• Published 19:02 12.02.10
  • Latest update 08:12 13.02.10

U.S. Army chief to visit Israel for talks on Iran, defense issues

Meetings follow remarks made by U.S. calling Iran's nuclear intentions 'anything but peaceful.'

By News Agencies, Barak Ravid and Natasha Mozgovaya Tags: Gabi Ashkenazi Israel news

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States Military is set to arrive in Israel on Sunday for a meeting with the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff to discuss the situation in Iran.

U.S. Admiral Mike Mullen will meet with IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi as well as Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, and other senior IDF commanders to discuss other topics, including joint defense issues between Israel and the U.S. and mutual security concerns.

Admiral Mullen's meetings follow remarks made by the U.S. on Thursday when they called Iran's nuclear intentions "anything but peaceful."

Iran's nuclear ambitions continue to draw concerns from the United States and European allies who fear Iran is seeking the capability to build nuclear weapons. Iran has rebuffed diplomatic overtures to resolve the issue and is in defiance of UN Security Council demands that it suspend uranium enrichment.

"Should Iran continue down the wrongful course that it's on there will be consequences," State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said.

In addition to meetings with IDF personnel, Admiral Mullen also requested to meet with members from the IDF rescue delegation to Haiti and hear about their experience with rescue operations and field medical treatment.

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  • 21. 0 0
    brod 16
    • potobac
    • 15.02.10
    • 15:07

    You are one sick puppy. The US belief that some actions by Israel would be against US national interests is based on the writings of early church fathers? Go back on your meds.

  • 20. 0 0
    To Russia
    • Rankoo-Karoon
    • 14.02.10
    • 22:08

    Another side of me is Russian with Czar line which is obviously apparent in peace. I love Russia. I have been to Moscow on missions of peace before and I love the KGB very nice law enforcment who go through hell sometimes. I am proud of Russian family ties but we need to protect all the Jews even the Iranian Jews. WE need to help the old Soviet Union not out of fear but for what might come with planet alignment. WE need to feed the people of this world and give them hope. Are antibiotics still short in Russia. What in positive trade can we do for Russia to help. WE can help Cuba with tobacco for cigars to the world. We can buy from France to Israel to Hungary to Russia. We can help all medical needs for those we hold in our hearts. Wars change and so do territories it is the people in the middle who we love and admire. They just want simple things. Rankoo-Karoon

  • 19. 0 0
    Do u understand we have ears to hear them cry for peace too
    • Rankoo-Karoon
    • 14.02.10
    • 22:02

    We have ears to hear the people cry for peace. WE have ears to hear the USA calling and screaming at Iran all the time. We know the threats we have heard the threats. Every time Israel makes headway by family alliance and getting the people talking we hear USA threaten that the Royal of Israel sold out to Iran. How exactly has anyone sold out when we keep trying to prepare a whole population for massive drought. WE blew the pass that the Chinese were using to get into Afghanistan to kill missing American troops. WE have food potential for millions all the way up to Afghanistan. What do you want but now to be over ambitions and take control of Israel while we demand it neutral like Switzerland. Not part of the Democratic 100 year plan was it. Life changes. We are stopping world war three. Send Nasa over to talk to Iran. Open the doors for peace. What George Bush worried about reentry of the Iran space craft on the ranch. Wrong codes pushed in. Pray. Rankoo-Karoon

  • 18. 0 0
    Brod - On Religion
    • Mark of Lewiston
    • 13.02.10
    • 23:05

    It is difficult for many Christians to toss out the antisemitic stuff that Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter and Paul and the other apostles wrote and believed. They too were Jews, except Paul, the Roman. My Bible still has their stuff in it, not just the book of Revelations. It even has the Torah in it. But that doesn't mean the begats have a lot of modern significance or the laws on sex slavery. I bet its hard to find Israelis who adhere to the sex slavery laws.

  • 17. 0 0
    Mark of Lewiston #15
    • Brod
    • 13.02.10
    • 22:09

    The Land of Israel belongs to the Jews since 4000 years ago. It is GOD-GIVEN and GOD-RESTORED to the Jews as a Fulfillment of GOD'S Covenant to Israel. Read the Bible, History and Biblical Archaeology. AntiSemitism will lead you to nowhere. And Israel will not give you and the world of AntiSemitism and Islamist-Jihadism the luxury of a second Holocaust.

  • 16. 0 0
    Mark of Lewiston #15
    • Brod
    • 13.02.10
    • 21:39

    Having imbibed the AntiSemitic writings of the early church fathers of Papism, you are steeped in AntiSemitism. The venom of AntiSemitism had led to terrible tragedies to the Jews in the past such as the Inquistions and the Holocaust among others. Your choice seems to have Israel wait as sitting duck to the fanatical Islamist-Jihadist Iranian Mushroom Cloud. It is time Israel tells the dark forces to go to Hell and do what Begin did to defend itself from those who are hellbent on its destruction. Only a strong Israel will deter its enemies' aggressions.

  • 15. 0 0
    Brod - Write a Book
    • Mark of Lewiston
    • 13.02.10
    • 21:08

    Your racist and anti-Muslim tripe should be in book form. Maybe you could get the Aryan Nations to publish it. Or Jerusalem Post.

  • 14. 0 0
    Cipora/Realist - Obama's Employer
    • Mark of Lewiston
    • 13.02.10
    • 21:06

    Obama and Mullen both took similar oaths of office - the preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the US. Mullen's oath also includes the concept of obeying the lawful orders of his superiors in the chain of command. Obama in the chain of command is Chief. They both work for the people of the USA. And Cipora, don't be so gullible. If Obama was a dictator, the US would have universal health care and all the opposition would have already gone to the fabled FEMA re-education camps. And the teabaggers would be forced to do what the term originally and traditionally meant. You can Google that for yourself. The Republican party's minority tyranny would have ended if Obama were a dictator and democracy and majority rule would have been restored.

  • 13. 0 0
    Mullen to Israel: Don't even think about it
    • Natallie Durson
    • 13.02.10
    • 15:59

    America is much more able to deal with a nuclear armed Iran then they are a mideast turned upside down. Hanging in the balance are American and NATO efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama was elected with a mandate to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home. To think that he would abandon this mandate and embroil America and the world in a much larger war in order to appease Israel is beyond ludicrous. If America won't attack Iran, Israels next choice is that Israel attack Iran and pull America and some EU nations into the resulting war. This is what Mullen will caution Israel not to do. Will Israel like the idea of working without a safety net for the first time ever? The thought is worth a smile...

  • 12. 0 0
    Useful visit to Israel
    • Vladimir
    • 13.02.10
    • 14:43

    Dear Editor: Your fast response to Chief visit to Israel and good article from both authors has only one opinion: very good intelectual reaction and very good professional skills. My country would like to place partual sanctions and play very bad diplomatic game with enemy of Israel and USA. Iran can not be peaceful because leader proposed to destroy Israel. 1.Please it can be late to do something. 2. Please send me your email, because I wrote an opinion "What to do after medical and police help to people of Haiti". Admiral only prove it. Sincerely, Vladimir

  • 11. 0 0
    Such a visit should be exposed
    • Brod
    • 13.02.10
    • 14:30

    Israel should reveal to the world what these visitors are telling Israel. If they are telling Israel not to defend itself against Iran nuke threat, despite Iran's repeated threats of vaporizing Israel, Israel can tell them to go to Hell. They have NO right telling Israel to wait till Iran gets its nukes. Giving Iran ample time to complete its nukes is as good as telling Israel to be a sitting duck for Iran's Mushroom Cloud. Israel should not even be wasting time meeting with such visitors that are trying to fool Israel into being a sitting duck. Israel cannot and must depend on the Obama AntiSemite administration no matter what they say. Obama is worst than Carter. He has been imbibing the cesspool of AntiSemitism from virulent AntiSemite associates as Wright and Khalidi for years. And he extols the religion of his fathers-that is steeped in AntiSemitism.

  • 10. 0 0
    the question
    • jaredsparks
    • 13.02.10
    • 13:08

    the question is, was he summoned to israel?

  • 9. 0 0
    7 Mullen's employer is the American people
    • Realist
    • 13.02.10
    • 11:18

    That is the meaning of democracy.

  • 8. 0 0
    #7, Mark
    • Cipora Julianna Kohn
    • 13.02.10
    • 10:39

    and who does obama work for? has the u.s. become a dictatorship?

  • 7. 0 0
    Mullen Works For Obama
    • Mark of Lewiston
    • 13.02.10
    • 09:00

    Unlike in some countries, the US military is not an independent branch of government. It works for the CINC, the Commander in Chief, the President. Our military reports to the CINC and follows the CINC's orders. Sam - The reporters got it right. The headline writer never has. Getting that part wrong must be TRADITION.

  • 6. 0 0
    First Iran,next Syria and Turkey
    • American
    • 13.02.10
    • 04:57

    Islamic terrorist states in the ME will be disarmed so there will not be another ahmadinejad on the horizon 'wiping out" Israel

  • 5. 0 0
    He in in the Navy!
    • Sam
    • 13.02.10
    • 03:38

    The headline is wrong. He is not in the Army. He is a Naval admiral. In the US there is a big difference. The hebrew word tsevah should be translated as "force" or "forces" not as Army.

  • 4. 0 0
    Here it comes
    • The Prophet
    • 13.02.10
    • 03:02

    1

  • 3. 0 0
    Wasting IDF's time on fools errand :waiting for klutzy US
    • Absolute Sweden
    • 13.02.10
    • 00:23

    military leaders to claify their objectives. Most probably Adm.Mullens wants to sniff out if Israelis haven't found out how to outsmart American air defences in Iraq ,Saudi Arabia and around the Gulf , which are primed to prevent Israeli attack on Iran .

  • 2. 0 0
    U.S. Army chief visits Israel
    • The Teacher/Instruct
    • 12.02.10
    • 23:08

    U.S.Army Chief. There's nothing like a free exchange of mutual interests in this too unstable, volatile world. Our regional interests far outweigh any transient differences that occur from time to time. The Army Chief,one of the busiest men in the world,finds time to visit Israel.Can mean,either,he wants to stay Israel's hands or to plan together. Something ? The United States is still THE Power.

  • 1. 0 0
    Let the games begin
    • Judge
    • 12.02.10
    • 20:26

    And I'm not talking about the Winter Olympics in Canada. Scenario 1: This is clear signal hat the US and Israel are planning a true shock-and-awe strike against Iran to wipe out its nuclear facilities and any possible future capabilities. I am sure the Iranians are no dummies either. So, in a nutshell: Israel and US will strike Hizballa and Iran first, while holding the gun to Assad's head. Hamas will not even think about doing anything other than firing a few salvos of rockets to TA. The world will condem everybody and the Palestinians will accept some sort of solution. Scenario 2: US will tell Israel: NO strike on Iran whatsoever, otherwise the Israelis are on their own. THAT WOULD BE A DISASTER FOR THE WHOLE AREA and everyone will join in. Get your beers and hot wings and watch some good olympic games while you can. Knowing Israel, we all knew scenario 2 is Israel's choice. IT IS WRITTEN. Good night and good luck!