, it is called bluffing. Israel and their allies, will not allow Iran to finish the task!
Lies!
Iran is very aggressive??/ The Us has attacked or invaded the following countries in the past decade: Yemen, Afganistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Sudan, Libya, Somalia , The US has bases and military personnel in every country that borders Iran....we fly drones over their airspace, have warships off their coast, CIA agents on the ground inside of Iran and and you say they are the agressors....I am sorry that defies all logic and reason.
Why would Leon Panneta bluff about them not having a nuke when all the US has been doing for the last 20 years is convince the world that they do have a Nuke program?? what could be gained by bluffing??? Why would Ehud Barak say the same thing...that they have no nuke weapons program ???
Is the largest sponsor of terrorism in the world determined by what measure....???/ By the people that are killed or by dollars invested.........because the US sponsors and supports more illegal clandestine killings, has bombed more countries, has overthrown more govts than Iran ever has....The US has even overtrhrown Irans democratically elected President and installed a puppet of the US....
fb- Yes, Iran is very aggresive,(missle tests , promising to destroy Israel and close the straight of Hormuz) and the largest supporter of world terrorism. You are either sympatectic to the Iranian regime or insane, same thing! Suffice to say, they will recieve everything that is due them!
So by your standard we have a right to attack and invade countries at will, fly drones, warships off the coast, impose sanctions, surround their country militarily....but we are not the aggressors....???? that defies any logic and reason.....
Go back and answer some questions posed to you and explain instead of just repeating the same talking points....
fb (f-ng buffoon?), if you defend Iran so much, why don't you just go live there. It's clear, you don't like this country much.
fb- I see we are getting a bit testy, must have hit a sore spot. Countries that covertly support and sustain terrorism on the US or it's allies, are subject to the same. With your twisted thinking, do you feel Iran has the right to threaten to "wipe Israel off the map", or covertly support hezbollah, which fires rockets at Israel?Yes, America or any other country has the right to stop terrorism at the source. Iran took Americans hostage, (technically on our own soil)did they have the right to voilate international law, and declare war on America? We have a very long memory. You have put forth no support for you diatribes. Again, the world knows Iran is developing nuclear weapons, and no sane country wants, or will permit that! So if you are one of them, fairly soon you might kiss you Iranian fanny.............................goodbye, cause Israel (like in the 67 war and Operation Babylon) is nothing to play with!
Ellen.... yes I can love my country but dislike my Govts foreign policy ...especially when it comes to entering into another trillion dollar war based on media propaganda and false pretenses.....Its a shame more people did not speak out against the Iraq war and dispell the lies and war mongering that led up to it.....and here we go again....."..Oil rich country in the Middle east that has insane leadership and they are a threat to you and to the entire world.....we must sanction them, destablizie them, them bomb the crap out of them....... then when its all over we will say that it was all based on faulty intelligence...
by the way Ellen.......when did I lose the right to call out my Govt?? Why dont you go live in a country that the people are lock step with their Govts policies....certainly seems more suited to you/.
fb- Now that you are back from reaking havoc with OWS, you feel you need to comment on national security? You wear the radical left Liberal Moniker well!
Mthompson...you have not hit any sore spots and if you noticed you are the one calling me insane and names for having a differing opinion other than your own you have not answered any of the questions posed to you in my post....
Answer this one.... 100k plus Jews live in Iran and are not persecuted and refuse to leave Iran for another country...If Iran really wanted to kill Jews...why dont they kill the ones living at an arms reach???
Iran never stated that they wanted to wipe Israel off the map ...that is a media myth that you continue to perpetuate....do the actual reasearch on the quote and as others on here have posted that Regime was mentioned and map was never mentioned......
But like I said.......Our own Secretary of Defense stated that Iran does not have a nuke weapons program, Secretary of Defense of Israel stated the same thing........ and you say they are bluffing......why would they bluff about something like that??? what could be gained?? Tell me???
But again....the US has over 8000 operational nukes and Israel has over 400 and Iran has none.....but it again is striking how countries that own nuke weapons and other WMDS are about to attack and are attacking a country that does not have any WMDS based on the pretext that they are being threatend with weapons of Mass destruction,,,,the hypocracy here is amazing if not laughable...
by the way...notice the stars next to my posts??? and the lack of stars next to your posts???
MThompson....did the US have the right to Overthrow the democratically elected President in 1953 and install a puppet in the Shah of Iran????? or does it matter to you who started it??? Or overthrowing a foreign Govt is not an act of war???
Did the Us have the right to support and fund Saddam Hussein in a proxy war of aggression against Iran in the 1980s??? well over 1mm Iranians died???
fb- With your assertion that Iran did not make the "wipe Israel off the map" statement, all discussions have ended. Suffice to say, you have come to a battle of wits ...........................unarmed!
The General is just visiting to deliver the keys and codes to the nuke console we installed for them..lol. Iran is crazy enough to us nukes even at the destruction of their existence. That is the worlds concern and rightly so. They firmly believe it will bring Gods from the sky to help them rule the word. Kinda like Hitler seeking world dominance.....we let that one go a little far and how did that turn out?
Mthompson...I knew you would end up insulting me instead of answering any questions posed to you....or any supporting evidence to what you say is true...
Interesting who offered fact and who just hurls insults......again..
here is a link for the direct translation of what was said in Farsi:
As you can see he never said " map he mentions the Regime in Israel...but hey...you seem like you never let the facts get in the way....
fb- you have yet to deal with the facts, Iran supports Hezbolla, Iran is building nuclear weapons, Iran voilated the US embassy and so on...................... Your suppositions have no merit, and are not supported by any facts. Iran will recieve what it deserves, especially if it follows through with the strait of Hormuz threat( remember Operation Preying Mantis). Israel will then stop the nuclear weapon program. Again, just duck into a cave, when the bombs start falling!
MThompson...you have yet to address any points in my post.....if my post is not factually correct than point it out to me.......show me some evidence to the contrary.....many questions were posed to you of which you answered none......
When I quoted the two Secretary of Defenses from the US and Israel that both have stated that Iran does not have a Nuke weapons program ..you say they are both bluffing.....
When I ask you if the US had the right to overthrow the Iranian Govt and install our Puppet...you refuse to answer...
When I ask if the Us had the right to fund and support Saddam Hussein in a proxy war against Iran you refuse to answer...
When I asked if Iran is so hell bent on the Destruction of jews in Israel then why are they not killing the ones in Iran now...you refuse to answer...
In fact you refused to rebut or answer anything....... so if you want to man up go back and rebut the questions posed to you in the posts above....
by the way god help us all when the bombs start falling......
well, I am not qualified to comment on policy at this level,, but I do watch the "goings on",,, there are some similarities in fact,,,look at the picture re'Iran alledges"?... what do you see??..come on people, we have done this before??.. see any! women??.. any??..now, compare this with the pics re"arab spring"?.. in the early days we saw the same thing,could have been the same pic over and over,,, then, after the changes and even when they were tagged as "rebels" and fighting for freedom,,, women started to appear in the same pics, same locations,...you want to think about this,,,it is important to us all,,some years back I did this excercise with a state person[US],..and the response was interesting,,, "huh,well,, no didnt notice that, but now that you mention it",,,she was a pretty smart cookie in fact,,..all the bluster, threats,contrived situations,.. are interesting,,, but this kind of change is far far more interesting and in fact it is what the blustering and threats are all about I suspect,..we call it "gangs of men with guns"... and when we see this?? we! pay attention,..problem there!.. about to go off the rails if not watched carefully,,..while we should be and are! concerned about "nuclear ambitions", the main reason for presence is and should be!, opening this door to free and equal lives for all,..all!!...not just the men,we dont often, if ever?? see such women carrying weapons at all,, and that is something that should be noted and where needed? used,..just my humble opinion,..a bit OOTB, yep,, but hey,, works! and thats what matters, no??, it is called "tell mom",.. it works like this,, your! "mom",while likely to get angry at you when you screw up? is not likely to harm you, you may lose some hide now and again, and so be it,,, but you will survive".. Iran and other countries would do well to pay attention to this as it is effective and it opens doors where all! can be part of the whole,, not just the men,,, all!!..
Perceived as weak by the Arab world...Thank you Obama....why don't you bow down and kiss some more Arab ass. Or better yet just give them our complete battle plan instead of just our exit strategy you stupid , dumb, ignorant sum bitch. The worst president since Jimmy Carter they say...bs..how about the worst of all time. Never seen a person of such high office commit so much treason against our country and not get called on it. Wake up America .....there's a puss in the whitehouse.
Obama couldn't pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were written on the heel.
ewusnret, you're a fool.
Republicans could not even kill Osama...talk about pussies!
So, you like killing terrorists?
The UNITED STATES has to ASK the Zionists to stop with their Apartheid & Stalinist ways, after we give Israel BILLIONS and BILLIONS of hard earned U.S. Taxpayer's dollars and resources, on an annual basis.
You can see who the Dog is, and who is the Tail. Seems the Zionist and Israeli Special Interest Groups have our American politicians by the you know what.....and the true reason the visit, for this new Joint Chief of Staff U.S. General is to take his mandatory orientation trip to Israel for indoctrination...
....just like every other Federal and State level politician, and Military Officers, have done since the creation of the Zionist State.
"Zionist" is a good word. You use it like it's something bad.
cause he's an Anti-Semite tool
Weak. What do you call the many Jews who are not zionists? Are they too anti-semites in your opinion? Weak attempt. Don't post anymore.
People keep forgetting - Iran has called for the complete and total destruction of Israel. A country that was created under the permission of the UN - or did we forget that? Israel has the right to defend itself. If Iran called for the complete and total destruction of the USA - would we just sit back and twiddle our thumbs?
How many Americans have called for the glassing over of Iran? Words are words, you cannot take action on words. If people acted on words there would never be any peace anywhere.
Unfortunately with Obama in office we actually MIGHT just sit back and twiddle our thumbs if someone calls for our complete and total destruction.
OUR GUBMINT'S alignment with zionism and zionists will start WW3. Obama tried to stand up to them and was furiously accused of being "anti-semitic" (code words for anyone who doens't want to give Israel everything they want). Research it: 1948 Jews in Palestine, a minority by far, unilaterally declare independance and take over Palestine by force, calling it "Israel". (isn't that what they just accused Palestine of recently?! Gee, where'd Palestine get the idea?!) No two ways about it, check it out.
If the Native Americans suddenly declared Nevada a sovereign "Indian Nation" with govt. over all who are there, and made ready to protect it with weapons and force, do you think the USA would respond? That is exactly what happened in Palestine.
IF you are in a fight, and someone throws your opponent a knife or gun, and then starts telling you to put your fists down, lets talk, is that person to be trusted, or treated like a friend? That is what the USA did and keeps doing.
1. WWIII started Sept.11, 2001.
2. "Zionist" is something good - everyone should be one.
3. A UN mandate created Israel. Check it out.
3. What about all the UN resolutions against Israel? Do they count too? Check it out!
One wishes that people would know history -like Max 108- the Ajax affair to restore the Shah back on the throne -US had no oil interest- BP assets were taken over by the Iranians at that time. Yes, the relations between the leaders are strenuous based on Obama adm. double standards. US Chairman of Joints Chiefs Martin Dempsey is in Israel to confer with security personnel-after his trip to Europe-repeat Europe. King Abdullah was at the White House-Pres.Obama's greatest ally in the region- the Free Syria Fighters have established a foothold in Syria (thanks to Turkey,Qatar,US/CIA/Libyan fighters. Russia,Iran ,Iraq and China are opposed to Libya Redux in Syria. Israelis and Saudis have much more in common than meets the eye- it is the double standards exhibited by Obama adm. This site seems to attract antiSemites expressing their neofuehrerism to the hilt.
mimi - Say it like it is: Jew haters. Good post.
USNRET I am retired military also and apparently missed that "Israeli-first" introdoctrination you received, in which you believe so fervently now. In my day fighting communism was our main goal and Israel was then just a small speck or stain on the table of important things. since then of course, Israel has assumed a much larger part to play on the world's stage. In past times it was known that Israel was mostly filled with east European bolsheviks fleeing from Hitler or later on from the collapse of communism in eastern europe and eventually in the russia itself. We really didn't like Israel, and especially after these people bombed and tried really hard to sink the American spy ship the USS Liberty in 1967. After the 67 war which Israel won by pre-emptively striking the Egyptian air force while it was still on the ground, the neo-cons, who had just recently got off the boats from eastern Europe where their fathers had formerly been commissars in the Soviet system, the very same people whom had killed many Americans in the cold-war period, thse neo-cons were now in Washington helping shape our foreign and military policies to help Israel. so I'm guessing that you are a dual-citizen of Israel or some kind of zionist wearing the clothing of our military people. These Israelis were once communists and many likely still are but even if changed they are still not our friends.
Jud, I was under the impression that you thought the Israelis were Nazis. Now I find out that they're communists.
Well many of the original Jewish settlers who did flee Hitler arrived in Palestine under the Transfer Agreement with Nazi Germany before the outbreak of WWII. These people might have not loved the Nazis but they did understand their form of government which worked quite well for the Germans. In essence these people merely copied the Nazis style of control of the people since the Palestinians would be the new aliens in the new Israel. It was those Jews that didn't want to immigrate to Palestine but wanted to remain in Europe including Germany and assimilate into the people and be seen less as Jews and more as Europeans. The zionist Jews despised these people and a sort of infighting broke out between the two groups. After the war mass migrations of communist Jews did go to Palestine and these people later became the leaders of Israel and many of them had been comunists in positions of power in eastern Europe. some came to the US and later started the neo-con movement.
Judson-3525798 You said: "big Al claims that Iran has used weapons of mass destruction to kill Americans ... stop lying will ya!"
Sorry Judson, but you are incorrect.
- U.S. officials say Iran supported the group behind the 1996 truck bombing of Khobar Towers, a U.S. military residence in Saudi Arabia, which killed nineteen U.S. servicemen.
- Military officials say numerous attacks since 2001 on U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, and coalition forces in Iraq, have been attributed to Iranian-made weapons.
GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU CALL SOMEONE A LIAR YOU JACK-AZZ !!!
The Obama Administration is probably trying to get Israel not to do anything this year until after the elections. Conflict in the Middle East that we would probably get involved in won't help a reelection campaign. I think Obama will be known as the President on duty when Iran became a nuclear power.
The General is just visiting to deliver the keys and codes to the nuke console we installed for them..lol. Iran is crazy enough to us nukes even at the destruction of their existence. That is the worlds concern and rightly so. They firmly believe it will bring Gods from the sky to help them rule the word. Kinda like Hitler seeking world dominance.....we let that one go a little far and how did that turn out?
Let us hope that somehow peace reigns supreme over the Middle east for the next 100 years.
Israel and it's lap dog, the good ol USA, will undoubtably come come up with some way to use military means against Iran, it's only a matter of time. I'm not the biggest Obama fan but I do give him a little credit for standing up to Israels/AIPAC's pressure for America to fight it's wars. But once Obama is run out of Washington, the republicans (ie. Gingrich or Romney) first order of business will be go to war with Iran. Sad.
America should worry about it's own troubles at home. Vote Ron Paul 2012!
In other words, despite his assertion that all options are on the table, Mr. Obama has no intention of ever engaging in a preemptive strike and doesn't want anyone else to do so either. But without that potential threat, Iran will feel no restraint in going forward with its nuke program. So why doesn't Mr. Obama just simply announce that he expects that Iran will have nuclear weapons in the near future and that he has resigned US to trying to live in a world where Iran, one of the foremost sponsors of terrorism in the world,will have nuclear weapons and materials at their disposal. Which in turn exponentially increases the likelihood that terrorist will get their hands on nukes or nuclear materials.
I hoped that was not the case and that Mr. Obama was serious and truthful when he stated he would do everything possible (and that nothing was off the table) to stop Iran from building nukes.
Rather,I sincerely hope that is still the case and that Mr Dempsey is meeting with the Israeli's to discuss military planning/coordination in the event the military option needs to be put in play. Particularly given that it is stated that he is not there to deliver any diplomatic messages.
Iran, don't fu$$ with the USA, or else you are fu$$$$.
Tell Gina she can go back to Iran with her arab friends as for me I hope there meeting about Nukeing Iran.
I know for sure when we get rid of this arab president in the elections the GOP will blast them out of the mideast.
gizmo
Go read somthing before you comment...WHY? you only show your ignorance if you do not.
Iranians are PERSIAN NOT ARAB LOL.they have a diferent culture,language and traditions.persian is an indoeuropean language just like English or french or German,..
Google "ARYAN RACE" and read,then watch "3 minute trip to Tehran" on youtube so you can see what they and their country look like.
I know you thinking all MOOSLEM are the same...LOL
Well Iranian people are more SECULAR than most Nations including American people and they detest their Islamic regime more than anything that even you can imagine.
gizmo-"the Gop will blast them out of the mideast."
yeah, like they did in Iraq & Afganistan..
Barak also said that any decision about an Israeli attack on Iran was "very far off....................... you must be an idiot to believe what this jerk said. enough lies from him.
Iranian Revolutionary Guards Could be Planning Attack in Turkey
And more from the Turkish Press
by AK Group
January 19, 2012 at 3:00 am
http://www.stonegateinstitute.org/2769/iranian-revolutionary-guards-could-be-planning
May be of interest
"The United States' top military officer arrives in Israel on Thursday"
To get his orders?
It's so funny how if you criticize Israel, Jews call you Anti-Semites
Why call us Anti war ?
Pro American ?
We cant just care about America and stop fighting Zionist land grabbing wars?
How many more trillions do we need to borrow to fight for Israels land grabbing Apartheid ways.
Do people know what the two blue stripes on the Israeli flags stand for Google "greater Israel"
Zionists want the land from the Nile of Egypt to the Euphrates of Iraq "the land God Promised them"
By the way Israel has no intention of making peace with Palestinians and returning at-least to 67 borders.
Israel is not America's ally they sell our tech to China and suck up to the Chinese encase China ever overtakes the USA as a super power they have China.
Moe, You caught us! How else can the Chosen People take over the world?
You ARE an Anti-Semite! A flaming one! Don't try to fool yourself.
Perhaps if you spoke truthfully (or is it a lack of knowledge?) about the situation and history they would not call you anti-Semitic.
Zionists began immigrating to an largely uninhabited region of the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century.
The area of the Ottoman Empire referred to as Palestine was just that a large area, not a state and never a country.
That area included the nations now called Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel.
After WWI as a punishment for siding with Germany the Ottoman empire was divided into areas to become nations based on some junior British and French officers drawing lines on maps. That is also how Iraq came to have Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites and such tribal conflict.
The UN set up mandates or temporary governments run by some the WWI winning nations. The British Mandate was for the area that had been conquered at the end of the ancient Jewish migration from Egyptian slavery. Those Israelite armies had taken the land from Canaanites and Philistines.
After WWII the immigration of European Jews increased significantly. In 1948 Israel declared its independence and was immediately attacked by 7 neighboring Muslim nations none of which had any claim to the land.
These neighboring Muslim nations attacked Israel again in 1954, 1967, and 1973.
Why? Because they loved some mythical people called Palestinians? No. Because of jealousy and religious bigotry.
Arafat originally tried to establish a Palestinian homeland in Trans Jordan, now known as Jordan. Later he tried Lebanon. Finally he settled on igniting Muslim religious and racial hatred to carve out a Palestinian homeland where Israel already had been established.
During the wars against Israel that nation captured lands including the West Bank, Golan Heights, Gaza, and the Sinai peninsula. The United Nations says that any lands captured during a defensive war are yours to keep.
When Jimmy Carter brokered a peace deal between Israel and Egypt the agreement was recognition of Israel's right to exist in exchange for giving back lands that they otherwise did not need to give back. The Sinai, Gaza, Golan Heights, and part of the West Bank were returned to Egypt, the mythical Palestinians, and Syria respectively however, the surrounding Muslim nations have refused to honor their commitment to this day.
So when your spewing your racist rant, you might want to consider you have been brainwashed by a hateful cult masquerading as a religion and who are famously known to be great liars.
Suggest you refresh your history before you make a complete fool of yourself. The History of the Middle East goes back thousands of years, even to the time of the ancient Egyptians. Herodotus the father of history wrote of a Palestine associated with Syria and located in the same geographical area as it is today. Palestine-syria was the 5th province of Persia while Egypt was the 6th such province.
Book III paragraph 91
or this:
or google this:
Arthur Koestler ( The thirteenth Tribe)
Citizen9, the 1967 war not a defensive war. It was started by Israel, when they attacked Egypt.
Even if it had been a defensive war, the UN does not give any country the right to take land by conquest. Your post is a lie, from beginning to end.
“The former Commander of the Air Force, General Ezer Weitzman, regarded as a hawk, stated that there was ‘no threat of destruction’ but that the attack on Egypt, Jordan and Syria was nevertheless justified so that Israel could ‘exist according the scale, spirit, and quality she now embodies.’...Menahem Begin had the following remarks to make: ‘In June 1967, we again had a choice. The Egyptian Army concentrations in the Sinai approaches do not prove that Nasser was really about to attack us. We must be honest with ourselves. We decided to attack him.’“ Noam Chomsky, “The Fateful Triangle.”
Was the 1967 war defenisve? — continued
“I do not think Nasser wanted war. The two divisions he sent to The Sinai would not have been sufficient to launch an offensive war. He knew it and we knew it.” Yitzhak Rabin, Israel’s Chief of Staff in 1967, in Le Monde, 2/28/68
Moshe Dayan posthumously speaks out on the Golan Heights
“Moshe Dayan, the celebrated commander who, as Defense Minister in 1967, gave the order to conquer the Golan...[said] many of the firefights with the Syrians were deliberately provoked by Israel, and the kibbutz residents who pressed the Government to take the Golan Heights did so less for security than for the farmland...[Dayan stated] ‘They didn’t even try to hide their greed for the land...We would send a tractor to plow some area where it wasn’t possible to do anything, in the demilitarized area, and knew in advance that the Syrians would start to shoot. If they didn’t shoot, we would tell the tractor to advance further, until in the end the Syrians would get annoyed and shoot.
And then we would use artillery and later the air force also, and that’s how it was...The Syrians, on the fourth day of the war, were not a threat to us.’” The New York Times, May 11, 1997
Don't you Zionists just hate it, when the true facts come out? It upsets years of Zionist propaganda, which took place prior to the internet.
All I got to say is-if anyone does not think Iran is not building a nuke weapon is not smart at all,this country help plenty of terrorist groups.The leaders are dam crazy while the average person in this country want freedom and be more like a western nation.Iran has said many time they will wipe Israel off the map-I kinda believe it,the president of Iran think if a war breaks out the 12th iman will come down to earth and desroy all their enemies...