U.S. vows commitment to Israel, wary of war over Iran nukes

Following the hard words by Nasrallah, Israel has gone to the UN security council to file a complaint of harassment by the Lebanese militia. Opinions in Israeli Political apparatus have shifted toward asking the UN for an embargo against Hezbollah and asking Nato and the US for protection of Israeli cities. Population in Israel have found difficulties sleeping after Nasrallah's speech on bombing Tel Aviv. Some residents of Tel Aviv have already considered moving further south to the Sinai desert or joining Hosni Moubarak in Sharm El Sheik. King Abdallah of Jordan has also offered security to the Israelis fleeing their cities after the treats from the Lebanese terrorist group. Camps are already being set up on Jordanian and Egyptian borders to accept Israeli refugees.

I have said it again and again people are tired of the build up of US forces in the Middle East and their government's support for Israel against the Palestinian people in the territories. It must all stop or else there is going to be massive protests and outragei n the streets and it will spread across the world as people are not taking their government going against their wishes any- more & using their tax dollars when their own states are in need. See details below... Dutch http://www.pephost.org/site/PageServer?pagename=m20_homepage

As you can see from the Biden/Mullen article, the US isn't inclined to another war right now. And I don't even think Cheney would emulate Saddam. The idea is obscene.

Many people are one step away for protesting and banning their officials and I magine burn- ing their flag... Just what part of "enough" don't they understand? Dutch

we have not threatened to annihilate an entire country like you and your people do to us everyday. Now, please do one thing for me......... go back to Egypt or Jordan. Get out of my country. thank you and have a nice day.

I think that my using the term "arrogance" in reference to Israelis has caused Haaretz to believe me to be "anti-semitic." I doubt this will be posted. Israelis on this post are clearly over the top and isolated from the rest of the world, dangerous to America and should be cut off from the latter. Those of us who loved and cared for Israel in the past have gotten the message that Israelis have no intention to stop the occupation or illegal settlements, and therefore no longer deserve our (US) support. Clinton has already been bought off, as have been most of the US Congress. Obama also? So sad.

Only Netanyahu has used these words. Harsh implies massive disproportion, with no regard for civilians- standard for Israel I guess. Crippling implies sanctions that would stop the Iranian economy. Sounds like Gaza again, even though no actual practical aggressive action from Iran yet. No real matter, as the world is clearly not ready for "Harsh and crippling" if you read Russian and Chinese responses. Just an interesting commentary on Israeli government mindset.

'Sanctions against Iran, without commensurate sanctions against Israel, would prove the west is only [concerned] for its own well-being at the expense ... of the world`s indigenous peoples.' Nick, you obviously view the Jewish presence in the Holy Land as an intrusion upon the 'indigenous peoples' of that area. But nothing could be further from the truth. There has been a continuous Jewish presence in the region for millenia. And the UN - which even in 1947 was far from an exclusive Western 'club' - affirmed the right of both a restored and sovereign Jewish homeland, and the creation of an Arab Palestinian one - a move quickly rejected by the Arab states, but accepted by the Yishuv. Be sanctimonious about sanctions if you must, but please first recall these sanctified truths of history. MV

Sorry, but the US isn't going to pull a Saddam either. And from what I read, Mullen isn't in town to plan any preemptive wars of aggression. We did that with Iraq and it didn't work out too well. Obama isn't Bush and he's definitely not Cheney.

and don't say you never tried to use them, try 1973, it is israel who is a danger to the world, otherwise why have over 200 which equates to one for every country?, please tell cpk, why?.

if there was some good people living there. What about the Iranians who disagree with the current regime? who live there in Iran? They should be given half of Iran, along with their own police force and military.

Why not try honesty? A nuclear Iran is not a threat to world peace; it's a threat to Israel's ability to use nuclear blackmail over the rest of the ME. MAD has been shown to be conducive to world peace.

let the non supporters leave freely. So not to harm the innocent. But they would not be machined gunned down would they? once they were all identified?

right on #1.israel is thumbing its nose at the un which has repeatidly asked that they refrained from violating lebanese air space and the answer is screw you!!stop harassing your neighbors give up your weapons of mass destructions and i bet you peace will be aroud the corner

I sincerely hope Israel doesn't launch an attack upon Iran, i believe that some of the Iranian leadership really wants that to happen. It would be the perfect spark for the suppressed people of the middleast to rally for Iran and destabilize current regimes. Historically the middleast dosen't comply to national-borders but of Caliphates that work as supranational entities. Iran knows about the rift between the west and Sino-russia and they are playing everyone. Do the USA really believe something good is going to come out of pressuring Russia and China with anti-robot defense systems to comply to sanctions?

"A more urgent need is to have sanctions in place against Israel. Its actions against the Palestinians, and its neighbours, with of course western support, has the region in turmoil. Sanctions against Iran, without commensurate sanctions against Israel, would prove the west is only converend for its own well-being at the expense as always of the world`s indigenous peoples" Nick You have hit the nail on the head and this is why many Americans op-posed their government's self destructive support for Israel today. It's unconscionable to be on the side of the land thieves & oppressors and war mongers and speak about turmoil-the world hasn't seen any-thing yet if US officials continue to place themselves on the Israeli side Americans will be in the streets protesting and burning both the US and Israeli flags. Your suggestion to link the sanctions with an Israeli reprimands on the use of its warheads makes ultimate sense to me and it is the way to go on this . Dutch

Hollow commitment is meaningless and useless. It is just a big Taqiyya. When the Obama administration sabotages Israel by stopping the sale of needed weaponry to Israel, while it approves the sales of billions of dollars of offensive weaponry such as F-16s etc to Egypt, Morocco and other Islamist-Jihadist states in the Middle East (see www.worldtribune.com), it is obvious that their promises cannot be trusted. Israel cannot and must not depend on the Obama AntiSemite administration for anything in its defense against those Islamist-Jihadist states and entities that are hellbent on its destruction. It is time the government of Israel exposes this matter directly to the Congress and the American people. It is time the American people scrutinize the Obama administration. Israel should not be wasting its time in dealing with entities that sabotage its national security interests.

There is a hugh difference between Iran and Israel. First, Israel never threatened anyone with a nuclear weapon, never said they were going "wipe a country from the face of the Earth", etc, etc... Obviously, Iran has, on many occasions. Second, Israel has shown it can be trusted with possession of nuclear weapons, Iran hasn't. We don't know if Iran can be trusted to play with matches, without burning down the house. Israel is a responsible member, Iran is a constant aggressor. Ask the protesters they murder and torture. Enough said.

I have no doubt Iran's response will be severe, but then they are limited too by what they can do. I have read a number of posts of yours wherein you are sceptical of their technological prowess. Their defence is primarily built on missiles which will not hit their targets if Iran's radar and communications systems are destroyed. Iran will have all Arab nations against them should they fire on them. Certainly they will not get one plane across the Gulf. Their ships will be sunk. Just how successful will Iran be in destroying Gulf States oil wells? Will they fare any better than Saddam's Scud's? On the other hand, how long will the Mullah's last without oil? You confirm that Iran is an existential threat but you would wait until they possess even more destructive weapons? A regional war is what Iran plans only Israel is the target. I agree China and Russia's response is important. Good day from hot and humid Brisbane.

and lead the world for a change

"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Iran on Sunday to reconsider its "dangerous" nuclear policy"... I am absolutely sure Iran would be willing to reconsider as soon as Israel decides to do the same about it's nuclear threat against Iran. This game of deaf, dumb and blind towards Israel's nuclear arsonel just does not wash.

If push comes to shove and Iran and some other oil producers get irradiated, no one should worry. Chevron and Texaco and the other oil companies have known for years that they may have to recover oil in a post nuclear war area, and they have developed robots that can do everything people can to drill for oil and send it through pipelines so it is received safely far away from the nuclear irradiated areas. Local labor forces are no longer necessary and neither are good relations with the local tribes, who can disappear and it will not affect the oil companies one way or the other.

Bill and Hillary and the US State Department, pretended nothing was happening during the mass murders in Rwanda, because the US has a law that it must intervene to prevent genocide. Bill was the biggest political liar on the face of the earth and he did not care about hundreds of thousands of black Africans being murdered as they had no oil. Of course when Muslims in Bosnia were under attack, Bill raced to their rescue because their Saudi cousins insisted on it. The US foreign policy establishment has no love for Israel or Jews. They do not care about sacrificing Israel as long as they can pretend that it is not their responsibility. RE Iran, because of the client relations of the US State Department and the Muslim oil countries, the US State Department and the Obama regime would prefer that pesky Israel gets beaten or disappears altogether. Jews should not deceive themselves about US intentions. The US did not bomb Auschwitz, and it will try to prevent Israel from bombing Iran.

Sounds so easy, Sarah. Somehow, things don't turn out the way you've planned when the bombs start falling. People die, children get mutilated and orphaned, infrastructure gets destroyed, civil order collapses - the world as you knew it will cease to exist. The problem is - you don't really know which country will be most affected until it's too late. My advice: 1. Don't count on the US to go with you. 2. Stop wishing for war (mention that to Cipora, as well when you see her) 2. Try going for peace, for a change.

no opinion 15. As for the regime in Iran even the Europeans and Australians think the Iranian regime is nuts and so do the young people who live in IRAN.

You can't convey the concept of price to someone who predominantly relies on foreign handouts.

Jesus brought you Love and it just pours out day after day, after day, after day after day onto these pages. I know you don't declare your love for us openly but deep down I know how much you really care. Very touching.

The US is not leaning toward a war of aggression or emulating Saddam by destroying oilfields. The US is tied up in Iraq and Afghanistan. Maybe the EU will help you in a war of aggression. The US learned that there is no such thing as a preemptive defensive strike or war. We had our Iraq war.

All, Iran's aggressive stance was fun for the Russians as long as it seemed to tweak the nose of the US. Now that the Gulf States are turning to the US (accepting Patriot missiles, for example), there is no strategic advantage for the Russians to turn a blind eye to Iranian Nukes. A massive nuclear exchange between Iran and Israel (does it have 400 nukes?) would result in a nuclear winter. This would end civilization in the Northern hemisphere; home of the Islamic world, India, China, Russia and Europe. Consequently, enjoying Israel's unease at threats against her existence (just repeated by Khameini) aren't in Russia's best interest, or China's or the Gulf States. Why doesn't anyone call on Iran to tone down the rhetoric. It may play well among the 10% of Iran's population that support the Basiji, but the rest of the people are upset that the currency has collapsed and that they will have to start paying market price for gasoline and food very soon.

little Hizb, No2, Tiny Hamas No3, Now Iran is marked as no4, then will come swifly Syria,No5, then will come Turky No6, then will come Pakistan No7, excuse me we are a bit tired , will think of some more in the very near future. Do not forget we are Peaceful.

Iranians do not have any enemy in this world, yes even Israel.

Because Israel got them. The IRANIANS agree to stop N. Processing if the REGION is Nuclear Free Zone. Understandable THEN Why not sitting down together and work out this Scenario, for WORLD PEACE?

The US can unilaterally impose measures that would totally cripple Iran and that is to enact a law making it illegal for any financial institution to deal with Iran. Because of the US dollar denomination of oil and other commodity trading this would have an instant devastating effect on Iran?s economy. The best part is that the move is totally revisable. This may have a negative effect on the US as well but still less expensive than using military force. No need to fire a shot.

All, The Islamic Republic collapsed a few months ago. It has been replaced with a Revolutionary Guard/Basiji regime that has little or no legitimacy. Hundreds of the Iranian elite have been arrested. Iran (which should be a rich country) just re-issued its currency eliminating three digits because the currency is worthless. Yes, sanctions can be busted, but only at the cost of increasing inflation. Almost everything is subsidized in Iran - gas is 50 cents a gallon, food, rent, medical care. All neccessities are paid for out of oil revenue. This revenue has been diverted to the Revolutionary Guard. Any decrease in any subsidy will result in riots. Since the Revolutionary Guard took over the banking system & the economy, the next round of sanctions will probably result in a subsidy reduction. That will break the last support for the regime among the bazaaris, the lower middle class that overthrew the Shah.

I found your comment very offensive and reflects extremist thinking. I'll will not attempt to reply against your accusations to maintain respect to this forum as well as show a delicate behavior dissimilar to yours. I am against any military forms of nuclear power in the middle east and the rest of the world. I am confident that Israeli policies the characterizes extremist thinking such as yours will lead to a nuclear conflict and devastation in the region. I hope that the world will uproot such thinking from any side.

really? u want to sanction a nation for nothing? if thats the case if u want to sanction a nation the people of those gov'ts should be the ones to vote on it. u see the people have learned to go outside of zionist controlled media to get the truth. and when they read everyside of the story they can make a clear decision. this gov't who claims one thing has not presented all the evidence. they only present one side and the one side is a lie. while the side they did not present was the truth. OH GOD.. when will the people of the world take actions against these gov'ts who profit from war!!! we r the ones who suffer while the war mongers make billions. no more wars and no more lies. I wish we had a HUGO CHAVEZ to save us from these scummy corrupt gov'ts!! and start looking out for the people.

Do you know that Russian needed USA help too. Why did not all the garbage we have and wood scrap get smashed down pressed with wax like a fire starter for the areas of Russia with no wood. Why did we not purchase the thousands of old burn stoves that were from Korean wars still in storage and offer it to the freezing in Siberi or the Eastern Europe. You scream communist every time someone helps in this world. Yet your people in Chicago a mother who lost her job can't making 60 thousand a year now at 8 dollars and hour only job available cant pay her rent, nor child care, nor car repair, makes to much for food stamps. What is she living on in the back of the car picking our food from the dumpster begging the homeless shelter for help. Cant get a job. In Israel and up to Russian cant you hear the people. Rankoo-Karoon

As Oliver Stone might put it, the Taliban is an "easy scapegoat." There are so many things to dislike about them that it's not too hard to get most of the World to draw a circle around them and agree they are a menace. Iran is a little different. What we have there is a bunch of politicians and religious leaders who have decided that they are two of the following three things and we're not sure which two. #1 A regime that plans to get even with the USA, Israel, and England over things that happened during the Shah's Reign. #2 A regime that doesn't necessarily want to go to war with the above but wants a nuclear arsenal just in case. #3 A regime that's wants sovereignty over a body of water that the Arabs also covet. So we need to decide some things. Are the Iranians a threat? Are they any more a threat than say, any other country in the World. Are they as crazy as the Taliban? Ahmadinejad has said and done some crazy things. I don't trust him. But what about the rest of them? Think!

...as the US and Eurabian promises to Poland and Czechoslovakia in 1938

...and the answer is no.

Last I heard America was nearly broke.

I find it extremely ironic that Iran cannot refine its own petroleum to fuel its cars that run on the street,yet is running headlong to produce nuclear fuel. I guess they will eventually get cars that will run on electricity and that is WHY they must have nuclear energy. It's not enough to be the world's largest exporter of oil. I think that refined gasoline products should be sanctioned. The people of Iran will suffer until this regime is actually abolished and a true parliamentary democracy is put in place. The Guards don't care about the Mullahs. The Islamic republic is just a front and its whole raison d'etre is to become a nuclear state and to prepare for war. Hitler, 1938.

To be frank, the thought of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons doesn't disturb me all that much. In an ideal world of course, no one would have them except us -- but then, we can't always have what we want. There's nothing about Israel having them, or Pakistan having them, or India having them, or Russia having them that is somehow more acceptable than Iran having them. However, assuming that for some reason we wanted to deter Iran in particular, I'd vote for a regime of annoying sanctions. Let Iran figure out that the bombs just aren't worth the cost -- and they're more likely to find such a conclusion palatable if they're not operating in an environment of continual threat and saber-rattling. After all, if the government wants me to sell my boat, they don't need to make my boat illegal. They can just keep raising the registration fee. I'll work it out eventually.

You have to see it to believe it. All of our officials are on TV claiming Iran is trying to build the bomb, but ABSOLUTELY no mention that Israel already has the bomb(s). Like Iraq, our government is lying again to the people, but there's an election coming up and if Democrats lie like Republicans, they will lose in November.

And what if your all wrong, and Iran is indeed doing all this for electrical power. We were wrong on the WMD's in Iraq and that was based on both British and israeli intel.

'Visiting U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen declared Sunday that Washington was committed to Israel's security, voicing concern over the "unintended consequences" a war in the Middle East over Iran's contentious nuclear program would bring. ' Mullen repeated the previous warnings to Israel not to even think about attacking Iran. I imagine what passed in private was quite unequivocal.

LISTEN IF YOU HAD 500 PEOPLE OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE AND SAID WE ARE GOING TO KILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WHAT WOULD YOU DO.? YOU WOULD NEED SOME DEFENSIVE METHOD SAY LIKE MINING YOUR HOUSE WITHIN 3 METRES FROM THE WALLS OUTSIDE SO IF ANYBODY TRIED THEY WOULD GET KILLED, BLOWN UP.YOU HAVE TO PLAY IT SAFE WHEN YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY SOME FEW MILLION ARABS THAT WANT TO KILL YOU COMMON SENSE.

And that is the difference, whether you are with Osama bin Laden or Islamic Jihad, or both.

The idea of bombing Iran's oil wells is insipidly stupid. Iran has thousands of wells scattered over half the country, and there is no way Israel can put serious dent in Iran's oil production, and the US sure as hell isn't going to do it. Oil is sold on the open market, so if China can't buy Iranian oil it will buy Saudi or Venezuelan or Canadian oil. The net result will only be seen in higher oil prices for all. If Israel even considers such a stupid idea the US should immediately stop giving Israel the fuel it needs for its military aircraft. We could stand to save the money anyway.

These will not be crippling as the only sanction to do that would be to ban Iran selling it's oil, and thats not going to happen. What will be proposed will be just enough to get the Chinese on board and give Netanyahu something he can sell to the Israeli people as all his own work. Sorry Cipora nobody is invading Iran.

I hope to hear such vows of commitment for Arabs against Israeli Nukes. Or I misunderstand it because Iranian nukes are different than Israel's !!!! Unfair world

Hillary Clinton should ask also for "Crippling Sacntions" on the Israeli occupiers of Arab lands for secretly having some hundreds of nuclear heads hidden in the Negev desert. What for a hypocrisy and one-sided idiots! Iran says again and again that its nuclear development is only meant for civil purposes. Still, no Western hegemonial powers,incl. Israel are willing to accept it. Considering the dangers coming from Israel and the West, it will not be unlogical, if the Iranians start to build the bomb-in self-defence! I won't rule it out as a consequence of all military threats.

Many Americans are the Iranian president's side today...

This is out of the question as Iran supplies China with oil and i think the US has enough problems with China than to open another front with them.

Such an "umbrella" was planned by the U.S. for Eastern Europe till recently, so I see no reason, why it shouldn't also be possible for Israel and her Arab neighbours, if they feel in any way threatened by the Iranian bomb. If we would have such defensive shields in all the "hot spots" of this world, nuclear weapons would become a totally useless thing...

Iran has violated no state's rights by enriching uranium while Israel has been the unruly and beastly neighbor that has violated the sovereign and human rights of the Palestinian people by continuing to occupy & expand their land in the territories in defiance of international law. Hence all this bullying and call for stiffer sanctions against Iran is un-necessary and it places Americans on the wrong side of the law and at odds with their government's Middle East policies. Israelis will pay for this as Americans continue to turn away from them as a people and as a member state . How stupid Admiral Mullen looks cracking the whip and pointing the finger in the wrong direction again. Dutch

Glad to see you agreeing with me, at least when it comes to my scepticism with regard to sanctions, but believe me, the military option wouldn't be any better either, on the contrary.... And you are correct, the opposition movement in Iran is giving reason for some hope, even if they seem to be rather weak and badly organised at the moment. But they might at least force enough change on the Mullahs over the next years, that we will get more of "Khatami" style leaders in the future than further Ahmadinejads. But if there won't be a certain "moderation" happening in Iran, the defensive shield option for countries, who feel threatened by the Iranian bomb, should definitely be taken into consideration. Quite a bit of snow here too in the northern part of Switzerland, where I'm currently residing...:) Kind regards.

Iran has ten times the population of Israel and a recorded civilisation older than 2000 years. The Iranians are a peaceful people. They could produce nuclear weapons but they do not feel the need nor do they approve of them; they would like to see a world without them. The world authority authorised to control the development of nuclear facilities is the IAEA, an organisation to which Iran belongs and to whose procedures it adheres. Remember the WMDs of Saddam, and the naked Emperor.

"The U.S. team will be led by Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, and include presidential advisers Dennis Ross and Daniel Shapiro." Jew, Jew, Jew.

"Meanwhile, Israel is continuing diplomatic efforts to persuade the international community to launch a fourth round of United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran by the end of next month." Does no one in the international community ever say, What about YOUR nuclear weapons?

'Hours earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underscored Israel's support of Clinton's declaration that "crippling" sanctions were needed to rid Iran of its contentious nuclear ambitions.'

Thank you for your post. What truly amazes me, is that certain folk believe that Iran will stand down, call for a total surrender should anyone dare to attack its oil wells, which is the life blood of the despotic regime. The regime is a theocratic highly religious group that obeys certain laws that many have underestimated. They do believe in martyrdom. They have used these practices in the past. Remember those youngsters sent into the minefields during the Iran / Iraq war. If attacked, they will resort to total martyrdom, which in effect will cause a regional war, which could well embroil not only the US,UK,EU and Israel, but will also bring Russia and possibly China into confrontation with the West. Both Tehran and the West know this. Tehran, uses this pretext, as the centrifuges continue to spin faster as we speak. Iran is an existential threat, of no doubt. Only China and Russia have the leverage to broker some sense into said regime. Heres hoping. Good day from Valais.

St:"Iran will then bomb all the Gulf States and their respective oil wells, apart from the US Bases" If Iran makes a move on other oil wells in the Gulf States it will draw the US in and other countries interested in protecting the planet's supply of oil.

So?

I imagine that if the present article were about Israeli participation in the Soccer World Cup, or about medical facilities in Israel, Ferriman would also write his usual tripe. Ferriman - stick to the subject at hand! Would you like me to write about the price of rice in China? Hmmm - actually that does bear on the situation; if China loses part of its oil supply, perhaps the price of rice in China would rise!

Easy and simple. Iran will answer destroying their oil fields with attacking Israel with all their military power they have in their stocks.Or you think they will send you a congratulation's response. People like you have no idea about the impact of such a foolish strike, thinking they are safe far away! Your under estimation is a joke!

You will notice that in my first posting, I doubted that the Chairman of the joint Chiefs of Staff was coming to Israel merely for "talks". If it were only talks, Pres. Obama could have sent a civlian official. Instead, I interpreted Admiral Mullen's visit as operative - plans for a jint American Israeli attack. In such a case, American bombing of Iranian oil wells, with or without an Israeli strike against missile sites, would be a preferable "softening-up" operaton. A later, protracted attack - ground or air - om Iranian nuclear (if at all necessary) sites would then be made easier. But such an attack may be rendered superfluous, because, without its oil and without its missilse, the Iranian regime wouldn't last for long.

is he Jews??

Bombing the oil wells of Iran..? Wishful thinking. Iran will then bomb all the Gulf States and their respective oil wells, apart from the US Bases. It will unleash a war, yet to have been seen in modern times. For the regime in Tehran, apart from killing their own people, will retaliate, far beyond your simple assumption. The people of Iran will starve. The answer lies not in warfare. The answer has yet to be written. No doubt, Moscow and Beijing will moderate. For Washington has sown only confusion and silly threats, whilst the regime laughs. Shavua tov.

You, like all liberals bite the hand that feeds it.If you would express your revolting thoughts in countries that you praise you would be minus your head long ago.The industrial revolution as well as all the other scietific inventions were made in west.The west is guilty of one thing allowing idiots like you to enjoy the fruits of other people labor and to piss on it.Try to preach you hatred in Iran that you love.Iran might do the west a favor by removing your head as they did to others that dared speak against it.

Israel's friend. Russia may say one thing but in the end they will do another and it will not benefit Israel. Israel will wake up one fine day and say ' The Philistines are upon us' and leading that vast army of confederate nations will be Russia ! Israel's leaders are fools and idiots ! There will be no peace for Israel as long as they are surrounded by blood thirsty enemies intent on their destruction. This will not change with talk.

It is pleasing to note Netanyahu's desire to keep nuclear weapons out of the peaceful Middle East. I understand he will assure the Russians that in keeping with this urgent concern Israel will de-activate and destroy ALL its nuclear weapons as well. This will be seen throughout the Middle East and other Islamic countries that Israel is serious about peace in the Middle East. Iran will see that there will no longer be a threat from the US - Israel axis of Good.

"The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do." - Samuel P. Huntington

If Iran were to promise not to develop nuclear weapons, as long as Israel were to decommission its stockpile of over 200 nuclear warheads, then it would find a large body of support amongst the global citizenry.

A more urgent need is to have sanctions in place against Israel. Its actions against the Palestinians, and its neighbours, with of course western support, has the region in turmoil. Sanctions against Iran, without commensurate sanctions against Israel, would prove the west is only converend for its own well-being at the expense as always of the world's indigenous peoples.

Which is why it is probably best for Israel to keep it's mouth shut and it's head down. Persuading Russia and China to impose sanctions against Iran to prevent it reaching parity with Israel a non signatory of the NPT would be best performed by France, the United States and the United Kingdom, members of the top table and all with veto powers.

SD:"Why not instead focus on building a protective "umbrella" for Israel and Irans Arab neighbours, if they really feel threatened by Iran" How do you protect against a country that readily arms terrorist groups right across the Middle East?

They imposed by the UNSC,

Dino, Actually, you are quite correct. The sanctions option will never work. For "sanctions busting" is an art. Currently practiced by those that seek high returns. As in the recent case in Thailand, with that plane load of weapons caught red handed whilst refueling after having left N.Korea, destination,... probably the ME. No doubt, Iran, will have a nuclear device, sooner or later. Whatever the outcome, I do feel for the people of Iran, for they do deserve a better life. All they seek is freedom. Then again, that is something we both have in common, in our beautiful and civilized country, Switzerland. Amazing how much snow we have in Valais. The ski slopes are magnificent this year. Have a restful Sunday. Regards, Stephen.

After all these years of trying to persuade those of us who support Israel that it is a dangerous country with too many bombs and missiles you have changed your story to the exact opposite. Which is the lie? Or is it both?

if sanctions against iran are imposed, although iran has signed the ntp and has not yet a-bombs, then it is obligatory to impose immediately sanctions against israel, which has already a-bombs and has not signed the ntp. no double standard for the same problem!!!!!!!!!!!!

Europe right now is facing some sort of financial meltdown, beginning in Greece and having something to do with the Euro. It's not apparent yet what the ramifications are going to be for everybody but it's not too hard to guess. You might want to pay attention pretty soon. Well one ramification might be that the terrorists supported by one regime or another might be able to lay their hands on sophisticated weapons more easily when they are being supplied by greedy arms merchants during bad financial periods. The Hamas guy that was wacked was an arms trader you know. Come on people. Stay on top of this stuff. I don't like to give people bad ideas either. Maybe don't publish this, and develop your own angle. I just think a financial meltdown spells trouble. We Jewish People are hated by lots of terrorists so that's why I'm concerned.

to provoke Iran. But it won?t work; Iranians don?t want nucear weapons; they don?t approve of them.

Aternatively the American Chief of Staff can be in Israel for talks about the installation of a defensive shield to protect Israel from incoming Iranian, Syrian and Lebanese missiles. Barack Hussein Obama was elected by the American people to get them out of Iraq and Afghanistan. They did not elect him to start a war against Iran.

essentially, yes. my first post was meant for those who are desparately trying to convince themselves that war can be put off, at least for some time. regards, cipora

Aside from the probability that Israel doesn't have enough bombs or missiles, your idea is worthy of and would emulate Saddam Hussein's actions in Kuwait during Gulf War I. Is that your standard of behavior? The morality of Saddam Hussein is something to aspire to?

l. 3 ahould read "ayatollahs out OF business" l. 4 should read "The Chinese would"

to impose sanctions on Iran if Israel was not involved. Double standards comes to mind, particularly as Israel is not a signatory of the NPT, and is in possession of nuclear arms.

I'm afraid the only options are a nuclear Iran... or war.

Sanctions are a joke, in history they hardly ever worked and military action won't be able either to prevent the Iranians from becoming a nuclear super power, definitely not on the long term. So the focus from the Western leaders should rather be on deterrent and protection than silly sanctions or crazy war games, that won't work anyway. Why not instead focus on building a protective "umbrella" for Israel and Irans Arab neigh- bours, if they really feel threatened by Iran...??? That would make much more sense in my opinion.

There are many, many ways that the Iranian nuclear program can be stopped by military self-defensive means, but there is only one way that sanctions can work. That is if they are comprehensively aimed at all sections of the Iranian Dictatorship including but not limited to the Revolutionary Guards and Basij. It is necessary to cripple the mullahs. Death to the murderers! Free Iran, the blood of the martyrs will not be forgotten.

Sanctions or War? Not War with Turkey? An attack on a NATO Member is an attack on all of NATO - Requires a NATO response. Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, and all of the Gulf states, except Iran are inextricable linked with the US. Israel hasn't given the US Navy basing rights in the Gulf. Israel isn't in the Gulf. But several US allies are in the Gulf. A Muslim horde? Reading too much of Edgar Rice Burroughs Martian Tales - The Hordes of Torquas The Saudi monarchy had not connection with 9-11. Neither did Saddam Hussein or Iran.

The Iranian regime won't be able to function for long withut its oil revenues. That might be a more effective method of putting the ayatollahs out ob business then a strike on their nuclear facilities. The Chubese wiuld suffer some but, after all, they get only 10% of their oil from Iran. Big deal.

The US president wouldn't send his chief-of-staff to Israel for "talks". Sounds more like "plans" - i.e., operative plans for an attack on Iran. Where's our brilliant military analyst Mark Lincoln this morning?

you are right. the u.s. has a tendency to arm potential enemies. saudi repayed the u.s. for its leadership in saving the kingdom from saddam with nine eleven.

Israel & Nukes don't mix.

"Milky" Mullen is here to beg Israel not to defend itself against Iran because of the problems it would cause the U.S.

Here is a new one....why don't the U.S and Europe and Russia stop providing modern weapons to Arab countries. Most of these "allies" ie Turkey, Jordan, Egypt...etc. have just weak central pro U.S governments and tons of islamic jihadi movements. Is it implausable that one days all of these governments that support the U.S and that we gave all these advanced weapon to will fall. While Western European miltiaries are lowered to pariahs by budget and equipment cuts.And it will be countries like Greece and Cyprus and Israel that will face the future Islamic tidal wave that we armed from the beginning. A Muslim horde arriving from the East through Turkey. A likely scenario.

After Iran Israel will have to deal with their "brothers" Turkey and Syria.

at the UNSC?

a nuclear iran is unacceptable. a nuclear iran would be a very significant danger to world peace. to israel, a nuclear iran would be an existential threat.

It is classic Israeli behavior to present their problem of the moment as a threat to the world. The world is used to this, but nobody is going to come right out and say that they favor an Iranian bomb. Nuclear proliferation is unpopular, whether it be Iran or Canada. Still, the world, except for Israel is just going through the motions, already having accepted the idea of a nuclear Iran. Maybe if Israel didn't take so many unpopular actions and then thumb their noses at the worlds objection, things might go differently.