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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) 26/08/08
      70.   #49 Indy....Biden didn`t give him the lift he expected 15:27  |  Lynn 26/08/08
      71.   #47 Dutch...on bullies and warmongers 15:32  |  Lynn 26/08/08
      72.   Obama: World must press Iran before Israel strikes. 15:37  |  Akram Zekaria 26/08/08
      73.   #68 Lynn 15:53  |  Victoria 26/08/08
      74.   # 73 Victoria...actually you are wrong 16:16  |  Lynn 26/08/08
      75.   #56 Michael of the UK....how`s the security 16:29  |  Lynn 26/08/08
      76.   Let`s assume Obama is a true friend of Israel, 16:44  |  Harvey 26/08/08
      77.   Lynn 75 17:01  |  Harvey 26/08/08
      78.   #77 Harvey....I like pointing out reasons 17:27  |  Lynn 26/08/08
      79.   Lynn 75, you`re so wrong. 18:05  |  Michael 26/08/08
      80.   Obama is a homiletical product for domestic consumption. 18:15  |  Fortuna Benmayor 26/08/08
      81.   #72 Akram On Obama Worth Reading..Here it is: 18:26  |  KATHY 26/08/08
      82.   #32 Ah Alex K in Boston 18:27  |  mike 26/08/08
      83.   #48 Cipora, McCain is old and suffers 18:32  |  mike 26/08/08
      84.   Only an Israeli Preoccupation? 18:36  |  Israeli citizen 26/08/08
      85.   From what I understand... 19:52  |  Ofer Maimon 26/08/08
      86.   #79 Michael......just because you settled 20:01  |  Lynn 26/08/08
      87.   Michael 79, and my mate Lynn 20:17  |  Harvey 26/08/08
      88.   Well, Idle "Observer",,,, 20:23  |  Gray 26/08/08
      89.   86 I object Lynn because it doesn`t work 20:37  |  Michael 26/08/08
      90.   #79 Michael..After all that long post to Lynn I have to remindyou 20:42  |  KATHY 26/08/08
      91.   #81 Kathy, maybe you should spend 21:07  |  mike 26/08/08
      92.   #80 Fortuna, Obama will win nonetheless. 21:09  |  mike 26/08/08
      93.   #70 Lynn, Obama will win 21:17  |  mike 26/08/08
      94.   To Mike On McCain`s Memory Lapses 21:17  |  Persian Kitty 26/08/08
      95.   #84 swissinfo.com 21:29  |  Lynn 26/08/08
      96.   # 87 Harvey....a good realistic approach 21:31  |  Lynn 26/08/08
      97.   Jeff Northridge 21:44  |  Persian Kitty 26/08/08
      98.   35 Glenna - Then What 21:57  |  Mark of Lewiston 26/08/08
      99.   #58 Anik Re Mrs Pass the Dutchy Maine is smokin this time of year 22:01  |  Big Sur 26/08/08
      100.   Jeff Northridge - Part II 22:01  |  Persian Kitty 26/08/08
      101.   #54 I wonder which Observer You Are.If you are The Genuine One? 22:29  |  K 26/08/08
      102.   #69, Dino 22:55  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/08/08
      103.   #80 Fortuna Benmayor..Here Another One To Read For you.. 23:00  |  K 26/08/08
      104.   69. Dino on the U.S, Paper Tiger Theory. 23:08  |  Stephen 26/08/08
      105.   Barack, bubelah 00:35  |  Lee Kaplan 27/08/08
      106.   Nukes are purely defensive weapons 01:13  |  Andrew 27/08/08
      107.   whats the matter Dutch? I thought that... 01:21  |  american Jew 27/08/08
      108.   swiss,the US could still take Switzerland,the appeasers of modern 01:47  |  terrornator 27/08/08
      109.   michael Re:lynn it don`t make a damn if its one or 1 million,your 02:07  |  terrornator 27/08/08
      110.   to Kathy 81# Obma can`t be other than light weight 02:20  |  Akram Zekaria 27/08/08
      111.   91# Kike . Bad apples are not included in the price. 03:09  |  Akram Zekaria 27/08/08
      112.   Here is how the game is played 03:19  |  Jim 27/08/08
      113.   #80 Fortuna Benmayor ..A further On Obama and VP 03:28  |  Benny 27/08/08
      114.   To 91 Who Thinks He Knows,But has some figuring to do. 03:38  |  Benny 27/08/08
      115.   #1 Joseph E. 03:50  |  Jim 27/08/08
      116.   #30 Joseph L. 03:58  |  Jim 27/08/08
      117.   #40 Natalie Durson 04:25  |  Jim 27/08/08
      118.   #80 Benny, sounds like Biden is our man! 04:38  |  ballistic 27/08/08
      119.   Damn all those who watched this buildup & took no serious steps.. 04:57  |  Dutch 27/08/08
      120.   Andrew on nukes 06:59  |  zengeos 27/08/08
      121.   Jim from TX on Gaza 07:08  |  zengeos 27/08/08
      122.   On Pali self determination 07:20  |  zengeos 27/08/08
      123.   Blow out by the delivery boy 07:34  |  Shimon Cleopas 27/08/08
      124.   tTIME is running out and that THIRD WORLD WAR 08:13  |  Dagma 27/08/08
      125.   # 102 Cipora Julianna Kohn 11:46  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/08/08
      126.   # 104 Stephen 12:02  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/08/08
      127.   # 117 Jim..Your sense of humour is astounding! 16:52  |  Benny 27/08/08
      128.   #56 Michael *** In Short He Is Just Flip,Flopping!! 21:22  |  KATHY 27/08/08
      129.   # 119 Doris Calm Down.You`ll Get Paid Don`t Worry.Just Counted. 01:19  |  Benny 28/08/08
      130.   to zengeos on nukes 20:26  |  Andrew 28/08/08
      131.   the world has done nothing but press Israel to give up their land 23:30  |  glenna 30/08/08
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