If Israel attacks before the election... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jplinville · #1 08-21-2012, 12:08 AM

...do you think it will be positive or negative for Obama at the voting booth?

Netanyahu 'determined to attack Iran' before US elections, claims Israel's Channel 10 | The Times of Israel

Quote:

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is determined to attack Iran before the US elections,” Israel’s Channel 10 News claimed on Monday night, and Israel is now “closer than ever” to a strike designed to thwart Iran’s nuclear drive. The TV station’s military reporter Alon Ben-David, who earlier this year was given extensive access to the Israel Air Force as it trained for a possible attack, reported that, since upgraded sanctions against Iran have failed to force a suspension of the Iranian nuclear program in the past two months, “from the prime minister’s point of view, the time for action is getting ever closer.”
Asked by the news anchor in the Hebrew-language TV report how close Israel now was to “a decision and perhaps an attack,” Ben-David said: “It appears that we are closer than ever.”
He said it seemed that Netanyahu was not waiting for a much-discussed possible meeting with US President Barack Obama, after the UN General Assembly gathering in New York late next month — indeed, “it’s not clear that there’ll be a meeting.” In any case, said Ben-David, “I doubt Obama could say anything that would convince Netanyahu to delay a possible attack.”
The report added that Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak believe Obama would have no choice but to give backing for an Israeli attack before the US presidential elections in November.
There is considerable opposition to an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the report noted — with President Shimon Peres, the army’s chief of the General Staff and top generals, the intelligence community, opposition leader Shaul Mofaz, “and of course the Americans” all lined up against Israeli action at this stage.
But, noted Ben-David, it is the Israeli government that would have to take the decision, and there Netanyahu is “almost guaranteed” a majority.
Other Hebrew media reports on Tuesday also said Netanyahu had despatched a senior official, National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror, to update the elderly spiritual leader of the Shas ultra-Orthodox coalition party, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, on the status of the Iranian nuclear program, in order to try to win over Shas government ministers’ support for an attack.

chilcutt · #2 08-21-2012, 04:19 AM

Nutjobyahu is desperate...and he is bluffing.IMHO.

If not..stop talking about an illegal strike..just do it.

These are the actions the world has come to expect from the U.S. and its allies after-all.

Air&Road · #3 08-21-2012, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilcutt

Nutjobyahu is desperate...and he is bluffing.IMHO.

If not..stop talking about an illegal strike..just do it.

These are the actions the world has come to expect from the U.S. and its allies after-all.

Yes, he has been saying this for a LONG time, BUT Israel is lucky to have him.

Botnst · #4 08-21-2012, 07:32 AM

Wars are good for incumbents.

jplinville · #5 08-21-2012, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Wars are good for incumbents.

Historically speaking, this is true. However...with the current administration's dislike of Israel, and the overall support this country has for Israel, wouldn't doing nothing, or at least doing very little, hurt his re-election campaign?

We are entering uncharted territory due to Obama's and Clinton's actions towards Israel.

Air&Road · #6 08-21-2012, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplinville

Historically speaking, this is true. However...with the current administration's dislike of Israel, and the overall support this country has for Israel, wouldn't doing nothing, or at least doing very little, hurt his re-election campaign?

We are entering uncharted territory due to Obama's and Clinton's actions towards Israel.

Very good points! I hope we don't have to watch this happen. I don't THINK that we will. Netanyahu has been rattling the sabre for quite some time.

Jim B. · #7 08-21-2012, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Wars are good for incumbents.

Errrrr, it didn't work out so hot for LBJ, did it?

cullennewsom · #8 08-21-2012, 09:04 AM

Remind me again why the US should love Israel so much?

cmbdiesel · #9 08-21-2012, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cullennewsom

Remind me again why the US should love Israel so much?

Because they really know how to go Hawaiian...

Exclusive: FBI probed GOP trip with drinking, nudity in Israel - Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan - POLITICO.com

jplinville · #10 08-21-2012, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cullennewsom

Remind me again why the US should love Israel so much?

Tell me why they shouldn't...

cullennewsom · #11 08-21-2012, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplinville

Tell me why they shouldn't...

U.S.S. Liberty- NSA/CSS

jplinville · #12 08-21-2012, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cullennewsom

U.S.S. Liberty- NSA/CSS

...a mistake we were reimbursed for.

From Wiki...

Quote:

In May 1968, the Israeli government paid US$3,323,500 (US$22.2 million in 2012) as full payment to the families of the 34 men killed in the attack. In March 1969, Israel paid a further $3,566,457 in compensation to the men who had been wounded. On 18 December 1980, it agreed to pay $6 million as settlement for the final U.S. bill of $17,132,709 for material damage to the Liberty itself plus 13 years' interest.

cullennewsom · #13 08-21-2012, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplinville

...a mistake we were reimbursed for.

From Wiki...

Surely you don't want to make this into a discussion about money flowing to and from Israel.

Also from the Wiki

Quote:

The main expression of Congressional support for Israel has been foreign aid.[1] Since 1985, it has provided nearly $3 billion in grants annually to Israel, with Israel being the largest annual recipient of American aid from 1976 to 2004 and the largest cumulative recipient of aid since World War II.[2] Congress has monitored the aid issue closely along with other issues in bilateral relations, and its concerns have affected Administration's policies.[1] Almost all U.S. aid to Israel is now in the form of military assistance, while in the past it also received significant economic assistance. Strong congressional support for Israel has resulted in Israel's receiving benefits not available to other countries.[2]