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Last update - 09:19 06/07/2009
U.S.: Letting Israel act freely on Iran isn't policy change
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Barack Obama, Iran 

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Sunday that the Obama administration would not stand in Israel's way should the latter chooses to take military action to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat.



White House officials said that the vice president's remarks demonstrated only U.S. allowance of Israeli sovereignty, and not a change in policy on the part of the Obama administration.
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Biden told ABC reporter George Stephanopoulos that Israel has the right to determine its own course of action with regard to the Iranian nuclear threat, regardless of what the Obama administration chooses to do, .

When asked whether the Obama administration would restrain Israeli military action against Iran, Biden responded:

"Israel can determine for itself - it's a sovereign nation - what's in their interest and what they decide to do relative to Iran and anyone else."

Stephanaopoulos posed the question three times, and each time Biden repeated that Israel was free to choose its actions. "If the Netanyahu government decides to take a course of action different than the one being pursued now, that is their sovereign right to do that. That is not our choice."

White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said Biden's remarks did not signaling any change of approach on Iran or Israel.

"The vice president refused to engage hypotheticals, and he made clear that our policy has not changed," Vietor said. "Our friends and allies, including Israel, know that the president believes that now is the time to explore direct diplomatic options."

During the interview, Biden hinted that President Barack Obama was looking to take a harder line toward Iran over the latter's contentious nuclear program.

He said that Obama's offer for dialogue with Tehran remained on the table, but rejected the notion that the U.S. would make concessions for such negotiation to take place.

"The ball's in their court," Biden said. "If they choose to meet with the P-5 under the conditions the P-5 has laid out, it means they begin to change course. And it means that the protestors probably had some impact on the behavior of an administration that they don't like at all."

Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Sunday, when asked about Biden's comments, that the U.S. position on Iran and a military strike involves a political decision.

"I have been, for some time, concerned about any strike on Iran. I worry about it being very destabilizing, not just in and of itself but unintended consequences of a strike like that," Mullen said on CBS' Face the Nation.

"At the same time, I'm one that thinks Iran should not have nuclear weapons. I think that is very destabilizing," he said.

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      1.   Biden: U.S. won`t stop Israeli strike on Iran 17:13  |  nir 05/07/09
      2.   Go Israel Go 17:19  |  Yey 05/07/09
      3.   All the world`s leaders give Israel the ok because they know 17:22  |  israel wake up 05/07/09
      4.   Looks like Purim after all... 17:24  |  Ben 05/07/09
      5.   I guess this whole idea of stopping a nuclear Iran... 17:26  |  Dutch Dirk 05/07/09
      6.   IRAN: GET TO YOUR BOMB SHELTERS. NOW! 17:29  |  michelle 05/07/09
      7.   That Would Be the Dumbest Move of All Time 17:33  |  1973 05/07/09
      8.   back to the basics 17:34  |  sameer 05/07/09
      9.   The US will not facilitate 17:40  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/07/09
      10.   This is NUTS 17:42  |  Haaretz Fan 05/07/09
      11.   The message is 17:43  |  Axel 05/07/09
      12.   Interestingly enough US is villing to stand by S.Korea. 17:44  |  Absoulte Sweden 05/07/09
      13.   Israel v Iran 17:50  |  Marc 05/07/09
      14.   Why assume just one strike? 17:54  |  Big B 05/07/09
      15.   Iran must be stopped for bring peace 17:55  |  Mark Jeffery Koch 05/07/09
      16.   Everyone Is Worried About Iranian Reaction, World Reaction 18:00  |  Eli 05/07/09
      17.   Axel _ We Are, Were And Always Will Be On Our Own 18:01  |  Eli 05/07/09
      18.   Saw Interview - Joe DIDN`T give any green light to Israel 18:03  |  No way 05/07/09
      19.   Let`s get the story straight 18:04  |  WHG 05/07/09
      20.   Seeing the light 18:08  |  Brod 05/07/09
      21.   Some time ago America said NO, NO, and now Biden says YES, YES? 18:08  |  S 05/07/09
      22.   nr 5 18:08  |  LJac 05/07/09
      23.   Biden calls Israel`s bluff 18:10  |  BDS 05/07/09
      24.   Would you like a bag with that rope? 18:21  |  ManintheMiddle 05/07/09
      25.   why doesnt israel just do, sheesh! 18:22  |  just do it! 05/07/09
      26.   biden at saddam`s palace 18:23  |  catastrophe 05/07/09
      27.   Anger at west instead of Iran 18:37  |  American 05/07/09
      28.   # 17 eli 18:38  |  Axel 05/07/09
      29.   If Obama & the saudis play ball israel can pull it off 18:43  |  zionist forever 05/07/09
      30.   Axel _ It`s Israeli Ingenuity That Allowed It To Survive. 18:50  |  Eli 05/07/09
      31.   How do you know Iran doesn`t already have a bomb? 18:50  |  just curious 05/07/09
      32.   "That is not our choice" Biden.... 18:52  |  Smadar 05/07/09
      33.   noone will let Israel (or anyone else) nuke Iran 18:55  |  Welshman 05/07/09
      34.   Biden tells it as it is 18:58  |  ghostoflutherblisset 05/07/09
      35.   Obama`s Cairo speech unravelling so soon 18:58  |  Amana Khardous 05/07/09
      36.   What Biden meant is that US no longer coordinating with Israel 19:03  |  Kelly Brians 05/07/09
      37.   Oh yes please do it 19:04  |  wibism 05/07/09
      38.   To Axel (#11): Under the rose and radar 19:07  |  Morris Valentine 05/07/09
      39.   Amana Khardous _ You Can Also Interpret Biden`s 19:15  |  Eli 05/07/09
      40.   Iran 19:16  |  farrokh 05/07/09
      41.   us won`t stop israel 19:16  |  shimshon kinory 05/07/09
      42.   Ask Israel... 19:21  |  loi 05/07/09
      43.   Morris Valentine _ That Response To Axel Is 19:25  |  Eli 05/07/09
      44.   Morris Valentine _ That Response To Axel Is 19:25  |  Eli 05/07/09
      45.   the writing is on the table.world leaders and moderate arab 19:26  |  ks 05/07/09
      46.   #38 Morris 19:27  |  Janet 05/07/09
      47.   Biden Has Taken Israel`s Blackmail Off the Table, He is Saying 19:27  |  Monitor 05/07/09
      48.   # 30 eli 19:29  |  Axel 05/07/09
      49.   # 38 mv 19:32  |  Axel 05/07/09
      50.   #32 Smadar 19:35  |  Peleg 05/07/09
      51.   # 38 mv and sub rosa 19:43  |  Axel 05/07/09
      52.   farrokh, if zionists were toothless they would`nt exist anymore.. 19:44  |  Nemesis 05/07/09
      53.   Subliminal messages.... dogs barking loud 19:45  |  allang 05/07/09
      54.   No need to sign yourself `Haaretz Fan`, that`s obvious from the 19:45  |  Nemesis 05/07/09
      55.   us won`t stop israel.... 19:46  |  shimshon kinory 05/07/09
      56.   Axel to Eli---who overlooked a few points 19:50  |  Labhras 05/07/09
      57.   Axel is not an axle, not even a cog 19:50  |  x-ray 05/07/09
      58.   Janet and Israels history 19:51  |  x-ray 05/07/09
      59.   Janet _ Your Statement Below....Really! 19:51  |  Eli 05/07/09
      60.   If israel didn`t resisted in 1948 & 1967,there would be no Israel 19:52  |  Vittorio 05/07/09
      61.   To Axel (#49) 19:53  |  Morris Valentine 05/07/09
      62.   Did Biden get permission 19:55  |  Bilbi 05/07/09
      63.   #50 Peleg A.N. Chamberlain, 1930`s comparison discredited by U.S 19:57  |  Smadar 05/07/09
      64.   Dumb and dumber 19:58  |  Awake 05/07/09
      65.   How Convenient Axel! 19:58  |  Eli 05/07/09
      66.   Biden is right: Israel can determine for itself-it`s a sovereign 20:00  |  Vittorio 05/07/09
      67.   To Axel (#51) 20:02  |  Morris Valentine 05/07/09
      68.   BDS wrong (again) 20:02  |  Bilbi 05/07/09
      69.   farrokh in Lutz 20:06  |  Lutzjew 05/07/09
      70.   To Labhras re response to Eli (#56) 20:07  |  Morris Valentine 05/07/09
      71.   Labhras _ I Did Not Desert. Just Taking A Respite 20:07  |  Eli 05/07/09
      72.   strike, strike 20:14  |  Boris 05/07/09
      73.   Absolute Sweden # 12 20:20  |  American in NY 05/07/09
      74.   Boris_ Israel Did Not Threaten To Annihilate Iran 20:22  |  Eli 05/07/09
      75.   There`s a certain irony here 20:24  |  Colin Wright 05/07/09
      76.   usa chess game 20:24  |  avi 05/07/09
      77.   Pure Spinning of Biden`s Comments 20:26  |  Mark of Lewiston 05/07/09
      78.   It`s like the law doesn`t exist 20:29  |  John E. Smoke 05/07/09
      79.   not so simple 20:35  |  Cam 05/07/09
      80.   See the interview for yourself 20:37  |  One 05/07/09
      81.   John E. Smoke, I know what you`re smoking.. 20:39  |  Nemesis 05/07/09
      82.   Yeah, Well... 20:50  |  Yosemite 05/07/09
      83.   You`re on your own! 20:51  |  BDS 05/07/09
      84.   # 67 mv 20:51  |  Axel 05/07/09
      85.   Morris after your pathetic attempt to excuse the slaughter 20:54  |  Labhras 05/07/09
      86.   # 67 mv - 2 20:55  |  Axel 05/07/09
      87.   Russian anti-aircraft-systems 21:05  |  Rob 05/07/09
      88.   has anyone thought about irans response to israeli murder 21:06  |  chilem 05/07/09
      89.   #70 Morris you really want to know what Sinn fein means 21:18  |  Labhras 05/07/09
      90.   Joe Biden 21:22  |  george 05/07/09
      91.   Yes indeed..GO israel Go!! 21:33  |  Effendi 05/07/09
      92.   A parting of the ways 21:45  |  Natallie Durson 05/07/09
      93.   Iran is also a sovereign country 22:19  |  Profco 05/07/09
      94.   Axel in Germany 22:39  |  rich 05/07/09
      95.   US policy created the problem, let the US invade to fix it, 1 22:43  |  David Turner 05/07/09
      96.   US policy created the problem, let the US invade to fix it, 2 22:43  |  David Turner 05/07/09
      97.   You bet Israel should protect itself!!! 22:57  |  Tonja 05/07/09
      98.   To Labhras (#85) 23:02  |  Morris Valentine 05/07/09
      99.   Profco # 93 Israel and Iran are foreign countries 23:03  |  American in NY 05/07/09
      100.   To Axel (#84, 86) 23:10  |  Morris Valentine 05/07/09
      101.   then WHAT would you do ??????? 23:11  |  to guarantee safety 05/07/09
      102.   # 94 rich 23:11  |  Axel 05/07/09
      103.   Labhras and political revisionism 23:19  |  Christopher 05/07/09
      104.   Yeah!!! You go Eli 23:23  |  Tonja 05/07/09
      105.   Biden ignores US-Russian clash over Iran & WWIII 23:23  |  Ivar 05/07/09
      106.   Biden Won`t stop..... 23:24  |  The Teacher/Instruct 05/07/09
      107.   Israel is a sovereign nation-Joe Biden 23:40  |  norman a blumberg 05/07/09
      108.   Bombing Iran 23:45  |  Mike 05/07/09
      109.   Israel has got the goods! 23:56  |  Maureen Ann 05/07/09
      110.   Misrepresenting what Biden said - Transcript 00:17  |  curious 06/07/09
      111.   Of course, it was all Bush`s fault! Thanks David Turner, now I 00:19  |  Nemesis 06/07/09
      112.   oh yes Israel 00:21  |  RICK 06/07/09
      113.   to: chilem 00:23  |  Sam 06/07/09
      114.   Name no way--USA 00:23  |  roscoe 06/07/09
      115.   Good luck with that David Turner 00:28  |  ghostoflutherblisset 06/07/09
      116.   I think I am going to support the boycot Israel 01:09  |  Edith 06/07/09
      117.   peace in the region 01:10  |  c.schmidt 06/07/09
      118.   #6 Please not in my name. 01:12  |  Edith 06/07/09
      119.   And you people have no right to call ... 01:16  |  Edith 06/07/09
      120.   Joe Biden & Obama will pay for this.... 01:18  |  Dutch 06/07/09
      121.   #9 correction 01:33  |  James 06/07/09
      122.   Bush refused to give Israel bunker buster bombs 02:20  |  Sapphire 06/07/09
      123.   The Joint Chief od staff. Re: unintended consequence 03:03  |  Dutch 06/07/09
      124.   #88 - chilem 03:19  |  MichaelF 06/07/09
      125.   #93 - Profco 03:22  |  MichaelF 06/07/09
      126.   Biden Statement was Perfectly Clear 04:39  |  Mark of Lewiston 06/07/09
      127.   #30 Eli, having lived in Soviet Union and Poland in 1940 to 1957. 05:28  |  Canadian Observer 06/07/09
      128.   How to describe US reactions? 06:15  |  Mark Lincoln 06/07/09
      129.   A war will end any talk of peace 06:24  |  Mark Lincoln 06/07/09
      130.   Biden 06:30  |  Arieka 06/07/09
      131.   now isreal, germany, france ,England are stick? 06:57  |  joobin 06/07/09
      132.   The world must awake to the threat this man poses to all of us. 07:56  |  Lane 06/07/09
      133.   Reciprocity 08:00  |  Tim 06/07/09
      134.   #111 Arieka - Remember 2nd WW? 08:54  |  PADDY 06/07/09
      135.   # 58 "attacked" in 1973, x-ray 09:08  |  eric 06/07/09
      136.   If its not a green light, why say anything at all? 09:09  |  The Prophet 06/07/09
      137.   Israel is a sovereign state 09:20  |  Iletzter 06/07/09
      138.   axel 12:24  |  patriot 06/07/09
      139.   To Paddy 12:27  |  Arieka 06/07/09
      140.   Morris your review was not impartial I did not see 12:29  |  Labhras 06/07/09
      141.   To WHG @19 You are quite correct.Biden did not say 12:54  |  Whiskey/Bravo 06/07/09
      142.   how can we? 12:55  |  oz 06/07/09
      143.   Labhras #140 13:20  |  Roo 06/07/09
      144.   Morris # 70 re eli response re Labhras & fairness 13:34  |  American in NY 06/07/09
      145.   #143 Roo forgot one thing 13:42  |  Labhras 06/07/09
      146.   When nukes are in rogue nations` hands... 13:51  |  peter 06/07/09
      147.   Say, didn`t the US tell Saddam the same about Kuwait? 14:00  |  CJ 06/07/09
      148.   x-ray - Uh? 16:30  |  CJ 06/07/09
      149.   to guarantee safety.. Iran threatened a stalemate. 16:37  |  CJ 06/07/09
      150.   #148, CJ.... 21:01  |  Silvienne 06/07/09
      151.   #141, Whiskey/Bravo 21:12  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/07/09
      152.   #106, TEACHER/INSTRUCT 21:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/07/09
      153.   #30, Eli... 21:29  |  Silvienne 06/07/09
      154.   To AiNY (#144) 21:33  |  Morris Valentine 06/07/09
      155.   #17, Eli.... 21:33  |  Silvienne 06/07/09
      156.   Topol`s 21:48  |  mike 06/07/09
      157.   #153, Moris Valentine 22:09  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/07/09
      158.   To MV On Eli??IF I am right Eli is from Berkley and a Good Jew.As 22:31  |  Whiskey/Bravo 06/07/09
      159.   GO IAF, GO! Iran is in trouble now. 22:33  |  4:20 06/07/09
      160.   #153 Fairness is it Morris-- 22:34  |  Labhras 06/07/09
      161.   Is nuclear Iran only an Israeli problem ! 22:56  |  Akram Zekaria 06/07/09
      162.   And That is Why,None Of My Posts Are Out@150 23:30  |  W.B 06/07/09
      163.   #153mv to ain ny. 01:02  |  Labhras 07/07/09
      164.   #153mv to ain ny. 3rd try 01:03  |  Labhras 07/07/09
      165.   Listening to The Gaffe-Master 02:13  |  binny 07/07/09
      166.   Gereen Light to Attack....But... 02:36  |  ali 07/07/09
      167.   For Labhras A List Very Delightful@ 145 & Roo too! 03:03  |  Jasmine 07/07/09
      168.   Israel is Supremecist 03:13  |  kh 07/07/09
      169.   Malheursement Jais repondu,mais Haaretz etc.#150 03:19  |  W.B 07/07/09
      170.   Israel believes it`s soveriegn is 60,000 KM past it`s green borde 04:33  |  Marc Leb 07/07/09
      171.   A in NY - second try 05:16  |  David Israel 07/07/09
      172.   the whole objective is prevention of nuclear arms race in ME etc. 05:53  |  Smadar 07/07/09
      173.   #160, W.B. 06:49  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/07/09
      174.   # 1 something the u.s. wouldn`t be able to do, nir (2nd try) 07:01  |  eric 07/07/09
      175.   US-Go ahead I. do it...Don`t you wish Bush was Pres now? 07:27  |  Roshea 07/07/09
      176.   The American position 07:42  |  Mark Lincoln 07/07/09
      177.   JASMINE Plus the civillians the IRA deliberately targetted 08:08  |  PETER SM 07/07/09
      178.   MARC LEB.The US sends troops to fight for Moslems 08:11  |  PETER SM 07/07/09
      179.   BDS Israel is actually upgrading its anti missile defences 08:34  |  PETER SM 07/07/09
      180.   #160, W.B. 11:19  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/07/09
      181.   A in NY - 3rd try 15:33  |  David Israel 07/07/09
      182.   To Labhras (#153), with apologies - finally 16:51  |  Morris Valentine 07/07/09
      183.   128 &129 Mark Lincoln, your points are well taken 19:58  |  Dutch 07/07/09
      184.   PETER SM, for once we agree 17:16  |  Silvienne 08/07/09
      185.   as if any one cares what you think Say@184 03:18  |  Whiskey/Bravo 10/07/09
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