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Subscribe to RSSIsraelis fear an attack from Iran, but there is a heated debate over what should be done about it. NBC's Stephanie Gosk reports.
Amid Israeli accusations that Iran is striking out at Jewish targets around the world, U.S. officials say they are concerned but haven’t ramped up security to “high alert” as a result.
That news comes after several Iranians were blamed for three explosions in Bangkok on Tuesday. Those blasts followed bomb attacks on Monday that targeted Israeli embassy staff in India and Georgia. Israel has accused Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of being behind the attacks.
Iran has denied any involvement.
On Wednesday, FBI, Homeland Security, and local police officials told NBC News' Pete Williams that it was misleading to describe the security establishment as "on high alert" as a result of the overseas bombing incidents.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said at a budget hearing Wednesday that "the U.S. is constantly monitoring Hezbollah activities around the world. We are reaching out to particularly the Jewish community .... Just last week, we had a conference call with leaders of the Jewish community and we remain in constant touch. Right now, we know of no specific or credible threat, but it bears watching."
Read: Iran claims major steps to nuclear self-sufficiency
Last week, the FBI and Homeland Security sent an advisory to local law enforcement noting that the tensions between Iran and Israel have contributed "to the perception of an increased threat to the Jewish community worldwide from Iran or its surrogates." But it says there's nothing specific to indicate that "Iran or its surrogates are targeting Jewish organizations, facilities, or personnel in the United States."
A spokesman for the New York Police Department told WNBC's Jonathan Dienst that police are maintaining the "same focus over the last several weeks" and that they know of "nothing specific but are paying close attention to Israeli facilities and synagogues."
And the Anti-Defamation League says it is not aware of "any immediate threats to Jewish institutions in the United States at this time. However, we are recommending that Jewish institutions operate with increased vigilance and urge you to take the following action steps," ADL says.
This article includes reporting from NBC News Pentagon correspondent Pete Williams, WNBC senior investigative reporter Jonathan Dienst and msnbc.com staff.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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I would not believe anything Israel says- especially Netanyahu. Mossad and their friends are masters of false flag operations. Maybe people might start looking up USS Liberty massacre by Israel in 1967 and multiple other bombings done by Mossad (try England/London 1994) and then blamed on other countries. Netanyahu and his cabals both in US and Israel (witness Joe Lieberman of Connecticut) are desparate to make any case to go to war with Iran. I believe our leaders both military and nonmilitary won't be taken for fools this time as occurred in 2003- Iraq. We have masses of Israeli firsters such as Senators Liebermann of Connecticut and Shumer of NY- they both care more about Israel than they do for their constituencies.
I will see if msnbc prints this as msnbc is part of mass media which is very, very proZionist even to heavy detriment of USA.
I suppose you believe the Iranian president. RIGHT?
Do you believe the Thailand Police? Or are they lying to protect Israel?
Galway ...in a short paragraph you`ve come up with every stale cliche abour Israel,the U.S ,Zionists the USS Libertry. the Jewish conpspiracy.etc.Is that what they feed you in the Galway news.There are 100 senators and there may be at any one time 2-3 senators,I nhte house the percentage of congresspeople is abou the same.Don`t you know that the real powere in the U.S is still in the WASP..The Jews make up a very small element in the highest levels of power.The Bushes,Romneys,Rockelfellers etc all Protestants are just the tip of the iceberg of the overwhelming dominancs of the WASPS...Catholic don`t fare much bettter as there has been only president .i.e Kennedy that wasn`t a Protestant.Over 230 years and 40 plus presidents ..The overwheliming support for a war with Iran spans the whole range of religions, color etc.Blacks,Hispanics,..really every group.As for msnc news,, to say they a pro zionst is an absurd falsification.They are more and more pro Arab and Plaestine and look to examine Israel with a very biased viewpoint. Iran is as much a danger to the whole mideast as it is to Israel.Several Muslim and Arab countires will support an attack on Iran.They are more afriad of the ayatollahs and their terrorist Islamic Revolution than they are of Israel.Before you write rehashed cliches,why don`t you investigate how things are in the U.S and the world.The U.S and Israel have been allies since 1948 and the Liberty incident was hardly a "massacre" ..that just using a big lie to confuse people Iran`s massacres are deliberate.and they have been carried out on 6 continents.Do some research ..it`s all out there.And I saw personally the results of 2 horrible Iranian massacres in Buenas Aires.Th current Iranian defense minister is under a arrest and detain order by Interpol for his part in the terrorists attack.And that`s only the tip of the iceberg..It is for this reason that Iran will be attacked.Not because of Jewish or Zionist . pressure.Saudia Arabia..among others will be involved and they are hardly pro Israel. And the list of countries involved in attacking Iran will.be from all parts of the world.THAT is the reality not your reduced warmed over clichesc !..
There are two words for galwayboy (supposedly) USMCARMY. Can you say anti-Semitic bigot? There were a bunch of folks in Germany who thought in exactly the same way. Their leader had a funny little mustache.
Hello folks, war mongering is not a flattering view point or charming characteristic. We are Imperialist bullies around our planet. As a fellow blogger pointed out, “we are America, land of the free (that’s questionable), dictator to the rest of the world”. All of you who are so willing to want to start wars I doubt are willing to pack yourselves and your families up and head to the front lines. You act as if it’s a video game or an entertaining reality show. Do you have no conscience or respect for the sanctity of life? Or is your heart so cold that you see war as a necessary byproduct of our existence on earth? Who really wins in war, nobody, not even those sociopathic maniacs who think they do by profiting from it? Millions of people get physically and emotionally damaged by the atrocities of war. By condoning and supporting wars even though you don’t pull the triggers or drop the bombs are complicit and bare responsibility for that action. Aren’t you worried that you will suffer the karmic repercussions for those actions?
Since the Russian war in 1828, Iran has never attacked another country. Since 1830, when Venezuela seceded from Gran Colombia they haven’t attacked another country. We on the other hand have attacked to name a few:
Libya, Iran, Nicaragua, Haiti, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Angola, Mozambique, Honduras, Chile, Congo, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia, Angola, Columbia, Peru, Panama, Yemen, Pakistan, Grenada, Mexico, etc..
Wake up people we are being herded down the Military Industrial Complex gauntlet again to another false war to enrich the greedy Corporations and distract the American people. Did we not learn anything from the Iraq war where we have killed well over 1 million Iraqi people, lost thousands of American lives and God knows how many hundreds of billions of dollars? Who do you support, humanity or the greedy elite?
I’m not asking you to hate war but to love peace. War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing!
The United States needs to mind their own business and stay out of Israel's messes!
Saudis have outsourced Israel to perform Iraqi wars'like dramas!
Iran's next door Pakis have large numbers of nukes.
Are they not dangerous? With bloody civil wars like situation in Pakistan, can anyone guess, who will have nukes?
We should not get into the traps of the Saudis and Israel.
For a change, they should handle Iran themselves.
Eventually, EVERY country in the Middle East will either have, or have access to, a nuclear weapon.
Israel's position is becoming untenable. Netanyahu's foreign policy is an absolute travesty. It will be a good day when a proper leader returns to the Knesset. How many times must he threaten to call an air strike on Iran through the media. He is by far the worst leader Israel has ever had.
Attack or diplomacy. Netanyahu can't use diplomacy because he will lose his support and be unceremoniously dumped by Likud. He doesn't want to attack unless he gets U.S. support, but the U.S. seems uninterested in provoking another war. So Netanyahu plays the attack card over and over without actually attacking, causing needless anxiety to the populace, and weakening Israel's position.
In my opinion, if your plan is not working, then come up with a new plan.
The fact that Iran hadn't attacked other countries prior to the Islamist Revolution is irrelevant. The Iranian people themselves may be peace-loving, but the ayatollahs that run the country aren't. The fact is that they attacked US troops through their proxy Hezbollah, they were behind the Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, they attacked Argentina when they bombed the Jewish community building there, and they have attacked Israel many times again via Hezbollah and Hamas. They also are helping Bashar Assad mow down hundreds of Syrians (and Palestinians) in the streets of Syria.
And let's not forget that the Iranians themselves tell us that we are the "Great Satan"; Israel is only the "Little Satan". And every Friday along with "death to Israel" they chant "death to America".
When an apocalyptic, messianic regime that suppresses its own people (look how they treat Iranian Baha'i, gays, even Sunnis), and funds genocidal terror groups (Hamas, Hezbollah) wants to get weapons of mass destruction, and keeps telling you how they intend to destroy you, you might want to wake up and smell the uranium.
"You won't believe Israel" but you will believe Muslims! FYI - Muslims have broke every agreement they have ever made with Israel. Look it up and see for yourself.
Israel will certainly be called upon to do the dirty work that everybody else wants. Israel never once said they wanted Iran wiped off the map. The converse is not true. Israel is a dot on the map in the middle east, surronded by those who would push her into the sea once Israel lets down her guard.
For all nations that have condemned Iran's march to build a Nuclear weapon: if Israel makes an attack on the facility, you cannot maintain credibility if you give an historically typical kneejerk condemnation of the action.
The escalation of nuclear weapons in the middle east is the ultimate outcome of complicity, or even of weak resistance. And from Iran's own words, Israel is it's first target.
Iran should test their nukes first on their immediate neighbor and enemy, Saudi Arabia. Mecca/Medina should be the right starting point.
Iran should know that more than Israel, it is Saudi Arabia which is pumping up US, UN and others through their oil companies and lobbyists.
Time for the US to cut off "Aid" to a First World country like Israel, and to tell them that if they expect the US to back them, then don't go around starting wars. No American should die to protect any country that isn't the US. Despite what people would have you believe those of the Muslim Faith and the Jewish Faith have gotten along very well up till the start of Israel (I blame the English as they promises to return the area to the Palestinians who lived there, and then when faced with the prospect of Jews moving to England following WWII, also promised it to those Jews if they would move there, and then armed them).
Saleh al-Din Yusef ibn Ayybid (Saladin in the West), probably the best known in the West of the Islamic leaders during the Crusades period, had as his chief doctor, the Rabbi Maimonides of Spain, whom Saladin also made chief Rabbi of Cairo and built him a new Synagogue. Many Jewish and Christians were among the trusted elite in Arab and Turkish countries. However, that all changed when Israel came into being by force of arms. Trust me, I know, as I am a Historian specializing in the Middle East (mostly the first 5 Crusades, but also the political repercussions still felt as a result of those wars) having a BA in both History (Medieval) and Political Science. I have read the facts. There has never been "thousands of years" of conflict between Muslims and Jews, just decades. When the Cold War was in full on mode, it was important to have allies in the Middle-East to counter Soviet influence there, to keep the oil flowing. That is no longer the case, so why should the US allow US Military be possible victims of a war between Israel and Iran - let them fight it out themselves, while we look for alternatives to oil, making the Middle-East a non-issue for America.
you are SO full of it!
Time4aPurge - The same thing can be said about the Israelis. They have broken the spirit of Oslo, and the Prime Minster, Bibi has said himself that he killed the Oslo Accords. Israel has also broken many of the agreements made under the Road Map, including the withholding of tax revenue collected on behalf of the PA, the refusal to dismantle illegal outpost, and allowing the building of further outpost. Israel also continues to violate numerous international laws, the Geneva Conventions, and legally binding UNSC resolutions. Maybe you should look those up yourself!
Comment # 1 restored for clarity.
@ TrustVerify: Iran has invaded Afghanistan trying to get back former territory, (1857) and Venezuela has been involved in several border skirmishes with Colombia.
You have the nerve to label us "imperialist bullies"? What about Iran threatening to close off the strait of Hormuz? Threatening to obliterate Israel? Constant hateful rhetoric against both Israel and the US on a daily basis? You don't consider any of that bullying? Oh, I forgot anything that Iran says or does can be justified because of US bullying. We must hang our heads in shame and say, Oh yes, great and wise ayatollah, forgive us for all our past transgressions and for meddling in your private affairs. How convenient for Iran.
Being in favor of sanctions is not "war mongering", nor is any effort to prevent another country from acquiring nukes...you do realize that if Iran gets nukes, so will the Saudis and everyone else around the Persian Gulf? War mongering is threatening to wipe another country off the face of the earth! How do you think Iran will accomplish that? Wishful thinking?
Let the Israeli's take Iran's nuclear facilities out and at the same time clobber the Iranian military. The United States needs to stay out of it except for providing any weapons that Israel might need.
Take a look at Obama's foreign policy in the Middle East, supported overthrowing the Libyan government and the Egyptian government, intercedes in Yemen and threatens Iran and Syria. So what has been accomplished: Not much except we now have the current governments in Egypt, Libya and Yemen being ran by anti American people like the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical groups.
Target the Ayatollahs.
Sfcret...well stated...Let Israel handle these Iranian idiot muslims, and all we have to do is stand aside. I think if we read recent history we will understand that Israel can hold thier own. We have foolishly given aid to the wrong people in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and soon to be Syria. All we'll get for this is a muslim hate filled culture that supercedes any kind of secular rule and sanity. Go for it Israel!
If Israel wants to go to war with another country, that's their prerogative. If they want to start a war, let them, and let them finish it alone! The U.S. is the lap dog of the Israeli's. Netanyahoo openly chastised out president on national TV and we like good little subservient bondservants bowed to our masters.
We owe Israel nothing! If they want to sacrifice their children, so be it. If Israel attacks Iran, neither I nor my family will support the war in any way shape or form.
Are you refusing to pay taxes? Or do you already not pay taxes?
I'm with you Trust! We'll let warmongers like Leroy head to the front lines.
I don't even think Israelis are convinced war with Iran is the right way to go.
Also, you either go to war, or you don't. Netanyahu sabre rattles constantly like he thinks it's a game.
He needs to either put up, or shut up.
With suicide bombers available dirt cheap, it is possible that Israel and Saudis have stage managed Delhi and Bangkok!
With highly corrupt polices in those places, truth will never come out.
Pakistan, N. Korea and so many nations have nukes. Paki nukes can be stolen or bought anytime.
Iraqi wars have put many of us on streets and many nations on the bankruptcy lines.
We should not do the dirty jobs for Israel and Saudi Arabia, oil companies and their lobbyists as in Iraq again.
About 53% of all political campaign donations come from Jewish/American or Israeli first sources. The quality of the American politician reflects this reality. Until Americans take a more active interest in how their country is governed, they will continue to suffer economic and political abuse.
All this hate for Jews. Whatever. How do you feel about the Iranians?
Jews are great. Israelis are great. Sharon: good leader. Olmert: had his faults. Netanyahu? Baaaaad leader. There may come a day when it is forbidden to speak the name Netanyahu in the Knesset. He could at least step aside for Lieberman. I don't always agree with Avigdor, but at least he has vision.
Ah yes, and I must also mention Shimon Peres - Great Israeli, diplomat, and person.
I often wonder at the argument raised here that if you disagree with an Israeli policy you must hate Jews. That's almost like reverse anti-Semitism. But I digress.
So yeah, I can't stand Netanyahu. So what. Get over it. Doesn't mean I'm gonna cancel my next trip to Herzliya.
How do I feel about the Iranians? Well, I don't think they are a Muslim horde of bloodthirsty animals.
The average Iranian on the street is no different than the average Israeli or American.
Their religious extremism in the general populace is CERTAINLY more rampant than that of Israel or America. Sadly, events lately have Israel catching up in that regard. Women needing to be covered, riding on the back of the bus, that sort of thing. Of course, the right wing is Netanyahu's base, and he panders to it frequently.
The Christian and Jewish communities in Iran are protected by state laws to a certain extent, but they are also restricted. I seem to recall it is actually Syria who has the larger Christian population. I'm sure in Syria Christians serve in government, and in the Syrian army. I would like to see more religious freedoms in Iran, but I doubt that will happen in the current climate.
With the threats of war being whipped about, there is the always predictable rise in nationalism and fanaticism.
Do I think the Iranians will build a nuclear weapon? Possibly. I think if they ARE building a nuclear weapon, they would think it an act of self preservation.
Of course, I'm of the opinion that eventually EVERY country in the Middle East will have a nuke. It's inescapable logic.
The crux of it is....after seeing Saddam Hussein allow inspectors in, give up nuclear ambitions, Iraq got invaded anyways.
After seeing Ghaddafi agree to disarm and give up nuclear ambitions, Libya got invaded anyways.
What message does that send to Middle Eastern countries? Better nuke up.
You are ignoring physical abuses due to Iraqi wars of soldiers killed and maimed.
Due to economic downturns, there are many unemployed, elderly and sick who are going through physical abuses right in the US, Britain and many European nations.
Israel is not innocent
As an American taxpayer, I'm sick of funding this on-going holy war. The Palestinians need to shape up but so does Israel. A two-state solution is a must. Having nukes is not a one way street anymore.
I'm curious, why is a two-state solution a "must"? And are you actually foolish enough to advocate nuclear proliferation?
Israel should blame The Obama administration for any Diplomat killed by Iranian agents. They were the ones who said Israel using the MEK to kill Iran scientist.
It was obvious that the Israelis were involved in the assassination. The only question was whether the US was involved too. Why should we pay for Israel's crimes?
Israel does work/with train the MEK.
Israel is looking out for Israel. Okay, I get that part. But if they are attacked, we will help them. That's the deal. I don't want a "war of words" to become a war of bombs. Iran needs to back down with their nukes, and Israel needs to chill a bit. WE need to stay out of it.
Randy,
How much are you willing to pay in American BIG GOVERNMENT to see that this can be achieved? My answer is that it will never be achieved. If a country is determined to get the bomb and has the knowledge and resources (yes Iran does) than what can be done to stop them in the long term???
Rob - There is no proof Iran wants a nuclear bomb. None! Untill there is incontrovertible hard proof, we have no business threatening Iran.
There is also no proof the Iran government had anything to do with the alleged assasination attempts in Georgia or Thailand. The fact that no Israelis were hurt makes it more apparent that these attacks were never intended to do anything, but lay blame on Iran. The Iranian terrorist group aligned with Israel, called the MEK, were the ones most likely to have carried out the deception. They are from Iran and would carry Iranian passports. Iranian agents would never be that stupid.
The Israeli minister barack was in Thailand on Sunday before the alleged attack. What a cooincidence. Maybe he was there to OK the attack and pay the attackers.
Israel and false flag attacks go together. The proof is that Israel has been caught many times initiating their false flag attacks. They no longer fool anyone, except those who want to be fooled, like our politicians on 9/11.
When gas goes to $10.00 a gallon thank your Jewish representatives in Congress and those who vote in lock step with Israel, by voting them out of our American government. Actually, now would be a good time to start.
The motto of the Mossad is "by way of deception." Israel wants war.
Question: Whether it be little spats, nervy scuffles...all the way through to potential military confrontation 'twixt Iran and Israel...what on earth business is it of the USA ??
Answer: Absolutely nothing!
Iran and radical Islamist have 2 main targets. Israel and America. If Israel is destroyed, who does that leave for radicals to target. I hope this math isn't to difficult.
Depends on your math assumptions. There is a principle - "garbage in, garbage out."
What the hell does that meen?
It means that there is alot of people in America who are anti-semetic...they curse our country...side with people who would rather stick a gun to your head and blow your face off then shake your hand...they forget or just don't know their history that Iran invaded soveregn US soil when they attacked and occupied our embassy...took American citizens hostage,(and still doin that today), pretty much smacking us in the face and daring us to do something. Israel is our only true ally in the region...people want to jump to the conclusion and say we're invading...Get the pre-election Republican plug in, and generally some have the mentality of the population of Nazi Germany in pre-WWII...They have no Christian knowlege and claim to be Christian...or they're Athiest...that worships nothing but money...Bush was the idiot that got us in Iraq...starting a 2 front war...him and Cheney lining their pockets...it's alight to disagree with Israel...but to hate them...curse them like some people have...your more scary than Israel, Iran, and the whole damn Arab League put together...
You do realize the reason these people run Iran now is because we removed their democraticlly elected leader to put the pro American Shah in power. How is Isreal our only true allie? What has Israel ever done to help us? Nothing in Iraq and Afghanistan. Oh wait, they use the money we give them to buy military equipment. Wow, where would the USA be without Israel?
Bart Martin: you are the smug, know-it-all throwing cliches around. I guess you get all your news from the Wall Street Jl and Fox news. That makes you an expert. Now Bart- go look up the USS Liberty.
I hope you or your family members are the first to get drafted. For now I will hit the sack and start thinking about all the guys I saw in 69 and then after 2001 get their limbs blown off, and other areas turned into mush. Good luck old barty - have you ever been in a war zone? If so, prove it. Liars are very easy to spot.
The Afghani, Iraqi, and Palestinian Muslims I have met were all hospitable- not arrogant and smug like you. You go man the gun and do what Israel tells you. Don't give me a lecture just because you have your standard knee jerk responses -that all Muslims are bad and Israel is our friend, yadda, yadda. I hope you are the first to join the next war and if not you, then your kids. Then again, you are probably a shill.
Follwoing editorial by Gideon Levy was in the on line Israeli Newspaper Haaretz today.
"
Who's against terror?
By Gideon Levy
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A great miracle happened in Tbilisi, New Delhi and Bangkok, and alongside that miracle there was ineptitude that flies in the face of Iranian pretentions and ambitions. But the intentions were clear and grave: to take Israeli lives, especially diplomats and other official representatives of the state. That is terror.
The assassinations of the Iranian scientists were no less terrorist, let's admit it. Terror is terror, against diplomats exactly like against scientists, even if the latter are developing nuclear weapons. There is no great difference between an attempt to kill a representative of Israel's Defense Ministry and a strike on an Iranian nuclear physicist. There are nuclear physicists in Israel too and if, God forbid, someone tried to assassinate them, that would rightly be considered cruel terror.
And so anyone who uses these deplorable assassination methods cannot be critical when someone else tries to emulate them. And why should the world denounce Iran's terrorist acts - as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday - and not denounce others? Are there special countries that are allowed to assassinate at will, and others who are not?
Both kinds of countries should be denounced. The methods this time were even amazingly similar. Magnetized explosive devices were stuck on cars, like in underworld hits; not blind mass attacks, but the kind that are directed against the occupants of one car, whose fate is sealed unless miracles and operational incompetence prevail.
People who were impressed with the assassination of the Iranian scientists - and there are many such people in Israel - those who say with a typical Israeli wink that "they shouldn't be mourned" ignore the fact that another harsh, unnecessary bloody cycle has been launched. What possible use can there be in killing one scientist, who is then replaced by three others?
What good was it at the time to kill a key Palestinian terrorist when his place was taken by 10 others? The killer of Dr. Thabet Thabet in cold blood in 2001, a Tul Karm dentist and peace activist who did not deserve to die, also laid the groundwork for the assassination attempt in New Delhi.
The killer of Hezbollah's Imad Mughniyeh, an avowed terrorist who deserved to die, may have saved the lives of many Israelis, but put the lives of many others at risk.
That's the way it is in the cruel cycle of assassination wars. But in Israel people who dwell in glass houses are keen to throw stones. Here people are impressed by and cheer Israeli assassinations and no one has questions or doubts, either about their morality or their efficacy. We are allowed.
Here people are shocked by attempted assassinations by Arabs or Iranians, but divorce them completely from the context of Israeli assassinations. How did a columnist in Israel Hayom put it this week? "Attacking Israel is in their DNA." Theirs? And what about us? The writer forgot, and made us forget, our DNA. It, too, supports assassinations, including sometimes of the innocent.
Assassinations of Palestinians have scaled down in recent years and have been carried out mainly in Gaza, and so the hit lists of the Shin Bet security service and the Israel Defense Forces are now shorter. That's a good thing.
But according to the data of the human rights group B'Tselem, Israel targeted and killed no less than 232 Palestinians in the territories between the beginning of the second intifada and Operation Cast Lead, a period of about eight years. During those attacks,approximately 150 innocent bystanders were killed, including women and children.
These assassinations, most of which did not target "ticking bombs," were acts of terror. They are not much different from the criminal Iranian attempts in far-off Asia. The representative of the Defense Ministry in New Dehli does not deserve to die, but neither did Dr. Thabet Thabet. The Iranian scientists probably did not deserve to die either.
In February 1990, then-Commerce and Industry Minister Ariel Sharon asked the delegates to the Likud Central Committee convention: "Who's for stopping terror?" A sea of hands flew up. Today the question should be: Who is against terror? We will all devotedly raise our hands. But people who are truly against terror must also say: against all terror, against any terror, be it Iranian, Palestinian or Israeli."
Levy is a moron.
And your reply clearly shows you are much more intelligent and well spoken than he is.
A news article in Haaretz today on Defense Minister Barak's visit to Japan:
"
Japan PM to Barak: Israel must not strike Iran over nuclear program
During visit to Japan, Ehud Barak says international community must work together to impose sanctions on Iran.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Iran Iran threat Ehud Barak
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Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda urged Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday not to resort to military action against Iran over its nuclear ambitions, according to Japanese Foreign Ministry officials.
Noda told Barak that such military action would be ''extremely dangerous'' and ''escalate'' the situation in the Middle East region, and called on Israel to resolve the matter in a diplomatic and peaceful manner, the officials said."
American officials are too intimidated to offer such sensible advice or to tell Israel flat out that if they start a war don't expect us to jump in (and occupy Iran) for them. Let them bear the consequences alone.
Garbage. Japan is not facing an existential threat in Iran. They are a nation of fanatics. Watch them when N.Korea or China threatens. A totally different animal.
I hope the mullahs like the taste of kosher lead.
Procrustes, I meant to reply and I accidently voted for your immature comments. How old are you?
Here is some kosher lead with pardons attached:
from Haaretz today:
"
Israel's justice minister advises rightists on how to seek pardons for Jewish terrorists
Television report captures Yaakov Neeman instructing right-wingers on how to formulate pardon requests.
By Tomer Zarchin
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Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman told right-wing activists how best to formulate pardon requests on behalf of convicted Jewish terrorists, thus advising them on requests he might later have to approve.
By law, each pardon request submitted to the president must be accompanied by a recommendation from the justice minister on whether to accept it. Moreover, if the president does accept it, the justice minister must countersign the pardon to make it valid.
Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman
Photo by: Olivier Fitoussi
Last night, Channel 2 television published a recording of right-wing activists asking Neeman how to secure the release of 12 Jewish terrorists. The conversation took place around the time of last October's Shalit deal, in which Israel traded 1,000 Palestinian terrorists for the kidnapped soldier.
Neeman responded with advice on how to formulate the pardon requests to improve chances that they would be accepted. Moreover, from his comments, this wasn't the first time he had done so.
On the tape, an activist is heard asking Neeman "how to get them released." Neeman responded: "I already gave you the solutions. Unfortunately, they're acting contrary to my advice, and that damages things."
The activist asked Neeman to elaborate, and the minister replied: "I said a separate request should be submitted in the name of each individual, not a [group] application by Honenu," referring to an organization that provides legal services to Jewish security prisoners. "A separate request with the reasons for each individual, and then they can be discussed. Okay? Separate requests get discussed.
"I said, applications with personal reasons for each individual, so that they can be passed on to the president. The president has to decide on this matter, and I'll countersign anything the president signs. I said this very clearly."
The activist then asked Neeman whether this is what was done for the Palestinians released in the Shalit deal.
"No, it wasn't like that with the Arabs," Neeman replied. "With the Arabs, there was a political decision. Do you want us to make this a political decision? There would be a bagatz [petition to the High Court of Justice].
"Why are you making these mistakes? We're giving you guidance on how to solve the problem. Each individual with his own reasons."
The activist said the rumor was that President Shimon Peres "would give a green light."
"The president has to give a signature, not a green light," Neeman replied. "Green lights are for the road ... Excuse me, but by law, I countersign the president's signature. Anything the president signs, I'll sign; I'll countersign his signature.
"He knows there are recommendations regarding each individual. You need to detail the recommendations in each case, and therefore, you need individual applications. That's the only way it'll work. I said this four weeks ago already."
The activist then asked whom he and his colleagues needed to talk to about the matter, and Neeman replied: "The [Justice Ministry's] pardons department. If you provided all the details, it will reach my desk ... When it reaches me, I'll deal with it immediately ... No file stays with me for more than one night."
The terrorists whose release the activists sought included Ami Popper, convicted of killing seven Palestinians at a Rishon Letzion bus stop in 1990, and members of the so-called Bat Ayin underground, three settlers convicted of attempting to bomb a Palestinian girls' school in East Jerusalem in 2002."
Excellent. And with Obama recommending the reduction of America's nuclear might to a fraction of what it is today, your Islamic terrorists can get that much closer to victory. I'm sure your breasts are swelling with pride. Night!
Thanks,Tompom,appreciate you posting this information.Why am I not surprised at these articles.
The US Military Industrial Complex
Be careful. They're on here too. They need more profits.
does deputy prime minister silvan shaloms comments in regards to iran as "pass the point of return" have anything to do with thier success in evicting arabs from palestine and isreals settlement building on arab lands?? seems the isreali's political jargon is laced with metaphor and euphemism. seems isreal aggression is continous without regards for peace. iran just opened its nuclear facility to the world today. isreal would kill you for getting close to thiers. so who has the peaceful agenda in mind? was isreal pass the point of return before or after the holocaust? isreal is structuring world policies to serve them. palestinians need to go for full statehood now with the united nations. isreal is off track with the realities facing arabs and muslims neighbors and the world.
Iran is going to do what they always do, threaten, rant and rave and we have never been able to stop them.
Israel needs to not write a check that US soldiers can not cash. I'm tired of watching our soldiers die fighting for the freedom of others. Enough.
We need to help those that have been wounded in the last two wars and truly take care of our own prior to taking care of anybody else. Enough.
The United States should not be involved in the affairs of israel--they are not our problem--but they have become a real liability for the USA.
If Israel is so "bad" then why is Gaza still on the map?
"If Israel is so "bad" then why is Gaza still on the map?"
Because in today's world,even the US and the rest of the West wouldn't tolerate genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza.It would be the end of Israel,and they know it.
Uncle Bob-
what a load... yet the world tolerates the wholesale slaughter of Rwandans, Sudanese, Syrians, Congolese, etc, etc, etc? that is the typical double-standard swill that you and all the others that demonize israel spew. aren't you tired of espousing the same old played out garbage?
The truth is the truth,Razz.Whether you Zionists like it or not.
90% of America believed Bush's lies about Yellow cake from Niger, WMD, Sadam's connectino to 9/11
And the same percentage will buy into the lies about Iran.
And since Iran is not a desert, the Iran war will be very different and many thousands more Americans will die thanks to another lie.
And our economy will head down the toilet.
Of all the times to NOT vote Republican - THIS IS THE TIME!
Vote Democrat - Vote Peace!
To use the words of another anti war believer (slightly altered to fit the times)
Well come on all of you big strong men Uncle Sam needs you help again
He's got himself in a terrible jam this time off in a place called Iran
So put down your books and pick up a gun your gonna have a whole lot of fun
And it's one, two, three what are we fighting for
Don't ask me I don't give a damn
Next stop will be Iran
And it's five, six, seven open up the pearly gates
Well there ain't no time to wonder why whoopee, we're all gonna die
It continues on from there and people my age should remember what I'm talking about.
Without the intent of putting down the people who have gone to these wars because they were doing their
duty; This government; be it republican, democrat, or whatever the flavor of the day may be; has had a bad
habit over the last sixty years or so of sticking it's nose into everything if it effects them or not, then they
wonder why no one really likes them.
If someone attacks this country react promptly and harshly, otherwise stay home and let the others fend for
themselves. There have been far to many times that this country has helped others only to be turned on after
the fact.
You can't take action because of what you think might happen, this is acting out of fear and is a detriment to
building respect. This country has the power but has lost respect, how can you run around telling others how to
manage their affairs when you are unable to manage your own.
Interventions in IRAN, SYRIA or any other ME nations: A BIG NO, NO, NO, ...... NO!
We had enough with IRAQ WARS.
Results of IRAQ WARS.
1991 and 2003 Iraqi wars net results are
WINNERS:
1. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and other rich ME sharks who manipulated oil prices too high.
2. Oil companies and their lobbyists.
3. Since 2003, future traders, rating agencies, Wall Street and oil companies and their lobbyists transferred, five trillion dollars from oil importing countries to oil exporting nations.
4. Islamic radicals and terrorists with their ME Sunni rich sharks (Saudi Arabia in particular) funding their mosques all over the world.
LOSERS:
1. General US and European nations public with high unemployment, cut in welfare measures, housing market collapse and more.
2. Poor soldiers who lost their lives and injured and their families.
3. High budget deficits and heavier borrowing. Many nations and people are on line to bankruptcy!
I'm wondering what gifts to the world's culture have come out of Israel,to give them such a hold on us.I'm not talking about the Jewish people,born,educated,and who lived all their lives outside of Israel.But Israelis themselves.The only one thing I can think of,of world renown was their Religion.But then had it not been for its influence on the two most numerous world Religions,Christianity and then Islam,it would only be one of many small faiths in the world.Its importance is because of the other two.But then we come to Persia/Iran,a nation now of almost 80 million,but in an Iranian speaking world of 190 million.What has this,one of the cradle's of world civilization given to the world.
I found this short list to start with,only up through the Middle Ages .
Contributions to humanity in ancient history
From the humble brick, to the windmill, Persians have mixed creativity with art and offered the world numerous contributions. What follows is a list of just a few examples of the cultural contributions of Greater Persia.
And in the last 500 years? Zip. Except, of course, designer suicide vests.
Well...glad to see the Arabs good for something...I mean Polo, Staples, Spinach, Ice Cream, and Cookies are a must for every civilzation..some would argue paper was the Chinese..brick the Egyptians...as math and trig...got to remember that Abraham came from this background...so it could be argued the Arab and Hebrew both were in on these Sumerian, Assyrian, and Sassanian firsts...but those of you morons that hate the Jews...and think them useless...lets compare the lists of their inventions compared to games, bricks and spinach:
REALLY PRACTICAL INVENTIONS: Jeans, Lipstick, the Ballpoint Pen, Contraceptives, Instant Coffee, Television Remote Control, Traffic Lights, Scotchguard, the Flexistraw.
REALLY BIG INVENTIONS: The Atomic Bomb, the Thermonuclear Bomb, God, Genetic Engineering, the Nuclear Chain Reactor, Virtual Reality.
CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Hollywood, the Sit-Com, the Long Playing Record, Woodstock, Sound Movies, Videotape, Color Television, Instant Photography, Holography
GAME CHANGERS: Monotheism, Psychoanalysis, the Theory of Relativity, the Weekend (Shabbat)
INVENTIONS BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER “C’: Capitalism, Communism, Circumcision, Cheesecake, Cafeterias
NEVER BUY RETAIL: Discount Stores, Pawn Shops, the Shopping Cart and the Ready-to-Wear Clothing Industry
I FEEL BETTER ALREADY: Prozac, Valium, The Polio Vaccine, Radiation, Chemotherapy, the Artificial Kidney Dialysis machine, the Defibrillator, the Cardiac Pacemaker, Vaccination against the deadly “Hepatitis B” virus, the Vaccinating Needle, Laser Technology
CHAI TECH: Google, the Wire Transmission Facsimilie (FAX) , the Microphone, the Gramophone, the Microprocessing Chip, Optical Fiber Cable, Laser, Cellular Technology, the Videotape Recorder
HOW DID WE LIVE WITHOUT THESE?: Drip Irrigation, Scale Model Electric Trains, the Pager, the Walkie-talkie, Refrigerated Railroad Car, High-vacuum Electron Tubes, the Incandescent Lamp, Kodachrome Film, the Blimp, the Adding Machine, Stainless Steel, Tapered Roller Bearings.
A NOBLE PEOPLE: At least 178 Jews have been awarded the Nobel Prize, accounting for 23% of all individual recipients worldwide between 1901 and 2008, and constituting 37% of all US recipients during the same period. In the scientific research fields of Chemistry, Economics, Medicine and Physics, the corresponding world and US percentages are 27% and 40%, respectively. (Jews currently make up approximately 0.25% of the world’s population and 2% of the US population).
Uncle Bob, you'll note by your timeline that notable contributions coming out of Persia stopped about the time Islam took hold. Coincidence?
The guys running Iran now are probably in a direct line of decent of the goat from 10,000BC, is that what makes this prevalent to today?
Guess we could blame all the bombs in history on the Chinese, after all they made the first gunpowder.
Islam is spiralling backwards from it golden age.
At least Israel teaches women how to defend themselves from physical threats. What has mainstream Islam ever offered women other than a big black bag and a muzzle, along with a useless education, few rights in the Justice system and constant shame for their sexuality.
UDunnoBro,as the article stated it was only a list from the ancient world alone.Not the whole of recorded time dude.
You know Sharp,you need to change nicknames man,that one really doesn't fit you at all.As I said,I'm looking for a list of Israeli contributions.German,British,French,American,etc,Jews aren't Israelis.As for your comments on Iranian contributions,haha,you left out,banking,postal service,teaching hospital,wine,domesticating the chicken,checks,etc.And also the one I figured you would have appreciated the most,Cyrus freeing the Hebrew people from Babylonian Captivity,and allowing them to go back to Palestine.If the Iranians hadn't done that,there wouldn't have been a Hebrew people at all.Oh,BTW,how do you expect anyone to take your comments on the Middle East seriously,when you don't even know Iranians aren't Arabs.
Uncle Bob 512
You left out Ayatollah Khomeini, Hezbollah and state sponsored suicide bombers on your praise list...great gifts to the modern world!
You can have them.
So now Uncle Bob you appear to be a fountain of wisdom, tell me just how much of this was obtained in the middle east? Let me guess you've never even been there. Basic american so wise and untraveled. your Iranian buddies would lock you up for being american faster than you could say Hammurabi.
JM,I left out nuclear energy research for sure.They seem to be doing OK on that.Even with the Israelis murdering scientists.
Stay out of muslims affairs...let the muslims diminish themselves..if we try to liberate them..w/e middle east country..they will shoot us in the back on our way out...muslims were taught all the lives..from child hood to adults..westerners and christians are evil and should be eliminated ..bring the men and women home and protect our borders.
It seems to me that Israel may pose an "existential" threat to the United States.
One shot One kill- Mahmoud ( madmouth ) Amadinejad. Another phycho in this world. It's always a dictator.
Noam Chomsky:
The Iranian "threat" and the nuclear issue
Let us turn finally to the third of the leading issue addressed in the establishment journals cited earlier, the "threat of Iran". Among elites and the political class, this is generally taken to be the primary threat to world order – though not among populations. In Europe, polls show that Israel is regarded as the leading threat to peace. In the MENA countries, that status is shared with the US, to the extent that in Egypt, on the eve of the Tahrir Square uprising, 80% felt that the region would be more secure if Iran had nuclear weapons. The same polls found that only 10% regard Iran as a threat – unlike the ruling dictators, who have their own concerns.
In the United States, before the massive propaganda campaigns of the past few years, a majority of the population agreed with most of the world that, as a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has a right to carry out uranium enrichment. And even today, a large majority favors peaceful means for dealing with Iran. There is even strong opposition to military engagement if Iran and Israel are at war. Only a quarter regard Iran as an important concern for the US altogether. But it is not unusual for there to be a gap, often a chasm, dividing public opinion and policy.
Why exactly is Iran regarded as such a colossal threat? The question is rarely discussed, but it is not hard to find a serious answer – though not, as usual, in the fevered pronouncements. The most authoritative answer is provided by the Pentagon and the intelligence services in their regular reports to Congress on global security. They report that Iran does not pose a military threat. Its military spending is very low even by the standards of the region, minuscule, of course, in comparison with the US.
Iran has little capacity to deploy force. Its strategic doctrines are defensive, designed to deter invasion long enough for diplomacy to set it. If Iran is developing nuclear weapons capability, they report, that would be part of its deterrence strategy. No serious analyst believes that the ruling clerics are eager to see their country and possessions vaporized, the immediate consequence of their coming even close to initiating a nuclear war. And it is hardly necessary to spell out the reasons why any Iranian leadership would be concerned with deterrence, under existing circumstances
Excellent post.
Is this the longest non-sequitur in history, or is there some point to the quote? It poses the question "Why is Iran regarded as such a colossal threat?" and then goes on to not answer that question.
In any case I would hardly consider a linguist like Noam Chomsky to be much of an authority or even have valid insights on Iran as it is today.
U DunnoBro,obviously you missed the meaning of that part of his article.The point was,that most people in the Mena and the world in general don't agree Iran is the threat.As for Noam being just a linguist,that's funny.I guess you'd also want to say that Faulkner was just a scribbler.
Nobody spins poopaganda like Iranian sympathizers. The Iranian government (if you call it that) hate Israel because the Ayatollah bullies like easy targets but unfortunately for Iran the Israeli's are cunning and resilient.
U Bob-
chomsky is nothing more than a self-serving, self-important, self-deprecating jew, MIT linguist, and israeli apologist. end of discussion. if you admire him, i reckon you admire the george soros, too, no? those two go perfectly as a bag o' turds.
latekate,I have to disagree with you there.The best at spreading propaganda are Israeli sympathizers.You guys have had years of fooling Americans,and have it down to an art form.
razuhmuhtazz,if you had said he was a "self-hating Jew",you'd fit the bill of most Zionist supporters here on these boards.You guys must be slipping.