COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

How can they listen to Netanyahu and keep a straight face?



Israelis reportedly don't plan to notify US if decision made to strike Iran
Published February 27, 2012

Israeli officials say they won't warn the U.S. if they decide to launch a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, one U.S. intelligence official familiar with the discussions told the Associated Press. The pronouncement, delivered in a series of private, top-level conversations, sets a tense tone ahead of meetings in the coming days at the White House and Capitol Hill.


Israeli officials said that if they eventually decide a strike is necessary, they would keep the Americans in the dark to decrease the likelihood that the U.S. would be held responsible for failing to stop Israel's potential attack. The U.S. has been working with the Israelis for months to persuade them that an attack would be only a temporary setback to Iran's nuclear program.


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak delivered the message to a series of top-level U.S. visitors to the country, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House national security adviser and the director of national intelligence, and top U.S. lawmakers, all trying to close the trust gap between Israel and the U.S. over how to deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions.


Netanyahu delivered the same message to all the Americans who have traveled to Israel for talks, the U.S. official said.


The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive strategic negotiations.


The White House did not respond to requests for comment, and the Pentagon and Office of Director of National Intelligence declined to comment, as did the Israeli Embassy.


Iran claims its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but the International Atomic Energy Agency has raised alarms that its uranium enrichment program might be a precursor to building nuclear weapons. The US has said it does not know whether the government has decided to weaponize its nuclear material and put it on a missile or other delivery device.


The secret warning is likely to worry US officials and begin the high level meetings with Israel and the US far apart on how to handle Iran.


But the apparent decision to keep the U.S. in the dark also stems from Israel's frustration with the White House. After a visit by National Security Adviser Tom Donilon in particular, they became convinced the Americans would neither take military action, nor go along with unilateral action by Israel against Iran. The Israelis concluded they would have to conduct a strike unilaterally -- a point they are likely to hammer home in a series of meetings over the next two weeks in Washington, the official said.


Barak will meet with top administration and congressional officials during his visit. Netanyahu arrives in Washington for meetings with President Barack Obama next week.


The behind-the-scenes warning belies the publicly united front the two sides have attempted to craft with the shuttle diplomacy to each other's capitals.
"It's unprecedented outreach to Israel to make sure we are working together to develop the plan to deter Iran from developing a nuclear weapon," and to keep them from exporting terrorism, said Maryland Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee.


He traveled there with the intelligence committee chairman, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., to meet Israel's prime minister and defense minister, along with other officials.


"We talked about the fact that sanctions are working and they are going to get a lot more aggressive," Ruppersberger added.


They also discussed talked about presenting a unified front to Iran, to counter the media reports that the two countries are at odds over how and when to attack Iran.
"We have to learn from North Korea. All those (peace) talks and stalling and they developed a nuclear weapon," he said. "We are going to send a message, enough is enough, the stalling is over. ... All options are on the table.”


"I got the sense that Israel is incredibly serious about a strike on their nuclear weapons program," Rogers told CNN on Monday. "It's their calculus that the administration ... is not serious about a real military consequence to Iran moving forward.


"They believe they're going to have to make a decision on their own, given the current posture of the United States," he added.


U.S. intelligence and special operations officials have tried to keep a dialogue going with Israel, despite the high-level impasse, sharing with them options such as allowing Israel to use U.S. bases in the region from which to launch such a strike, as a way to make sure the Israelis give the Americans a heads-up, according to the U.S. official, and a former U.S. official with knowledge of the communications
Cooperation has improved on sharing of intelligence in the region, according to one current and one former U.S. official. Israel is providing key information on Syria for instance, now that the U.S. has closed its embassy and pulled out both its diplomats and intelligence officials stationed there, the U.S. official said.


FOX NEWS

11 comments:

  1. Why are our politicians listening to this delusional paranoid?

    With friends like this in the Middle East, who needs enemies?

    ReplyDelete
  2. He looks like he's wearing a dick in the middle of his face.

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  3. Brenda O'Malley is home making dinner, as usual,
    when Tim Finnegan arrives at her door.
    "Brenda, may I come in?" he asks.
    "I've somethin' to tell ya".
    "Of course you can come in, you're always welcome, Tim.
    But where's my husband?"
    "That's what I'm here to be telling ya, Brenda."
    There was an accident down at the Guinness brewery..."
    "Oh, God no!" cries Brenda. "Please don't tell me."
    "I must, Brenda. Your husband Shamus
    is dead and gone. I'm sorry.
    Finally, she looked up at Tim.
    "How did it happen, Tim?"

    "It was terrible, Brenda. He fell into a vat
    of Guinness Stout and drowned."



    "Oh my dear Jesus! But you must tell me truth, Tim.
    Did he at least go quickly?"



    "Well, Brenda... no. In fact,
    he got out three times to pee."

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sam, your a fuckin killer!!! Funny as hell.

    ReplyDelete
  5. He is not wearing a dick, he is a dick.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Right, we need Iran as our friend instead.

    And he is not delusional, and not paranoid, he has damn good reasons to be worried.

    Israeli officials said that if they eventually decide a strike is necessary, they would keep the Americans in the dark to decrease the likelihood that the U.S. would be held responsible for failing to stop Israel's potential attack.

    Sounds like they think to do us a favor there. In return Obama will probably cut off the resupply of parts etc if they need them.

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  7. Your bias is showing...

    The delusional person in the room is you if you do not think Israel has a right to defend it'sself against Iran

    You said it in the past, they have every right to.

    Now you call him a "delusional paranoid"?

    With friends like you, who needs enemies is more like it.

    Not to worry Deuce, people like you will just shrug your shoulders as millions of israelis lie dead from an iranian bomb. Just like Americans and others shrug their shoulders as million were murdered in the holocaust, in Rwanda and numerous other places from Pol Pot's killing fields to Stalins murder of 10's of millions.

    So get off your high horse and understand a reality...

    Israel will not allow genocide (for the 2nd time in 60 years) against the Jewish people, even if it causes you discomfort.

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  8. Netanyahu is a disaster in the making for Israel. I don’t want to share in self-inflicted pain. Anyone that bothers to pay attention knows that the rule of the mullahs in Iran is tenuous at best. Repression, especially when it comes to the internet is increasing. That is not because the mullahs are stronger, it is an indication of their weakness. Syria under Assad will topple.

    Only a disaster like Netanyahu will create an external enemy for Iranians to rally around. You love the guy. I admit I can’t stand him. I have my reasons. You have yours. The continued charge by you that I have it in for the Jews is to me amusing. Try and improve your arguments based on facts.

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  9. Deuce: Netanyahu is a disaster in the making for Israel.


    Bibi has done amazing things for Israel, you choose not to see all the good that he has accomplished. He is one the primary reasons Israel has not been effected by the world wide recession, he has contrary to many, freed up the israeli economy, deregulated industries and improved the overall accountablity and transparency of the Israeli government.

    He has been the Prime Minister before and been thrown out of office and regained his standing within the public by hard work and humility.

    You dont see that side of the coin, that is bias.

    you continue: I don’t want to share in self-inflicted pain.


    You have in the past said that Israel should be allowed to do what it needs for it's own interests, just as America has to do what is in it's own interest. It's in Israel's interest to avoid genocide.

    Deuce: Anyone that bothers to pay attention knows that the rule of the mullahs in Iran is tenuous at best. Repression, especially when it comes to the internet is increasing. That is not because the mullahs are stronger, it is an indication of their weakness. Syria under Assad will topple.


    At what cost?

    Dictators just dont topple, they murder everyone around them. Iran is controlled by murderous Mullahs with a vast array of weapons. You minimize the potential mass murder they are willing to do.

    Israel does not have to listen to your assurances that "everything will be ok" just dont poke a stick at them mentality.

    Deuce: Only a disaster like Netanyahu will create an external enemy for Iranians to rally around.

    Once again your statement shows your ignorance. The Iranian people rally around the concept "Death to America" and Death to Israel not Bibi.

    Try studying the Iranians a bit more you might learn something.

    Deuce: You love the guy. I admit I can’t stand him. I have my reasons. You have yours.


    Yep your cartoon is quite vicious it speaks for it'sself

    Deuce: The continued charge by you that I have it in for the Jews is to me amusing. Try and improve your arguments based on facts.

    No i didnt say that. I said that you will sit and SHRUG your shoulders when genocide occurs outside America's borders.

    You aint FOR israel and many of your comments are against Israel but I think your general position is one of being selfish and not seeing anything greater than what concerns you and your own ass.

    hardly a having it in for the jew's position, however your tolerance for anti-semites? Quite deep.

    You most recent comments about bibi show a hatred that you havent shown towards many a world leader that is actually an enemy of the American people.

    To say "with friends like this who needs enemies"?

    Disgusting.

    Shows a shallowness and a lack of any understanding.

    ReplyDelete