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Comments:  131
Last update - 10:13 26/08/2008
Obama: World must press Iran before Israel strikes
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters
Tags: nuclear, Iran, Obama, Israel

DAVENPORT, Iowa - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Monday that the world must increase pressure on Iran over its nuclear program before Israel feels it has its "back to the wall."

"My job as president would be to try to make sure that we are tightening the screws diplomatically on Iran, that we've mobilized the world community to go after Iran's program in a serious way, to get sanctions in place so that Iran starts making a difficult calculation," Obama said in response to a voter's question at a campaign event in Iowa. "We've got to do that before Israel feels like its back is to the wall."

Obama was asked whether Israel felt it had a "green light" to take military action against Iran if the United States and its allies did not soon demonstrate progress on containing Tehran's nuclear ambitions. "I don't want to speculate on whether or not Israel feels like it has a green light or not, because that would be speculation," he replied. "What is not speculation is that we have to act much more forcefully and effectively on the world stage to contain Iran's nuclear capabilities."
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A nuclear Iran, he explained, would change the rules of the game throughout the Middle East.

In the past, Obama had criticized his main rival for the Democratic nomination, Senator Hillary Clinton, for her tough talk on Iran, terming it reminiscent of statements by U.S. President George Bush. But recently, faced with a tough-talking Republican rival, Senator John McCain, and growing criticism of what detractors term a penchant for "making nice" to rogue regimes, he has been toughening his rhetoric as well.

Obama also referred to Israel as one of America's closest allies in his response. He spent two nights in Israel in July as part of a week-long overseas tour, and met with several Israeli officials.

Yoav Stern adds: In addition to its nuclear program, Israel is also concerned about Iran's ongoing supply of advanced weaponry to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Tehran sees Hezbollah as its front line of defense against Israel and an important part of its deterrent against an Israeli attack.

However, Iran believes the fact that the Lebanese border has been quiet for two years now undermines Hezbollah's deterrent ability, and may therefore be interested in heating up the border in the near future.

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      1.   Diplomacy & Sanctions Are Ineffective , IDF Must Strike 22:35  |  Joseph.E 25/08/08
      2.   And how will the US do this without Russia? 22:38  |  HOW HOW? 25/08/08
      3.   Obama will oratory to get elected. But what would he really do? 22:45  |  common sense 25/08/08
      4.   Obama is quite correct. So is McCain. 23:04  |  Stephen 25/08/08
      5.   WORLD MUST STOP ISRAELI AGGRESSION BEFORE HEZBOLLAH STRIKES 23:13  |  Great Prophet 25/08/08
      6.   Israel cannot and should not act alone. 23:34  |  DR 25/08/08
      7.   Does Obama realize his country has been using depleted uranium... 23:35  |  Maureen Ann 25/08/08
      8.   Joseph E - Who Finishes? 23:51  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/08/08
      9.   Now, this guy is really funny 00:05  |  Ramius 26/08/08
      10.   It would be wise 00:18  |  SAL 26/08/08
      11.   Vote-grubbing Obama appeals to the Peanut Gallery 00:24  |  Clickfool 26/08/08
      12.   2. How,How? Ah,but you don`t understand Uncle Sam`s strategy! 00:25  |  lakshmi 26/08/08
      13.   Please, stop Israeli and jewish hysteria! 00:31  |  Chavez 26/08/08
      14.   how how 2 00:39  |  potobac 26/08/08
      15.   US intimidating Israel not to strike 01:36  |  Liliane 26/08/08
      16.   Tightening The Diplomatic Screws 01:43  |  Jeff Northridge 26/08/08
      17.   Good Reason not to Vote for Either 01:46  |  John Isenhower 26/08/08
      18.   Israel should be last . . . . 02:05  |  revoltop 26/08/08
      19.   Obama/ Iran diplomacy 02:06  |  Marshall Sindelman 26/08/08
      20.   The pressure will never work on Mullah`s 02:21  |  Yuri 26/08/08
      21.   A SMART MOVE, OBAMA, A SMART MOVE 02:22  |  indrajaya 26/08/08
      22.   #4 Yuri, Our Simple Rulers Don`t "KNOW" any History of Mullahs 02:37  |  david 26/08/08
      23.   #3 common sense 02:46  |  maoriboy 26/08/08
      24.   ObaMessiah Speaks!!! 02:57  |  C.A. Fulghum 26/08/08
      25.   #4 Clicky....welcome back 03:17  |  Lynn 26/08/08
      26.   The world`s a real mess, 03:24  |  Lynn 26/08/08
      27.   pressing iran has not worked yet;and it won`t work;even if you 04:00  |  glenna 26/08/08
      28.   #1 Joseph just attack now and deal with 04:08  |  spyguy 26/08/08
      29.   re 4 click choice speaks for itself 04:12  |  alan the real one 26/08/08
      30.   Nuclear Iran is a Certainty 04:32  |  Joseph L. 26/08/08
      31.   Obama changes his stance from day to day why believe him 04:33  |  Kipperraes 26/08/08
      32.   Vote for McCain - if you care about the US & Israel 04:42  |  AlexK 26/08/08
      33.   Congratulations Chavez, you invented a wheel! 05:11  |  Bruce 26/08/08
      34.   iran 05:17  |  Shmuelshachor 26/08/08
      35.   in obama`s dreams;the world?hello the world includes US/Israel 06:31  |  glenna 26/08/08
      36.   Israel attack 06:57  |  Dani 26/08/08
      37.   Only America and Israel have the potential capacity and will ... 07:21  |  Jean Van Daem 26/08/08
      38.   Israel More Crazy than Iran 07:32  |  Ali 26/08/08
      39.   Obama`s platitude praised by Indrajaya AS SUCH! 07:54  |  s 26/08/08
      40.   Obama: World must press Iran before Israel strikes ? 08:02  |  Natallie Durson 26/08/08
      41.   If ach-MAD-inijad thinks hes the messiah...will he compromise?? 08:04  |  Doubtful 26/08/08
      42.   The real issue here 08:18  |  Tzfonit 26/08/08
      43.   Regime change is the only answer. 09:04  |  Arief Contractor 26/08/08
      44.   It`s Bush who is the problem 09:22  |  Victoria 26/08/08
      45.   World must press Israel to make peace, solving ALL PROBLEMS 09:36  |  Ivar 26/08/08
      46.   More Double Standards 09:58  |  Myles 26/08/08
      47.   It`s disgusting to see Obama doing Israel`s bidding. 10:17  |  Dutch 26/08/08
      48.   empty rhetoric 10:17  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/08/08
      49.   # 17, LYNN (RE: CLICKY) 10:24  |  indrajaya 26/08/08
      50.   But the world 10:29  |  Dav 26/08/08
      51.   It is time 10:33  |  Dav 26/08/08
      52.   ivar the parrot and making peace? with whom 10:35  |  vhardman 26/08/08
      53.   Speak for yourself, Jean van Daem # 37 10:43  |  Clickfool 26/08/08
      54.   U.S. NEEDS TO STRIKE IRAN 10:47  |  Observer 26/08/08
      55.   doris cadigan and the blind eye to her telescope 10:54  |  xyz news 26/08/08
      56.   Obama`s apparent lack of fixed principle is worrying. 11:16  |  Michael 26/08/08
      57.   #42, Tzfonit 11:22  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/08/08
      58.   Dutch 11:46  |  Arik 26/08/08
      59.   wet dreams 12:04  |  guy 26/08/08
      60.   Dutch # 47 The Kellog-Briand Pact (1928) 12:18  |  Jeff Northridge 26/08/08
      61.   For Cipora, on the "threat" from Iran # 48 12:20  |  Clickfool 26/08/08
      62.   Change the rules of the game he says !! 12:21  |  Steve the Pals. 26/08/08
      63.   Iran To Obama: Israel won`t dare to strike 13:32  |  Aounist 26/08/08
      64.   Glenna Valdez: i see you`ve calmed down a bit 13:40  |  fk 26/08/08
      65.   To Arief Contractor from DOHA 13:55  |  fk 26/08/08
      66.   New era 14:52  |  Peter 26/08/08
      67.   New era 14:52  |  Peter 26/08/08
      68.   #44 Victoria....Bush didn`t blow up London buses 15:16  |  Lynn 26/08/08
      69.   The U.S. paper tiger doesn`t scare anyone anymore..... 15:18  |  Swiss (Dino)