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Last update - 23:56 06/07/2009
U.S. denies giving Israel 'green light' to strike Iran
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press
Tags: Israel News, Iran, Joe Biden 

Vice President Joe Biden's statement that Israel can decide on its own whether to strike Iran's nuclear sites should not be construed as an American "green light" for such an action, the State Department said on Monday.

"We are certainly not going to give a green light to any kind of military strike, but Israel is a sovereign country and we're not going to dictate its actions," State Department spokesperson Ian Kelly said on Monday.

"We share the Israelis' deep concerns about Iran's nuclear program," Kelly said. "But you have to ask Israel if they are going to make a strike."
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Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Monday welcomed Biden's statement, calling it "logical."

But other Israeli leaders avoided comment, a low-key reaction that suggested Israel did not see Biden's comments as a green light to strike Iran. President Barack Obama underlined that diplomacy with Iran remains an option.

Israel considers Iran a strategic threat because of its nuclear program and long-range missile development, dismissing Iranian denials that it intends to build nuclear weapons. Israel has been nervous over the Obama administration's attempts to engage Iran, and Israel has pointedly sent clear signals of its military capabilities while urging world action to rein in Tehran.

Meanwhile, the U.S. goal of dialogue with Tehran has been rattled by Iran's heavy crackdown on protesters in the country's disputed presidential election, though Washington says it still hopes the policy will bear fruit.

Interviewed by ABC-TV on Sunday, Biden appeared to depart from his previous comment that an Israeli attack on Iran would be "ill-advised."

Asked about the possibility of an Israeli attack against Iran's nuclear facilities, Biden replied Sunday, "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."

The White House said Biden's remarks did not signal a shift in U.S. policy. In an interview published by the New York Times on Monday, Obama indicated the diplomatic option was still viable. "We have offered a pathway for Iran to rejoining the international community," he was quoted as saying.

Lieberman's response to Biden's comments was relatively measured. "I think he said things that are very logical," he said. "Israel is a sovereign state and at the end of the day, the government of Israel has sole responsibility for its security and future, not anybody else."

"Sometimes there are disputes between friends, but at the end of the day the decision is ours," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has refused to comment, underlining Israel's sensitive position on Iran and on U.S. policy toward Tehran.

Israel, which is widely believed to have a nuclear arsenal of its own, says it would likely be targeted by Iran, based on repeated statements by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad referring to Israel's destruction.

But even Israeli hawks like Lieberman recognize the limitations of an Israeli strike. Israel destroyed Iraq's nuclear reactor in a 1981 air strike, but experts do not believe Israel can do the same with Iran's nuclear operations, which are spread around the country, some of them hidden and heavily fortified.

Israel would also have to take into account the desires of the U.S., Israel's most important political and military ally.

The top U.S. military officer, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned Sunday of the danger of an Iranian nuclear weapon - and of the fallout from an attack against Iran.

"I worry about it being very destabilizing not just in and of itself but the unintended consequences of a strike like that," he told CBS TV.

Netanyahu has been warning about the dangers of the Iranian nuclear program for years, calling for intensive world action to stop it. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, leader of the dovish Labor Party, speaks frequently of leaving all of Israel's options open.

Israel has sent several military signals to Iran.

This week an Israeli submarine said by foreign experts to have the capability of carrying nuclear-tipped missiles returned to the Mediterranean after crossing to the Red Sea in the direction of Iran, a mission seen as a warning. Also, Israel has held air force maneuvers that were described unofficially as practicing an attack on Iranian targets.

Lieberman, who has advocated radical military responses to a range of challenges over the years, could be expected to beat the drum for an Israeli attack on Iran.

Instead, he has voiced a contrasting concern - that Israel might be expected to do the world's dirty work by hitting Iran, leaving the world community free to criticize Israel afterward, as happened after the attack on Iraq in 1981.

During a visit to Russia, Lieberman said, "We do not intend to bomb Iran, and nobody will solve their problems with our hands.
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  1.   Only Israel can decide re Iran 22:05  |  DT 06/07/09
  2.   Without American backing? 22:25  |  Tony Silver 06/07/09
  3.   Only Israel can decide 22:29  |  Jim 06/07/09
  4.   Pant, drool 22:33  |  Mark Lincoln 06/07/09
  5.   IRAN 22:43  |  Charles 06/07/09
  6.   Biden a fool 22:51  |  jim 06/07/09
  7.   Ego, ego, ego 23:05  |  Jaded 06/07/09
  8.   Nothing will happen 23:12  |  Phillip 06/07/09
  9.   Nothing will happen 23:14  |  Phillip 06/07/09
  10.   Only American can decide on who to sell arms to 23:20  |  American Guy 06/07/09
  11.   Biden on Iran 23:20  |  Joey Butterfuecko 06/07/09
  12.   #1 23:25  |  Daniel 06/07/09
  13.   Tony Silver ,and who`d save Denmark ? 23:39  |  Absolute Sweden 06/07/09
  14.   He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not 23:42  |  Persian Kitty 06/07/09
  15.   Biden is smart 23:52  |  Carrie 06/07/09
  16.   TWO "STRATEGIC THREATS" CANCEL EACH OTHER 00:09  |  WITNESS 07/07/09
  17.   What A Comedy Act 00:23  |  Jeff Northridge 07/07/09
  18.   Green Light Strike? Yes? No? 00:24  |  The Teacher/Instruct 07/07/09
  19.   who care? 00:33  |  patriot 07/07/09
  20.   Don`t play with matches if you do not wish to light a fire 00:42  |  Yesh Prabhu 07/07/09
  21.   arrogance 00:46  |  oz 07/07/09
  22.   To #1 01:05  |  Oleg 07/07/09
  23.   biden inserts foot in mouth again 01:28  |  i knew it 07/07/09
  24.   Joe "The Gaffe-Master" Biden strikes AGAIN!! 01:58  |  binny 07/07/09
  25.   With or without American Backing 01:59  |  *BEN JABO 07/07/09
  26.   iran 02:22  |  Michelle 07/07/09
  27.   To #5 jim- We are talking about Biden here 02:25  |  Aphemia 07/07/09
  28.   I certainly hope so 02:30  |  WHG 07/07/09
  29.   Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman 02:34  |  Dr. Louie Rossique 07/07/09
  30.   Don`t Strike Iran Based On Biden`s Mispeak For You`ll Be Alone 02:44  |  Ed 07/07/09
  31.   Obviously, not completely true 02:49  |  Colin Wright 07/07/09
  32.   Iran 03:18  |  Richard 07/07/09
  33.   Biden is only somewhat better than Lieberman... 03:54  |  S 07/07/09
  34.   GO AHEAD israel, DO IT 04:09  |  VIPER 07/07/09
  35.   Israel must have wet her pants from excitement. 04:12  |  MM 07/07/09
  36.   As much right as US did 04:22  |  E 07/07/09
  37.   Biden Has Taken Israel`s Iran Blackmail Off the Table! He is 04:47  |  Monitor 07/07/09
  38.   Not only hypocrites, but cowards too. 05:19  |  Fortuna Benmayor 07/07/09
  39.   Biden`s foot in mouth disease strikes again 05:23  |  CJ 07/07/09
  40.   #7 Ben Jao 05:50  |  Old Usa Army Vet 07/07/09
  41.   Without American Backing # 1 05:51  |  Eaglebeak 07/07/09
  42.   us denies israel green light 05:54  |  michael 07/07/09
  43.   Biden is a Clown 05:59  |  MIKE 07/07/09
  44.   Israeli Dependence on US 06:03  |  Andrea 07/07/09
  45.   balance of power 06:13  |  maz 07/07/09
  46.   Who did rattle the goal? 06:18  |  Al 07/07/09
  47.   Israel Strike on Iran 06:24  |  Joe Powers 07/07/09
  48.   Israel strike on iran 06:31  |  Joe Powers 07/07/09
  49.   Let us not ignore the fact 06:40  |  Mark Lincoln 07/07/09
  50.   Israel is not stupid to fall for this... 06:46  |  ali 07/07/09
  51.   to #1 Without American backing? 07:00  |  BOB KING 07/07/09
  52.   Oh dear, so it seems that Biden just wanted to enjoy... 07:03  |  Esther 07/07/09
  53.   Biden did not misspeak 07:05  |  Chrisona 07/07/09
  54.   To MM 07:14  |  Petron 07/07/09
  55.   Egypt gets much more money from United States than Israel 07:22  |  1978 Camp David 07/07/09
  56.   Iran-Straits of Hormuz 07:30  |  USA 07/07/09
  57.   Manufactured Misunderstanding 07:38  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/07/09
  58.   sitting duckies 07:51  |  robin 07/07/09
  59.   The IAF is not even remotely capable of such a mission 07:52  |  Natallie Durson 07/07/09
  60.   Yes Andrea #17, you are absolutely right from beginning to end! 08:27  |  S 07/07/09
  61.   Ayatollah Mohammad Baqer Kharrazi : 08:28  |  Lane 07/07/09
  62.   Get a grip 08:31  |  Mr.Fed-up 07/07/09
  63.   until the day iran attacks israel, with ANY weapon... 08:43  |  eric 07/07/09
  64.   You Know... 08:48  |  Yosemite 07/07/09
  65.   Mark of Lewiston - the real consequences of an attack 08:49  |  Mark Lincoln 07/07/09
  66.   Natalie - not quite so 08:55  |  Mark Lincoln 07/07/09
  67.   USA occupies both sides of the fenceW 08:56  |  x-ray 07/07/09
  68.   Lieberman is right 09:17  |  Mohammad 07/07/09
  69.   America CAN`T Stop Israel 09:24  |  UsedToPostHere 07/07/09
  70.   SILVER Who saved Israel attacked by Arab armies bent on genocide 09:25  |  PETER SM 07/07/09
  71.   re: robin 09:28  |  UsedToPostHere 07/07/09
  72.   DO ISRAELIS REALY ( TRULY ) CONCERNS ABOUT IRAN ? 10:04  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 07/07/09
  73.   East Europe is free; why not Israel ?! 10:39  |  Akram Zekaria 07/07/09
  74.   49~ Mark Lincoln. Do you cal that fact ?! 11:05  |  Akram Zekaria 07/07/09
  75.   #40 Old USA ARMY VET 11:15  |  *BEN JABO 07/07/09
  76.   Don`t you people think you can fool ... 12:36  |  Edith 07/07/09
  77.   sleep 13:16  |  patriot 07/07/09
  78.   Arguments 13:36  |  oz 07/07/09
  79.   EDITH from"BELGIUM" Trying to deny your own reality by attacking 13:52  |  PETER SM 07/07/09
  80.   Biden an embarrassment 14:30  |  Gully Foyle 07/07/09
  81.   what does it tell you? 15:32  |  oz 07/07/09
  82.   If this were Bush or Cheney--I wopuld say it was a green light 16:13  |  Labhras 07/07/09
  83.   Ali#50 mark Lincoln #65 16:29  |  arik 07/07/09
  84.   To #97 - Confused 16:30  |  Gully Foyle 07/07/09
  85.   #83 arik, you are thinking symmetrical on Iran 16:53  |  Mark B. 07/07/09
  86.   If this were Bush or Cheney--I would say it was a green light 17:17  |  Labhras 07/07/09
  87.   Thank you President Obama 17:34  |  Labhras 07/07/09
  88.   To Mark of Lewiston@57 On Biden Speech etc.. 18:18  |  Whiskey/Bravo 07/07/09
  89.   Unprovoked ????????????????? 18:53  |  Allan Hoffman 07/07/09
  90.   if this were Bush or Cheyney-I would say it was a green light 19:16  |  Labhras 07/07/09
  91.   wishful 19:17  |  patriot 07/07/09
  92.   re:eric 19:18  |  UsedToPostHere 07/07/09
  93.   re: Labhras 19:25  |  UsedToPostHere 07/07/09
  94.   To Allan Hoffman@89 Unpovoked????And To PETER SM. 19:26  |  Whiskey/Bravo 07/07/09
  95.   patriot @91 I THANK YOU FOR THE WISE WORDS.BECAUSE?? 19:40  |  Whiskey/Bravo 07/07/09
  96.   re: patriot 19:47  |  UsedToPostHere 07/07/09
  97.   65 Mark Lincoln - Pentagon Concerns 19:49  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/07/09
  98.   88 Whiskey Bravo - The Din of Complaints 19:59  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/07/09
  99.   re: Mark of Lewiston 20:30  |  UsedToPostHere 07/07/09
  100.   #84 Gully Foyle - you are wrong 20:41  |  David Israel 07/07/09
  101.   to Whiskey Bravo 20:49  |  Allan Hoffman 07/07/09
  102.   will israel finally walk the walk instead of talk? 20:49  |  eyad 07/07/09
  103.   #93 UTPH how can they send anyting to your address 21:02  |  Labhras 07/07/09
  104.   99 UTPH - Send It 21:09  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/07/09
  105.   No Green Light? 21:43  |  Mark Lincoln 07/07/09
  106.   Iran 21:47  |  oz 07/07/09
  107.   Mark B #85 22:39  |  arik 07/07/09
  108.   To #100 - David Israel Confused 23:11  |  Gully Foyle 07/07/09
  109.   #93 UsedTo Post Here 23:46  |  JonL 07/07/09
  110.   How many Times Mark of Lewinston@ 98? Read My Post Again. 00:10  |  Whiskey/Bravo 08/07/09
  111.   US denies ....... 01:03  |  Elias 08/07/09
  112.   To UsedToPostHere@96 READ WHEN YOU CAN 02:54  |  JUST ME 08/07/09
  113.   Men wage war, babies & women die. 02:59  |  Alaska 08/07/09
  114.   Untrue Gossip! Listen to Biden`s Comments. 03:02  |  Alaska 08/07/09
  115.   #101 Lincoln - Don`t worry, you won`t be allowed 03:02  |  *BEN JABO 08/07/09
  116.   Bomb Them Free! 03:10  |  Sedona 08/07/09
  117.   re: oz 05:34  |  UsedToPostHere 08/07/09
  118.   99 UTPH - Send It, Share It 2nd try 06:35  |  Mark of Lewiston 08/07/09
  119.   Israel 07:31  |  Paul S 08/07/09
  120.   #57 Mark of Lewiston 08:09  |  S 08/07/09
  121.   #85, MARK.B, boom, there it is, logic, reality 11:45  |  VIPER 08/07/09
  122.   To Mark of Lewiston@98 Excuse me But! You did not read my post 13:29  |  Whiskey/Bravo 08/07/09
  123.   To UsedToPostHere@99 Please give me the link of: 19:54  |  Whiskey/Bravo 08/07/09
  124.   re: Whiskey/Bravo and Mark of Lewiston 21:04  |  UsedToPostHere 08/07/09
  125.   re: Mark of Lewiston and Whiskey/Bravo 05:17  |  UsedToPostHere 09/07/09
  126.   #92 big TALK for one who touts a dependent country, usedto` 09:42  |  eric 09/07/09
  127.   re: eric 10:55  |  UsedToPostHere 09/07/09
  128.   #126 Eric - Talking about big talk 01:13  |  *BEN JABO 10/07/09
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