By Trita Parsi - Special to CNN
U.S.-Israeli relations are in a crisis over Iran. It has been in the making for quite some time – arguably since the early 1990s – and edging closer to climax by the minute. The personal chemistry between the leaders is abysmal – Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy recently discussed how they can’t stand Benjamin Netanyahu – and disagreements abound on the Arab uprisings, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on how to deal with Iran.
Publicly, the two sides claim to share a common objective with Iran, though they may assess risks differently. In reality, the divisions are much deeper. Israel is firmly committed to the zero-enrichment objective espoused by the George W. Bush administration, i.e. that the only acceptable way to prevent Iranian bomb is by preventing it from having nuclear technology, period. “Enrichment in Iran is certainly unacceptable,” Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told me in October 2010.
The Obama administration has left this issue vague, neither rejecting nor accepting this red line. Israel fears that in a final agreement, the Obama White House would accept enrichment in Iran, a fear fueled by the administration’s attempt to exchange Iranian low enriched uranium for fuel pads for a research reactor in Tehran earlier in 2009. Both France and Israel argued that the deal would legitimize Iranian enrichment. In Israel’s view, Obama has made America’s red lines flexible and unreliable.
And between bombing Iran and an Iranian bomb, Israel prefers the former. But it is not confident Obama shares that preference.
When the two states cannot agree on an objective, tensions over tactics and strategies are to be expected. Nowhere has the disagreements been more stark than on the idea of talking to Iran. Obama entered the White House on a promise to pursue diplomacy with Washington’s foes. While this shift away from Bush’s outlook was welcomed in some quarters, it was met with great dismay in Israel – precisely due to the fear that in a negotiation, Washington would betray Israel’s security interests.
“We live in a neighborhood in which sometimes dialogue . . . is liable to be interpreted as weakness,” then-Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni said in an interview with Israeli Radio only twenty-four hours after congratulating President-elect Obama on his historic election victory. Asked specifically if she supported discussions between the U.S. and Iran, she left no room for interpretation: “The answer is no,” she declared.
From the very outset, the Netanyahu government sought to steer Washington’s policy away from diplomacy.
On May 18, 2009, Netanyahu came to Washington for a visit that both sides hoped would dispel fears of a crisis, but neither side was in a compromising mood. Netanyahu did not have the appetite for either American diplomacy with Iran or American pressure against Israeli settlements. Going up against the American president, however, would be a dangerous gambit. Obama was immensely popular at the time and enjoyed the political latitude American presidents usually experience only during their first year in office. Clashing with Obama under these circumstances could be very damaging. Still, that was the path Netanyahu chose.
In the weeks prior to his visit to Washington, he intensified the Israeli campaign to weaken Obama’s ability to move forward with diplomacy. The strategy centered on four key areas: securing a tight deadline for diplomacy; tightening sanctions before any diplomacy began; securing American commitment to zero-enrichment; and keeping the military option on the table.
Read: Without renewed diplomacy, war with Iran lies around the corner.
The Israelis argued that diplomacy should not be given more than twelve weeks, otherwise the Iranians could play for time and use the talks to expand their program. Moreover, the only acceptable outcome of talks would be for Iran to completely capitulate and give up its enrichment program. Both requirements would set the bar so high for diplomacy that failure was guaranteed. Privately, the Israelis did not conceal their desire for diplomacy to be pursued solely to demonstrate its failure and boost the efforts to pursue other, more confrontational options. The Political-Military Chief of the Israeli Ministry of Defense Amos Gilad told Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher that engagement is a good idea - "as long as you understand that it will not work."
Netanyahu’s approach did not lack critics back home in Israel. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz warned about the increasing distance between the two countries’ leadership and policies. “While the Americans are actively seeking a way to start a dialogue, Israel is preaching confrontation and the toppling of the government in Tehran,” the daily said in an editorial. “The new government should give Obama’s diplomatic initiative a chance.”
Obama prevailed in the first round. Netanyahu was shocked to find even some of his closest Congressional allies reluctant to challenge Obama’s Iran policy. Even the powerful America Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) efforts to pass sanctions through Congress prior to the talks fell short, prompting Andrew Glass of the Politico to write that AIPAC faced some “challenging times.” AIPAC’s failure resulted from the “rough consensus that had formed in Congress to give the Obama administration time and space” to pursue diplomacy, a senior Senate staffer told me. “Supporting Obama meant not supporting sanctions.”
In the end, all of Israel’s pressure against the diplomacy it so feared was for naught. The Iranians, it turned out, would do far more damage to diplomacy than Israel ever could. The massive human rights abuses following Iran’s fraudulent presidential elections significantly reduced Obama’s already compromised space for diplomacy. “After the elections, skepticism in Congress against our strategy turned to outright hostility,” a senior Obama official told me.
By the time diplomacy finally could take place in October 2009, pressure was enormous for instantaneous success. The Obama administration had neither space nor political capital to spend on prolonged talks. The Israeli demand for tight deadlines had de facto been adopted.
Diplomacy rarely yields immediate results, and the talks between the Permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany (P5+1) and Iran October 2009 were no different. The proposal to swap Iranian low enriched uranium for fuel pads for the Tehran Research Reactor ultimately did not win approval in Tehran, mainly due to infighting within Iran’s political elite. The deal fell “victim to internal Iranian politics,” then-Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom David Miliband told me.
Read: Assassinations to scuttle talks.
The damage to Obama’s gamble on diplomacy was so severe that advantage had now turned to Netanyahu in his next clash with the American president. But the game had shifted; it was no longer about diplomacy, but about sanctions. Would Obama have the time and space to secure sanctions at the U.N. or would Israel strike Iran’s nuclear facilities first? The Obama administration feared that Israel would start a war that inevitably the U.S. would get dragged into – against its own wishes.
The White House simply could not afford any Israeli adventurism with Iran. To drive the point home, Obama sent an army of high-level officials to Israel with the aim of pressing the Israelis to give Obama the time he needed to get a strong Security Council resolution. Between January and March 2010, Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg, Undersecretary of Defense Michèle Flournoy, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, CIA director Leon Panetta, National Security Advisor Jim Jones, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Jack Lew, and Vice President Joseph Biden were all dispatched to Israel.
Mullen took the unusual step of convening a press conference to send a clear message to the Israeli public: an Israeli strike against Iran would “be a big, big, big problem for all of us, and I worry a great deal about the unintended consequences of a strike,” he said.
To make matters worse, in the midst of the jockeying over Iran, a major crisis erupted between Israel and the U.S. over a different issue mid-May 2010. Frustrated with the stalemate in talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Biden traveled to Israel to resume negotiations. But on the day that the vice president arrived, the Netanyahu government announced that another 1,600 apartments would be built in a settlement in Arab East Jerusalem.
The Israeli move infuriated the White House, which viewed it as a provocation and an insult. Such a blatant show of defiance by Israel against the U.S. served only to further weaken Washington’s position in the region, the administration believed. Biden himself was infuriated and had an angry exchange with Netanyahu, according to the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth. “This is starting to get dangerous for us,” Biden told Netanyahu. “What you’re doing here undermines the security of our troops who are fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. That endangers us and it endangers regional peace,” he said, linking negative sentiments in the region against the U.S. to Israeli policies.
This enraged the Israelis, who categorically rejected any suggestion that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict fueled anti-American terrorism. Netanyahu’s brother-in-law Hagai Ben-Artzi even went so far as to accuse Obama on Israeli radio of being an anti-Semite. “When there is an anti-Semitic president in the United States, it is a test for us and we have to say: we will not concede,” he said. “We are a nation dating back 4,000 years, and you in a year or two will be long forgotten. Who will remember you? But Jerusalem will dwell on forever.”
The drama escalated further a week later during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. The visit coincided with AIPAC’s annual policy conference. In just three days AIPAC coordinated a letter signed by a whopping 326 members of Congress and sent to Secretary Clinton, asserting that “it is in U.S. national security interests to assure that Israel’s security as an independent Jewish state is maintained.” And a bipartisan chorus of lawmakers spoke aggressively against the administration and in favor of the Israeli position at the conference itself. “If military force is ever employed, it should be done in a decisive fashion,” Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), a close Obama ally, added to the anti-Obama chorus at the conference.
At the same time, only a few blocks away at the White House, Obama and Netanyahu were staring each other down. Obama had presented Netanyahu with a list of thirteen demands designed to end the feud. But Netanyahu would not yield, prompting Obama to abruptly rise from his seat and declare: “I’m going to the residential wing to have dinner with Michelle and the girls.”
Obama did leave the Israeli leader with an opening, though, telling him that he would still be available if Netanyahu were to change his mind. Netanyahu and his aides stayed in the Roosevelt Room in the White House for about an hour to prepare a response to Obama’s demands. But no resolution was found. The tensions with Israel and the debate inside the White House got so heated that leaks suggesting dual loyalty among some senior Obama administration officials emerged.
Fast-forward till today, and the crisis is even more acute. The Obama White House has pursued a strategy of maximizing pressure on Iran both through sanctions and by creating a credible military threat. The belief is that Iran only yields under such levels of pressure. The danger, however, is that Obama cannot control the Iranian reactions – and the risk of Tehran misreading Washington’s moves. After all, Obama is not seeking war, he is only signaling his readiness to go to war if Tehran doesn’t capitulate. Nor does Obama have the ability – or the political strength – to control Israel. All that is needed is a single spark and a major war can be triggered.
Whether Israel was behind the assassination of the Iranian nuclear scientist in Tehran last week or not, much indicates that the Obama administration fears that the intent was to spiral things out of control by goading Iranian retaliation. This might explain the unprecedented step by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to – in person – quickly condemn the act and categorically deny any American involvement.
Clinton’s swift move might have saved the U.S. and the region from war for now, but it shows how risky the Obama administration’s Iran policy at this stage and its susceptibility to manipulation by hardliners in Israel, Iran – Washington.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of Trita Parsi.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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In a cage match smack down!!! Doilie Heads and Towel Heads flying!!!! Hahahahahahahahaha
In Antarctica have found oil. The government of the USA has declared – to a bloody regime of penguins the end will soon come.
You have an oil? Then we go to you/USA, Pentagon
Have been killed so Indians because of their earths... So killed Iraqis for oil... So will kill also others
You Tarzan, me Jane?????
Apparently, Israel is the genuine war monger in the region. Iran talks the talk, but it is Israel that walks the walk. It is abundantly clear that Israel does not have the mettle for diplomacy because they would rather choose to fight instead. Shame on the Israeli population for voting in the current Israeli government which lack any negotiation skills. Netenhyoo is far more dangerous to the world than Iran's abject leadership.
We should bomb the dirty evil zionists if they continue to hold 1.8 million Palestinians on Gaza prisoner for the crime of demanding a home in their own country. Furthermore, what is being asked by the UN over Syria should be asked of israel.
If they balk, then NATO should bomb tel-aviv. Also, Jerusalem is not the capital of israel. Also, a foreign people cannot and should dictate to the American people on what the American foreign policy should be. NO MORE WARS in the middle east so that the dirty evil zionists can be the only ones with nuclear bombs. We know they have them.
Let's end this madness. the dirty evil zionists – through AIPAC, the Federal Reserve Bank, and their traitor spies in our government (Obama, H. Clinton, Biden, and all the rest of these people with dual israeli and U.S. citizenships, should all be shot today for the treason they are carrying out against the national interests of the American people and for crimes against humanity. If not, then, bring it on, WW3 Baby!!
Let's get it over with! In the end israel will be wiped off the face of the earth and America will crumble into regional states. You can thank the dirty evil zionists for all of this madness. I want our country back.
The whole world hates israel
come on WW3 baby!
Yipppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
This blog needs to be monitored. I see no intelligent discussion going on. I may have read only ten comments, but there wasn't a sane one present. Some of the comments only attract the attention of legal authorities. I would say that most of what I have read, is going to put them on a no fly or suspect list. AND, the USA is not the only country reading this.
This is the perfect time for Iran to call everybody's bluff and grab the moral high ground by proposing a nuclear free zone in the middle east with inspectors in every country including Israel. Israel will refuse, and the real motives for putting pressure on Iran will be exposed. Shutting off the oil raises the price of oil worldwide and benefits the oil companies. Oil wars are to keep the price of oil up, not down. It also helps right wing politicians in the US, Israel and Iran by using the fear of war to stay in power by rattling the sword. Iran should call their bluff by proposing a nuclear free zone.
What parallel universe do you live in? Would you really trust Iran to do what you suggest - with or without inspectors... so how would Israel?
at least iran signed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty , lets google and see which countries refused to sign it.....
Israel is as so or more unstable than Iran. They clearly state their hostile intent in the middle east and want to bomb and control every neighboring country around themselves (with our help of course). They are religious zealots and have proven they are unwilling and unable to negotiate diplomatically with anyone in the region. Now they are calling for the assassination of the American president? It's getting to the point where maybe the US should be bombing Israel instead of Iran. JMHO
Jackoo7 do you even trust your own US Gov't run by manipulated Jews and their lies?
Send your kids to fight on behalf of the evil Jews and leave mine and other peaceful people's kids alone.
Yeah and how are they holding up on that treaty?
...and Israel is no innocent bystander either. Don't let it fool you. Although I'm sure you know that.
Iran cannot be stopped from developing nuclear weapons. And Obama is smart not to wage another war we can't afford. Yet to pay over $2 trillion borrowed to fight the last two wars. War mongers eager for adventurism volunteer for service and provide funds for war.
The whole world hates the dirty evil zionists in illegal racist israel – Come on WW3 Baby! The rewards: NO MORE ISRAEL!!!
Yipppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! israel will get nuked off the planet and all the surviving dirty evil zionists will get what they most assuredly deserve – a slow painful retribution rooted from a half century of crimes against humanity.
zionists are an evil dirty people who worship the devil – they are the anti-christ's people, they are EVIL and good will prevail over them. There is a place in hell for them. Come on WW3 Baby!!!
Yipppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Iran has been calling for a nuclear free zone for over a decade now. Israel refuses to do it because it says it needs them to defend against potential threats. That is, when they're not busy denying they have any nukes at all.
Wow! You mean a country without nuclear weapons signed a nuclear non-proliferation pact?! AMAZING!
P.S. Guess who's doing a lot of "proliferating" these days?
I just want to say a few words. I doubt that most of the people that leave their opinions have ever been to the region. On top of that I assume they only use one type of news source. I spent extensive time working and volunteering in Israel and Gaza. I am a non religious and choose to not be affiliated with any religion. But I witnessed things that ultimately made me believe this situation is hopeless.
I was in Gaza right before the Israeli invasion. Prior to that invasion, I was on the the gaza border with a group of tourists when mortars fell out of the sky. The targets were not israelis, but tourists. A bus got hit, thankfully that was the only loss. But I will never forget
Inside gaza, we had to wear flak jackets. On top of that, much of the food and aid we brought to women and children was stolen by the militants. I also met some activists that had eye witnessed children being used as human shields.
All I can say is this. From first hand experience. The ruling class of Gaza is not suitable for leadership, they do not care about the lives of their own people. Unfortunately, their people suffer greatly because of it.
I went in with an open mind. I came out knowing that the palestinian struggle is largely due to its violent leadership which has no regard for human rights, nor the people that come to help them. I pray for those women in children (not to god of course), but at the same time I am thankful that the dangerous people I witnessed do not have control of an internationally recognized country.
For all of you that have an opinion on this issue based on watching TV and reading the news. Either shut up, or buy a plane ticket, get your ass over there and see the truth. Unfortunately you wont see it on the news.
Also keep in mind that 100s of murderers, baby killers, et all were released for just one man. I have seen it. Palestinian leadership does not respect life, however most palestinians do. This truly is a major tragedy, and the solution – there never will be one. Extremists refuse to put their arms down, and israel will retaliate with full force until they do. However, I truly believe Israel would also do whatever they can for the palestinians if only the rockets would stop. This is so ugly, but we need to stop pointing fingers. Both sides have committed atrocities, and the only way to make this stop is to put the past in the past. The major question is, are we strong enough to do that?
@ Squeebo Finally someone with some real sense! People love to back up Arab countries. That is, until they've been there.
In Antarctica have found oil. The government of the USA has declared – to a bloody regime of penguins the end will soon come.
let me get this right israel has 200 or more nuke bombs and does not want its neighbors to have any,israel started many wars ,i dont remember iran starting any wars,what is wrong with this picture?israelis by force stole the palistinians land and they want to live in peace,what hyprocrites.mr netanyahu go fight your own war with iran and leave the usa alone.you mr netanyahu live in a country on welfare on the backs of us americans.
what a stupid ignorant person you are!
Just Harlen is with out a come back. A personal attack like his shows his intelegence. I agree with eddie.
Forcing Iran to fight could be a major disaster. Forget the straights of Hormuz an attack on the enormous oil refinery in Saudi Arabia on the Persian Gulf would take half a million barrels of oil a day out of production for a long time. Then sink the ships at the loading docks. This refinery is about 100 miles from Iran. A few hundred crews missiles should do the job. A nice fat sitting target!
Great article, Trista Parsi. The rest of CNN should take a few notes from you.
It's a crappy article, Parsi.
Earth to Trita: the meme that Iran's 2009 elections were fraudulent has been debunked quite thoroughly.
Why in the world do you undercut Iran - which is under threat of a nuclear-armed mad-dog Israel, with issues of voter fraud - there is NO proportionality.
Your mother country is under threat by a nuclear armed rogue state - Israel ; it has nuclear capable submarines lurking off Iran's shores and drones invading Iranian airspace and spying on Iran. Israel is supported by a rogue superpower, USA, that has troops massed on Iran's borders and air bases ringing Iran.
Do you think that these threats to Iran are counterbalanced by what you incorrectly claim was a fraudulent election?
The greatest threat to everyone else in the middle-east is Iran. It's a dangerous, rogue nation hell-bent on militarily dominating the region.
Debunked? Show me this alleged debunking.
It's debunked because his brain believes everything it finds on the internet.
I think all of you are liars.
Hey Jew, the truth hurts isn't it?
It takes a chronic liar herself to know a liar.
well said
So from your own remark, "it takes one to know one".......You are one! Well,we all knew that all along anyway. What else would anyone expect from someone who relies on ethnic slurs to make a point. Keep commenting, your remarks are giving us great insight into your unparalled level of intelligence.
Hate yourself? feeling a victim? I wouldn't waste the time putting a nickle into your cup, you have the pitiful language of a labratory monkey......"help me get out of this life, it's the Jews fault.
CHE all you are which i can tell is a Muslim radical terrorist who hates Jews They are Jehovah"s chosen people and will always be and know one will ever beat them 6 days WAR "hello"
Biden reprimanded Nethanyahu of undermining the security of American troops who were in Iraq and still in Pakistan and Afghanistan. True, whatever Nethanyahu does can get the U.S. involved. We have at the moment – unfortunately – a cast of controversial and intransigent leaders in the Middle East. It just shows once more that nations don't necessary have to get hostile towards each other, it's the policy and the personality of their powerholders that create hostility.
Spot on.
Israel, not United States, is Iran's enemy. An Iran with nuclear weapons will disrupt Israel's cruel and outrageously exercised Mideast hegemony. All our Mideast wars have been against our interests, yet successfully advocated by the Jewish state. Again against our interests, Israel has involved us in increasingly overt operations against Iran. Spies and American military drones in Iranian airspace are the most recent revelations. Since before 9/11, American soldiers have been dying for the Jewish state. We are at war. Who did this to us? Israel, AIPAC, the One Percent and other organized and monied Israel Firsters have corrupted our politicians and entire electoral system. Justice and the future of America demand that they be prosecuted and jailed.
true that!
All i can say is that I do believe that Israel is the chosen nation of God and I believe on what the Bible says"Those who bless you i will bless, and those who curse you I will curse.":|
Apple I hope you're joking.
You've got it backwards.... going back to the 1953 overthrow of Mossadegh, the reinstating of the Shah, and the tacit US support of Saddam against Iran in the 1980s (none of which Israel had anything to do with... reinstating the Shah was to stop Soviet expansion into Central Asia and supporting Saddam was effectively just revenge for the hostage crisis) Iran's enemy is the US. They rail against Israel to try to "become popular on the Muslim street" and because they know it drives America crazy.
I apologize if this disrupts your narrative of "every problem America faces is just because of the evil 1% jew bankers" but these happen to be the historical facts.
you are clueless!
if they want to continue fighting because of a mythical prophecy, I would like to see the members of AIPAC and congress send their sons and daughters over there. it's their war, not the the war of the rest of us sane people.
NO MORE WARS! Subservience to grandiose Israeli aspirations and the military industrial complex is ruining America. NO MORE WARS!
Brilliant! Why hasn't anyone else thought of that? We should also put an end to disease and death. It's so simple. (Sarcasm intended)
Because sarcasm is such a helpful/positive trait? No.
Well Said!
You truly speak on behalf of the silent masses who have been shut out by jewish control media in America. Also we will all bear witness if CNN deletes your post like they have been doing to anyone post against the jew or the deceitful Israeli Gov't. manipulated propaganda machine.
if no war big problem for richest amerikans,big problem for american economy,big problem for death traders,big problem for dark powers.....
factoid; your miserable soul has not an iota of truth in it, sorry for your wife and family particularly your children if any.
Campaign reform is needed to cut the funding and influence of foreign government proxies like AIPAC from destroying American independence and governance. To get elected to Congress or even become a President, it is mandatory to bow down to the Israeli fanaticism. This is truly sad for the state of liberty in America. It is also sad for the peace loving Jews who want to live in harmony with the rest of the world. The militant wing of zionism needs to be removed from the dialogue of Jewish culture.
This will not last long since most Americans are now awake and see how the liars and crooks in charge at the congress are in collusion with the fraudsters at wall street and creating a nation of masters and slaves once again.
Free America Now.
most Americans are now awake" are they?
No, unfortunately most Americans are asleep or brainwashed
attack iran now before it is too late, IRAN IS A PAPER TIGER, AS SOON AS THE ATTACK START THEY CRUMBLE, THERE ARE MORE THAN 45 OPPOSITION GROUOPS....BUT FIRST WE MUST GET RED OF SYRIAN BASHAR AL KALB AND HIZBOALLAH AS THOSE ARE THE EVIL HANDS OF IRAN. WE MUST END THE DARK AGE AND THE DARK EMPIRE OF THOSE VILLAGE IDIOTS AND SEND THEM TO THE GARBAGE OF HISTORY ALONG WITH HITLER.
I don't think you are Ali Ibn Abi Talib. I think you are low level Zionist.
A coward Jew hiding as ALI BEN ABY TALEB. Can fool anyone who has an ounce of brain.
Get this through your evil terrorist head. I know a typical coward Jew like you and CNN wouldn't to hear this.
Israel is a Terrorist State ................. Period! You have the nerve to blame Pres. Obama to fight your evil wars for you.
Netanyahu, is that you?
Yeb, its him evil Benjamin Netanyahu alright in disguise!
Glad you could spot him here also.
Change your name it is a disgrace to have such an esteemed name and violent behavior.
Trita Parsi, a well-known lobbyist for the Islamic Republic regime
Are you one of the believers that the only hope for Iran is for Israel bombing Iran?
Read the whole article and get the message. War is not the answer to any conflict; be it Iran or Iraq or Serbia or Vietnam or Korea or WWII.
Anyone who thinks that wars don't solve problems is a hopelessly deluded fool ignorant of their history. Wars solve problems in spectacular fashion. The history of warfare is the history of the world.
Is it always the preferred or best method to solve a problem? No. It does, however, get results one way or the other.
And AIPAC is America's pro-Israel lobby. How many editorials have we read of theirs? AIPAC can bury us in editorials but we should ignore Trita Parsi.... why?
Americans have paid attention to Netanyahu and how he mocks America because America is so "easy to move." Do you think all Americans are blind to Israel bullying? Are you claiming the facts in this editorial are not facts? Listen, you can have your own perspective, but that does not change the facts – which are verifiable.
ان النظام المجرم مستمرفي اجرامه وحرب الابادةالتي يقوم بها ضد شعبناالاعزل اننا نطلب من جيشناالحر بضرب خطوط الكهرباء الرئيسية المتجهة الى لبنان والاردن وخطوط البترول والغاز المتجهة الى الموانئ السورية لشل النظام اقتصاديا هم ينعمون بكل شيء وشعبنا محروم من كل شيئ عاشت سورية حرة ابية والمجد والخلود لشهدائنا الابرار والنصر قريب بعون الله
Only thing come to mind my dear Aby Taleb is: you الأم الأبله
You must be from one of the villages yourself since you really did not understand the article U الأم الأبله
wat are all the hieroglyphics supposed to interpret into? I say we Iranians need to be beheaded in droves. Let them come to my house. I have some bullets to fee them right in their mouths shot from guns!
leave out "we" in my post and fee should be "feed".
What the US needs is a good 10 cent thermonuclear war. Would warm things up a bit. It's too cold outside!
Not all Iranians are bad people. They are as diverse as as any other people. You lack any intelligence!
ALI BEN ABY TALEB is a coward Terrorist Israeli Jew. Ignore his evil rant about peaceful people of US and Pres. Obama who are sick of Americans fighting Israeli Gov't manipulated lies and Israeli wars.
Fuk Ah-I-took-a-Chitt and the rest of the Arabs and Iranians!
try some english
Excellent article Mr. Parsi! Best analysis so far. Everything said is factual and cited properly. if you people including "Ali" and others, would like to get more education about Israel's view toward war with Iran, read Haaretz yourself.
And to "Ali Ben Aby Taleb":
اللعنة تذهب نفسك!
IN MY LIFE I HAVE LOVED BEUTYFULL WOMEN NO MATTER IN WHAT STATE MY HEALTH WAS.NOW IS THE TIME 2 EXPIRIANT THE BOND BETWEEN THE BEAST AND THE WHOORE.THAT MEANS THAT I WILL B THE BEAST AND MY GIRL WILL B PROTECTED AND SERVED BY ME.SO I CAN JUDGE PEOPLE BETTER.I AM THE No2.
an entire article on the subject that fails to mention the number one antagonist in this mess can only be a diversion. S AUDI ARABIA wants to maintain its image as a friend to all muslims while it secretly engages israel and Nato to do its dirty work of destroying shia islam
No, Saudi Arabia just doesn't want to see a nuclear arms-race in the middle-east... atleast not one where Iran has a head start.
The monarchy is SA has resigned itself to the fact that Israel is going to remain and there is nothing at all that they can do to change that, so they might as well make nice.
Sounds to me like the foundation is being laid for a Global Thermonuclear War. Step1. Create a problem is already in play
This is madness. I wish President Obama and his team good luck in dealing with this ongoing mess. I'm fairly confident he will come out on the right side of history on this issue.
Agreed Dave.
Agreed. – But history will be re-written in the text books as always.
THE ONLY THING THAT I THINK NOW IS MY BEUTYFULL GIRL THAT IS NOT A WHOORE OFCOURCE.
I ONLY WANT 2 B WITH HER.
I don't agree with a lot of this article. First of all, it's been a while since Sarkozy said what he did and on top of that, Israel has never been a popularity contest, even in Israel. It's been even longer since Obama said he wanted dialogue at the beginning of his term, he wants dialogue now, but that's to prevent nuclear war, not to promote some sort of kumbayah mentality. I severely doubt that Netanyahu or Ehud Barak would disagree with nuclear talks, who in the right mind would rather start a war over talking? That's failed logic.
The thing about zealots, is that logic doesn't come into the equation. The Iranian mullahs want to obliterate Israel. The Israeli right-wing would love to unleash hell on Iran. For both, this is the preferred method for dealing with the other regardless of any consequences.
You really have not been keeping up have you?
um, Israel has never cared to talk things out. They prefer to just bomb everyone they think is a threat to them. What you say sounds reasonable, but Israel has proved over and over they are unreasonable.
FUC IRAN FUC IRAQ FUC ALSHE3A AL KELAB FUC AWALD AL MOT3A AL SAFWEEN FUC YOU ALL SHIE3A IDIOTS ....ESHROOG THUGS, MOQTADA AL QATHER , NORI AL HALEKI , BASHAR AL KALB, AL JA3FARI AL MOJREM, AL NJALABI AL HARAMI, ENHEBYA HARAMEYA KEALB KHAWANA RAFEDHA, IRANEEN TERRORISTS, SUPPORT HEZBOLLAH THE TERRORISTS AND THE KILLERS BADER ARMY AND MAHDI ARMY ALL OF YOU ARE CRIMINALS FUC YOU ALL SHIE3A
Ya Ibn AlHaram. AlShiia' Taj Ras Umack. Akeed Umack ItNaych.
fuc you Iranians shiie3a thugs kelab weld al mot3a fuc you imams fuc your sahib al zaman Imam al serdab ....fuc Khomeini ans al sestani , fuc al ja3fari wal jalabi fuc moqtada al qather , fuc nori al maleki, al haleki halakaho Allah. eshroog kelab fuc the fors al majoos al safween
Ya Ibn Alkalb. Inta Wahid Safil. Wa Umack ItNaych
kos omahatkum shiiaa kelan kus om iran
Kus Umack Akhal Kahba. Inta Umack ItNaych.
Economic sanctions ARE an act of war. America is FORCING Iran into war, as oil is their economic lifeline. We need to quit meddling in their affairs.... or soon we'll be in another war. The real problem is Israel. The Israelis are liars, hypocrites and are trying to drag us into another expensive military conflict.
I say let Mr. Netanyahu battle with Iran to his hearts content but leave us out of it. We've had all the unnecessay wars we can handle for a while.
It's like that friend we have to keep defending.
Somehow I doobt that we,ll be sending them money forebvereever
Israel does not dictate Americas foreign policies.
Thank you for speaking like a true human being unlike some idiotic war mongers in America.
You can NEVER please a Jew .................. period. Even the Lord Jesus couldn't hence his crucifixion.
These are the same people who supported and trained racist military regimes in Africa to oppress and mercilessly massacred African Country's citizens fighting for their freedoms. They violated every UN Policy in place to protect these defenseless Africans. Their bogus excuse to the World? They didn't know these regimes were oppressors. Hello? Aren't these the same people who claimed victims of Hitler's massacre?
Unfortunately, in the Middle East, it does.
Why is it that the Muslims are fighting with every country with non-Muslims near the Middle East? Jews in Israel. Christians in Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Nigeria, Russia and Kenya. Hindus in India. Time to face the facts that Muslims hate us Christians as much as they hate the Jews.
Ever wonder why?
To make the statement you have made means you have not really looked into this much. For over 60 years, Israel has done much to insure US foreign policy is much about them. they care for themselves, not anyone else. The US was bullide along with India into voting for the creation of Israel. They line the pockets of many congress people and other politicians, or use religion to bind them. Israel is very much in control of the US including our media too.
In a time of fiscal crisis, isn't it time the United States completely stopped foreign aid to Israel? An estimated three billion dollars every year can go a long way to providing jobs, schools, infrastructure and investments into renewable energy. The umbilical cord has got to be cut.
I fear that number is far larger than $3 Billion. The $3 billion comes only from USAID/State Department, however, the monetary value that they receive in military equipment and from DoD in general is vastly more. Time to cut the cord. We've been hemorrhaging money to them for over 60 years creating a nuclear armed rogue state. If anything, Israel is the only terrorist state in the Middle East.
You are absolutly right
Lot of racist Muslims on this CNN site – as usual. What a surprise!! My St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Rockville, Maryland and the 2 billion Christians world-wide strongly support the Jews living in their homeland and defending themselves from the racist Iran. The Jews were in the land of Israel for more than 2,000 years BEFORE Islam even began.
Another typical deceitful jewish lies. You're dead wrong, you Evil jewish soul.
I'm a Christian by birth and heck don't support your evil jewish actions. As deceitful as you are and your irks; FYI: American so-called Christian Evangelists don't represent TRUE American Christians at large not even close.
Your irks are worst than Satan Lucifer on earth. Ask yourself this basic question: how come the World a large hates Israel or jews so much?
Thank you ambassador NK.
NK is simply ignorant of the facts and, history.
Ignorance is a right. But google can fix it.
It's about time that someone put Israel in it's place. I have friends in that region and they do not like Netanyahu or his policies. Most of the people that live there want a peaceful resolution with all of its neighbors. It's the Jewish powers IN THE WEST that push the envelope on this. If Iran is bombed, it will unite all of Persia, something nobody wants, just me!
Why is it okay for Israel to have two hundred nukes and for Iran not to have nuclear power plants for energy?????
Yeb, that's a REAL question US Jewish manipulated media including coward CNN would dare ask.
Isn't it about time someone ask?
Duh, Iran is threatening to attack Israel, US and others. Israel just wants to live in peace.
Dummy that's what your deceitful, manipulated Israeli Gov't propaganda machine tell you. How come the World at large don't buy your deceitful, manipulated Israeli Gov't propaganda machine? Have a freak****G brain of your own.
Again NK,
I know ignorance is a right, but google can fix it if you are interested.
Sanction Israel ,send troops into Gaza and clear out the illegal Israeli settlements based on the SEc. Powell intentions. If this had been done prior to 9/11 there may not have been a 9/11 or an attack upon Iraq.AH but the money ,the hundreds of billions in profit from conflict ,directly into tax free overseas accounts,the rampant insider trading by members of congress all these profiit years of special interest groups supporting AIPAC.Where would we be without weapons to kill humans for big bucks ,it's so easy.
I think Israel has the situation well handled.
Let's pull all resources and let them handle it. Give them a chance to prove themselves.
Obama vs. Netanyahu vs. Ahmadinejad vs. Congress
vs GOP
Peacefull is only will be a dream in this beauty earth. Just do it, if you prefer to do it. Anyone is nonsense! War.. War.. War.. All of you just able make a destruction in this world
Israel doesn't seem to realize that they need the US more than the US needs them... Putting the US government constantly in awkward positions, and demanding action from the US government in Israeli affairs is just going to make the US distance its self from Israel, which is what has been happening for a couple years now. Israel cares for no one but Israel, and when their increasingly radical government doesn't get its way, it immediately starts spouting off inflammatory comments towards the US and our President (anti-Semitic, etc.). If Israel wants war with Iran, then by all means, ISRAEL can fight their own battles... The US has gotten into enough ridiculous wars on behalf of others; to our own detriment...
Agree!!!
Israel will be sorry if it attacked Iran. Iran is not Iraq or Afghanistan they fought the war with Saddam puppet of the West with the help of 82 countries. All these countries were not able to defeat Iran the result was great loss of life and casualties. Iran was defending himself against the aggression imposed on them. State of Israel will be stupid to initiate anything that will be a gross mistake and will shake the whole world. They are under stating Iran and will have a rude awakening to mess with this country Iran.
I hope Israel bombs the Iran nuclear sites. As a Catholic, I will not be silent to a second Holocaust of mililions of Jews. Why is it that the Muslims are fighting with every country with non-Muslims near the Middle East? Jews in Israel. Christians in Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Nigeria, Russia and Kenya. Hindus in India. Time to face the facts that Muslims hate us Christians as much as they hate the Jews.
Ignorance is the bliss you are living in dream land.
that's funny because it was actually the Christians in Europe who killed the Jews and not the Iranians
The last straw for me was the apartments in Arab East Jerusalem...of ALL the places to develop and build new properties, this one was by far...the worst!
To me that is a deal breaker, it's like dealing with two little kids, Iran who is working on destroying the world, meanwhile, the other kid just stole the family car and ran it into a tree...UGH!!!!!
I do not want Iran to have Nuclear weapons. I also do not want another damn war. If Israel wants to attacke Iran.
Have at it. If you are too scared to do it alone, don't blame the United States.
Thank you for saying this out loud!!!
Obama needs to tell Israel and Iran that the US is stepping back, and he will no longer support either. The two countries should then determine through dialogue how they are going to solve the issues or to mark their paces, then get it over with if necessary. The US should make it clear it will only enter the conflict if some other outside country was to jump into the fray against Israel. Let the two solve it on their own.
That is the best solution but US have too much on steak and will not leave Israel alone.
Obama is a Haman that wants to destroy the state of Israel and the Jewish people
Evil Stan breed, a.k.a. countrycook; stay in your trailer park countrycook ant hole bunker and feed on the blood of Satan Lucifer and leave the President of the Free World alone.
And whilst you're at it stop raping and infecting your grand son's and daughter's with STD's.
Not willing to be Israel's servant does not equate to destroying Israel or anti-Semitic. Are you an American? If so, think before you speak (or write).
Well said.
I am very disappointed in Obama's treatment of Israel and I am Catholic and voted for him in 2008
What does your disappointed with Obama have to due with nuclear technology. Do you reasonable expect Iran or the King dome of Monaco not to be able to harness 60 year old technology?
And if Israel wants to run in the tall grass and pee with the big doges, let them have at it. But not with the U.S. which only gets 3 to 4% of its petroleum from the Middle east. It's not our issue. Don't make Israel 's problem our problem. Israel did not put a single boot on the ground in Iraq or Afghanistan, El, Salvador, Nicaragua, Somalia, Vietnam Korea, and on and on.
Here you go again! @NK, Cuting-&-Pasting the SAME posts over-and-over-again?
Imbecile, don't you have a brain? Pea brain, you're wasting Internet Bandwidth.
not all americans agree with Israel or their abuses! I am proud of Obama's resistance to be Israel's lapdog!!
The headline sounds like a Sunday morning golf match amongst friends. Wouldn't you have like to be a fly on the wall for this meeting.
Dual loyalty among some senior administration officials. Of course, dual citizenship, leads to dual loyalty. We been highjacked at a very high level. No dual citizenship holder should be allowed to be in a high government position. This is the only way to assure that the loyalty is to the state.
The answer to this problem is to follow international law. Obama hasn't done that. He would rather have the region explode in war than allow Iran to have the right to process it's own fuel. (Iran had agreed to a fuel exchange but the west said no to that idea)
This is madness. And it is going to lead to all out war, hatred, and seeking revenge for years to come. How did Obama ever win a nobel peace price?
Your comment, "He would rather have the region explode in war than allow Iran to have the right to process it's own fuel" is utterly ridiculous. If that is what Obama wanted, it would have happened already. This article, along with many others I have read shows Obama's resistance to war with Iran. If Israel had complete control, war would have already been waged.
Preventing Iran, or another country from harnessing nuclear technology, technology that is 60 years old is impossible. Further the issue is based in policy of failed diplomacy by the political classes, and the forward leaning hawks.
Don't buy into it. Write your congressman and senator, and them to step off or let Israel go it alone.
Israel did not put a single boot on the ground in Afghanistan, or Iraq?,
http://www.occupyaipac.org/ Americans are trying to take bake control of the US from Israel. Please help/support in anyway you can
My St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Rockville, Maryland and the 2 billion Christians world-wide strongly support the Jews living in their homeland and defending themselves from the racist Iran. The Jews were in the land of Israel for more than 2,000 years BEFORE Islam even began.
SO we give the USA back to the more than 200 indian tribes?
Further more that claim you make is based on a Biblical passage.
And even if you choose to believe it, what about the other humans beings that were there at the same time, but not members of the tribe mentioned in the bible.
"a nation dating back 4,000 years", are you kidding me! Check the zise of China, Egypt, if a nation can back to that long, it would never has a needle size today. The nation was created by UN 60yr ago. Jews & Palestine has long history. That is truely statememt.
NewEngland2, – you are ignorant. The Jews have been in Israel for 4,000 years and there are archaelogical sites to prove it. Go celebrate your Patriots win.
ok so there was Israel once upon a time. SO WHAT!! They lost the land at some point during history. Get over it and move on as others whom lost their original lands have. You don't see American Indians throwing fits about how the US was once their land and all others should get out. Quit being a cry baby about how the land was once Jewish owned land.
CJ – And yet you cry that the Palestinians lost their land in a war against israel
God himself will fight us here in the U.S when Obama puts pressure on Israel to go back to '67 borders. He is going to send more floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, fire, droughts, record breaking snow storms and he is removing his hand of protection off of us and we will be attacked by Islamic terrorist again. Any nation that hurts Israel is only putting their finger in their own eye.
As a proud Catholic, I will always "stand by Israel" against the racist Muslims
So you're saying that Iran is racist because it wants to harness 60 year old scientific technology for energy?
So they must also be racist because they put seat blest in there car's, a 1950 Tech, or a home computer 1980's tech....and on and on.
You wait for your done and Jew will do the same thing to Catholics what they are doing to Muslims. You don't even realize that they are the one's who killed Jesus. Shame on you for supporting and ignoring the history.
ok, so as a catholic you stand by murderers. nice to know.
NK get the book "Eye to Eye" and see how God sends judgment on us through the weather when we put pressure on Israel to divide their land.
You religious nuts are strange. Tell us you're a proud Catholic one more time NK because we still don't know this despite the fact that you mentioned it in almost every one of your posts.
Ignorance is a bliss.
Hey racist Muslims: Who is right? Christian bible – Jews have been living in Israel for more than 4,000 years. Ahmadinejad and the racists – the Jews have been living in Israel only since 1948.
Jews have lived in Israel for three thousand years, they were RETURN to their land in '48
Palestinians were living in Palestine way before Jews arrived after wandering around in Egypt and other parts of Middle East. Moses asked his followers let's ask them if we can be a guest instead of wandering around and response he got from his followers was that you go in there with your GOD Moses get them out of there and only then we will enter. So Palestinians have more right to Israel than Jews. Open up the history books and read please.
It should be apparently clear to the ordinary Americans of both liberal and conservative believes that all of this Iranian conflicts have to do with Israli's interests. One can't help but realize that much of the American Congress serves the interests of Israel, and the American executive branch cannot do much but oblige to exist another term. That is very sad.
True True..
Hey racist Muslims: Who is right? Christian bible – Jews have been living in Israel for more than 4,000 years. Ahmadinejad and the racists – the Jews have been living in Israel only since 1948. You don't like Jews. You don't like Christians. You don't like Catholics. You don't like Kurds. You don't like India. Who do you tolerate?
I dont think it matters. Iran does not have a blue water navy, they do not have a history of invading other countries. They truly do not pose a threat to the US. Let them dislike anybody they want.. so what. They are a target being built by the US Military Industrial Complex supported by the Jewish controlled media in the US. Each little sound bite and article reminds me more and more of the run up to war with Iraq in the 90s.
False flag op gonna happen now that the "old" USS Enterprise (which holds 8 nuclear reactors and is scheduled to be decommissioned next year) is being sent to the Persian Gulf. Perfect ship to blow up either by Israel (recall USS Liberty, Gulf of Tonkin) or by U.S....either way...both will blame iran and then attack iran...which begins nuclear WWIII...and nobody around the globe will escape the nuclear fallout unless they want to live out their lives in an underground safe bunker. The crew of the USS enterprise are on a death cruise...and so is the world. Google Samson option of Israel...they are the #1 enemy of peace and humanity to the entire world.
I do not think it's being decommissioned next year. It just gout out of dry dock in Norfolk after being completely refurbished.
I realize that there are 2 billion Muslims on this planet and only 15 million Jews so it should not surpirse me the Muslims spewing their typical racist remarks here. However, as a proud Catholic American (and Italian) there is no chance the Christian community will support the racist Muslims against our Cousins.
Religion is the problem. Imagine if the US government was dominated by religious rules; it would be the same as these muslim countries.
Unfortunately your thought on religion controlling the US is not impossible. Many right-wing Christians are trying to gain complete control of the US government. They would like to make us a Christian nation as they so falsely claim we are. We would basically become just like middle east countries, but in Christianity instead of Islam.
So who you acknowledge as fellow peace craving human beings has to do with who your RELIGIOUS cousins are?
I do not believe you would recognize your messiah if he sat down next to you.
Also, I believe it was the Muslims and Jews who were cousins, co-existing peacefully in jerusalem once – who fought together against your christian crusaders. We're all cousins.
American gun control comes to mind as I read this article and comments. Check out this anology; If all Americans should be allowed to own guns, then why would all countries not be allowed to have nukes when other have it? Is this a conundrum? Who should be allowed to make these decisions?
Double standards & might is right is the law of the land. That is what America is doing and defaming itself in the process.
Iran does not missles capable of hitting the US and it does not have blue water navy. Translation, they are NO direct threat to the US. Once again the US is being dragged into a war that truly has nothing to do with us. We are being lead by Israel who has choosen a path of non-peace with its neighbors and expect the US to pay for such with the lives of our children, our military and our treasury. Obama made an impressive trip to Europe asking for support to keep the palistians from being accepted as an independent country last year... his payment, to be called anti-Jewish by the leadership in Israel. This is not our fight, the US is not in danger, we are not the worlds police force. Israel needs to make peace with its neighbors and stop using the US as their personal big brother to fight their battles.
Second issue: AIPAC should be made illegal. Why are we allowing foreign govenments to get involved in our government? Why should a country that takes $6,000,000,000 a year that we must borrow from the red communist chinese with interest from us be allowed to them take some of that very money and give it back to our congressional leadership? Doesn't this bother you?
President Obama and other former president have put in countless hours and $billions upon Billions of dollars to help Israel at what point is it enough? The % of our population who were native born in that country is not even fractional enough to print. Why are they the corner stone of every news publication... Why does every new show start with issues in Israel? We have far more problems directly connected with our country including challenges that truly need our help south of our border that are just passed over or give page 11 attention. Think about it.
I liked the article. But the auther lacks the guts and the vision to make a resume: the war is inevitable.
For Iran, the nukes were in progress for some time now. It just the US failure in Iraq that allowed Ahmadinejad go bold and make noise, and make public statements that Israel should cease to exist. it makes a perfect sense for Iran to actively look for nukes. It started during the war with Iraq and was on since then. If they had nukes, that would obviously move them into the prime league and make it not only number one regional player, but one of the most powerful world players.
From Israel perspective, Iran made it clear that it wants Israel be wiped off the map. Israel is a tiny country, and it only takes two to three nukes to completely destroy it. They know perfectly well that Iran controls Hesbolla, Hamas, Syria and now a good fraction of Iraq. Had Iran had nukes, it would not be very difficult for them to share nukes with their allies. Adding to worries, there are different factions inside Iran, some more aggressive then others, who may want to use nukes themselves at some point. Israel simply can't afford the risk of Iran having nukes. Hence the aggessive politics.
From SA, Egypt, Turkey, other regional countries perspective, They don't like Iran any more than they liked Iraq. It's a permanent thread and headache for them. If Iran has nukes, it will be virtually impossible to control the region – everybody will want to have nukes as well. Having a nuclear war will become a question of when.
There is no country in the region other than Syria who would welcome nuclear Iran.
And the US has several army bases and sells weapons to almost everybody in the region. Not just Israel.
The question is now will the US live to Arabs' and Israel's expectations as a superpower who oversees the world order, or will it allow the "natural" development of the region into its own region destruction?
It's legitimate to propose that Israel should fight for itself. Then why have all the army deployments in Quatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Turkey? The US must now decide – stay the number one world power and fight with Iran, or become an equal member of international community and stop making life-and-death decisions for others.
And guess what – when it comes to political power, vacancies don't stay long.
Thanks for regurgitating all that manipulative fear propaganda. - And all the time you took to type it.
Let's just say you can no longer sell the American masses your plastic fruit as sustenance.
I am not a neocon. I hate neocons. But there is nothing in my post that is not true or realistic expectation.
Keep this in mind... if IRAN were to use Nuclear weapons against Israel then the world would of course fight back. The US has enough nuclear weapons to remove Iran from the planet. Kings and dictators such as we see in Iran like their Kingdoms... they fully understand that to attack Israel with such would end their kingdom and they don't want that at all. Nobody would come to the aid of IRAN if such were to happen... so it doesn't make any sense to them... there is no advantage... So before you get your panties in a knot remember you are letting your blood pressure rise over something that would never happen.
Firstly, as I mentioned, Iran has allies, like Hesbollah. What if Hesbollah use a nuke against Israel? Would the world fight back against Lebanon? Iran, if there is no proof that Iran had purposely shared weapons with Hesbollah?
Secondly, again, there are different factions within Iran. It's simply wrong to assume that everybody will behave in a logical and consistent and nonsuisidal way. Never heard of suiside attacks?
And after all, would anyone want to fight a nuclear power with an unpredictable government that has already used nuclear weapons against another country? Why? And if yes, what difference would it make for Israel after the fact?
Every person of conscience knows that CNN is an anti-Semitic, leftist (which is unfortunately synonymous our days) news outlet. Therefore, there is no surprise that it published that typical ‘Jewish conspiracy’ article from a pro-Iranian author. Way to go CNN. Please, publish ‘The Protocols of the Elders of Zion’ the next time. Many of the commentators above will be pleased.
Humans are strange creature, first they build relationships and they break it, build building and beautify cities and they destroy it. The one with power have a arrogance and they eventually all that arrogance is nothing but destruction for them self. Look at all the previous empires how they were doomed and destroyed because of arrogance. USA is not any different and is repeating the history instead of learning from it. Ultimate power is God and God does not like arrogant people.
God teach us peace and we promote killings, something is wrong with the equation. All who are in favor of wars are inhumane and barbarians. John Lennon put this in the best way in his song IMAGINE. He sure was a dreamer. We are lower than animal kingdom wanting a war in which innocent people are killed, shame on all of us who support war.
If there are weapons, they will be used, sooner or later. And if there are no weapons, someone will invent them and then use. Until we get to the point when UN or similar body will be effective enough to act as singular world police force – and beyond that point. There will always be conflicts.
I love and respect John Lennon. But when he was writing "imaging no possession", he was a millionaire, with no intentions to stop being one.
Actually UN is a puppet organization and has no back bone. If UN was capable and autonomous body lot of trouble in the world should be solved by them. The fact that they are under the gun and listen to big bosses is the reason that we have no justice in the world. UN was created and run by superpowers, it is sad but situation in the world is endorsing this fact. There is nothing wrong with being a millionaire if it is earned by correct sources.
There is nothing wrong with being a millionaire. But if you paint possession as something negative and invite people to imaging the world with no possession, being millionaire makes you a bit hypocritical. Lennon was a dreamer, but he lived in real world.
As for UN, I'm afraid there will always be big bosses, big money, big interests, and no justice. I am just hoping that the world will become less and less violent, to keep up with the big money interests.
I have never understood religious people who kill others. I don't get how Christians, Jews and Muslims all believe in Moses whom supposedly was giving the 10 commandments, one of which said thou shalt not kill, then run around killing each other. Hypocrites is what they are in my opinion.
"We are a nation dating back 4,000 years"
hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!! funniest statement ever read today. Do Israeli's really believe that? I mean, seriously, Jerusalem was governed by Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and Turks for the past 4000 years. Where was this NATION then?? let me gues... hmmmm, oh.. they were enjoying the great city of Selanik, NO JEW was even imagining of the "Nation" that "they" had 4000 years ago. Israel is not even near the successor state of the "Kingdom of Juda", if it is, that gives AMERICAN INDIANS a right to claim ALL NORTH AMERICA and that's ABSURD...
Too bad the prejudiced fools commenting on here still have not yet learned that muslims hate Everyone that is not muslim, so they want to kill every non-muslim on earth, not only Jews.
Keep your grain-of-sand size brains in the sand, losers. Or maybe wake up and learn the truth, the Jews are not your enemy, but muslims for sure are.
ur full of crap
I think those are your personal believes. I'm a Muslim from Turkey, and i don't hate Christians, Jews, or any other religious groups. In fact i have 2 Jewish employees. Stop hating people and the world will be a better place for you.
Comments are not pre-screened before they post. Hmmm, I have posted like 5 comments that are not showing up. Me thinks CNN is full of crap.
Wow, these comments just show how racist and very ignorant these anti Semites /muslim hoards are. How many of y'all judging Israel have even been there? I've seen the exact spot across the Qidron valley where the new apartments are going up. and the good thing is the Israelis are going to do an archeological excavation in the area, which has never been done The arabs are just mad because they will find plenty of Jewish (and other) artifacts way predating the muslim invasions. And being trained nuclear engineering, Iran has enriched uranium up to 20%. You only need 3% for electric generation. Sooo if all of you anti Westerners think Iran is not up to something then you are more ignorant than a bedouin trying to build an igloo. And Israel was attacked in 1948 war, Six day war (preemptive), and Yom Kippur. And since then Israel has been reacting to their hostile neighbors shelling them. And I dont see a hell of a lot of arabs liking each other too. Y'all have been fighting each others tribes for 1000's years- grow out of the dark ages!! As Matt Damons only intelligent line in a movie, "...that a hundred years ago you were living in tents out here in the desert chopping each other's heads off and that's where you'll be in another hundred years" May we discover another source of energy than oil!!!
Well Put!
من المؤكد ان السيد نوري المالكي رئيس وزراء العراق ليس من اتباع المذهب الوهابي الذي يحرم زيارة الاضرحة، فأثناء زيارته الى واشنطن قال في تصريحات صحافية انه شيعي اولا، وعراقي ثانيا، وعربي ثالثا، وعضو في حزب الدعوة رابعا، في اجابة عن سؤال حول كيفية تعريفه لنفسه.
بالامس اصدر السيد المالكي فرمانا يمنع زيارة قبر الرئيس الراحل صدام حسين وقبور ولديه عدي وقصي وحفيده مصطفى، المدفونين في مدينة تكريت مسقط رؤوسهم، وابلغ افراد عشيرتهم بهذا القرار، وارسلت حكومته قوات امن لتطويق الاضرحة، ومنع اي زوار من الوصول اليها.
لا نعرف لماذا يخاف السيد المالكي، وهو الذي جاء الى الحكم لاقامة نظام ديمقراطي يحترم الحريات العامة والشخصية، ومارس على مدى السنوات التسع الماضية عملية اجتثاث شرسة ودموية للنظام السابق، وكل منتسبي حزب البعث، الذي كان يحكم باسمه، لا نعرف لماذا يخاف رجل مثله من هياكل عظمية مدفونة تحت الارض، وهو الذي يملك نصف مليون جندي ورجل امن ويحظى بدعم امريكا وايران معا؟
الرئيس صدام حسين اعدم، ومن وقع قرار تنفيذ اعدامه السيد المالكي نفسه، بعد محاكمة مزورة، وقامت حكومته بتسليم جثمانه الى شيخ عشيرته من اجل دفنها، فلماذا يمنع ذووه، او محبوه، من زيارته حتى لو اختلفوا معه في الرأي ؟ أليس الف باء الديمقراطية، التي يتباهى بها العراق الجديد وحكامه احترام الرأي الآخر، ومشاعر قطاع عريض من مواطنيه؟ ثم ماذا يضير السيد المالكي لو زار افراد من عشيرة صدام او اقاربه قبره، وهم الذين فعلوا ويفعلون ذلك منذ سنوات، هل ستقوم القيامة، ام ستتفجر ثورة في العراق؟
الحاكم القوي العادل الواثق من نفسه، وحب الشعب له، لا يخاف من الاضرحة وساكنيها، ولا يخشى انصارهم، وافراد عشائرهم، ولكن يبدو ان السيد المالكي ليس من طينة هؤلاء، وما زالت تسيطر عليه عقدة الخوف، وتتحكم بقراراته، اليس هو من يطارد السيد طارق الهاشمي نائب الرئيس العراقي ويسعى لاعتقاله، اليس هو من افرغ العملية السياسية من كل معانيها وابعد وزراء الكتلة العراقية التي يتزعمها خصمه اياد علاوي، وكل من يختلفون معه في طريقة ادارته للبلاد، ومن منطلقات طائفية في معظم الاحيان؟
امر غريب جدا لا بد من التوقف عنده، وهو ان امريكا وحلفاءها، الذين ثبتت اركانهم في قمة السلطة، بعد ان ضمنت تدفق النفط، يجمعهم قاسم مشترك، وينتمون الى مدرسة الرعب من ضحاياهم نفسها حتى بعد اغتيالهم والتمثيل بجثثهم في معظم الاحيان تحت عناوين الديمقراطية واحترام حقوق الانسان.
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فها هي امريكا القوة الاعظم في التاريخ تخشى من جثمان الشيخ اسامة بن لادن، زعيم تنظيم 'القاعدة' وتقرر 'دفنه' في البحر، تحت ذريعة منع تحول قبره الى مزار لانصاره ومعتنقي فكر تنظيمه الاسلامي المتشدد، والاكثر من ذلك انها ما زالت تفرض الاعتقال القسري على زوجاته الثلاث وابنائه وبنات، وتمنعهم من الحديث الى اجهزة الاعلام، خشية كشفهم كيفية اغتياله وبما يتناقض مع الرواية الامريكية المفبركة، وحتى لا يعرف الرأي العام الاسلامي الحقيقة كاملة من كل جوانبها. فمن المؤسف ان هذه الادارة التي تتباهى بهذا الانجاز تدعي انها تقود العالم الحر، وان رسالتها نشر الديمقراطية وحرية التعبير واحترام حقوق الانسان ومعتقداته، وهناك قانون ثابت فيها ينص على حرية انتقال المعلومات دون عوائق وعدم حجبها عمن يطلبها.
لم يكن من قبيل الصدفة ان يحذو حذوها (اي امريكا) حلفاؤها الجدد في ليبيا في الخوف من الموتى، فقد حرصوا على دفن جثمان الزعيم الليبي معمر القذافي وابنه المعتصم، ووزير دفاعه ابو بكر يونس جابر في مكان مجهول في قلب الصحراء الليبية، بعد التمثيل بجثثهم والاعتداء عليها، اوبعضها، جنسيا، واقسم من نفذوا عملية الدفن في ليلة ظلماء ان لا يكشفوا السير مهما كانت الظروف والضغوط، وكأن هذا الكشف سيهدد مستقبل ليبيا وامنها ووحدتها الترابية.
الحكام الجدد الذين تنصّبهم امريكا، او يأتون عبر مشاريعها الديمقراطية المدعومة بآلتها العسكرية الجبارة، نتوقع ان يكونوا مختلفين عمن سبقوهم من الديكتاتوريين من حيث العدالة، والتسامح، والترفع عن النزعات الثأرية، واحترام حرمة الموت والاموات، مهما كانت جرائمهم، حتى يقدموا نموذجا مشرفا يؤكد لنا انهم يفتحون صفحة جديدة، بل مناقضة، لكل صفحات من سبقوهم من الديكتاتوريين، ولكن ما نراه حاليا مناقض لذلك تماما، نقولها وفي حلوقنا مرارة.
تعالوا نلقي نظرة سريعة على احوال البلدان التي 'حررتها'، او غيرت انظمتها القوات الامريكية، سواء بشكل مباشر، مثلما حصل في العراق، او عن طريق حلف الناتو، وحاملات طائراته، مثلما حدث في ليبيا، او في افغانستان المحتلة منذ عشر سنوات.
بالامس اصدرت منظمة 'هيومان رايتس ووتش' الامريكية تقريرا اكدت فيه ان العراق يعود الى الاستبداد، وفي طريقة للتحول الى دولة بوليسية ان لم يكن قد تحول فعلا، حيث يقمع النظام الحالي بقسوة حرية التعبير والتجمع، ويمارس الترهيب واحتجاز الناشطين والصحافيين، ويقيم سجونا سرية يمارس فيها التعذيب كسياسة رسمية.
وبالامس ايضا خرج علينا المستشار مصطفى عبد الجليل، رئيس المجلس الانتقالي الليبي بتصريحات حذر فيها من انزلاق بلاده الى هاوية بلا قاع، بعد ان اقتحم محتجون مقره في بنغازي وحطموه احتجاجا على فشل الحكومة، وتدهور الاوضاع الامنية وعدم توفير العلاج الكريم للجرحى، وعدم تطبيق الشريعة الاسلامية، ولولا تدخل كتائب امنية بسرعة لما نجا المستشار من غضبة الثوار الجدد على نظام حكمه ومجموعة المتسلقين الانتهازيين الملتفين حوله، حسب توصفهم، وقبلها بيومين حدث الشيء نفسه لنائبه عبد الحفيظ غوقة في جامعة بنغازي حيث طرده الطلاب شر طردة.
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ليبيا غابة بنادق، واصبحت مرتعا للميليشيات المتقاتلة، والجماعات الاسلامية المتشددة، ويكفي التذكير بان تنظيم 'القاعدة' الذي حرص اعضاء المجلس الانتقالي على نفي وجوده في بلادهم قد اختطف محافظا جزائريا في وضح النهار، واقتاده ومرافقيه الى الاراضي الليبية للمساومة عليه للافراج عن معتقلين من انصاره، اي تنظيم القاعدة، في السجون الجزائرية، ولا نعرف تفاصيل الصفقة التي ادت الى الافراج عنه.
هذا الكلام لن يعجب الكثيرين، او بالاحرى سيغضبهم في زمن التضليل والتعمية على الحقائق، تماما مثلما لم يعجب غيرهم كلام مماثل حول خطورة الاحتلال الامريكي للعراق والنتائج الاستراتيجية الكارثية التي ستترتب عليه، ولكن الحقيقة لا بد ان تقال، اذا اردنا ان ننهض ببلداننا ونقيم انظمة ديمقراطية حقيقية، تقود الى النهضة الشاملة التي تتطلع اليها شعوب المنطقة، وتحررنا من الاستعباد الامريكي.
من يخاف من القبور وساكنيها لا يمكن ان يؤسس لنظام ديمقراطي يقوم على المساواة والعدالة والحريات بأشكالها كافة، ويحقق لمواطنيه ما يتطلعون اليه من تقدم ورخاء اقتصادي، وتعليم متقدم، ونظام قضائي مستقل، وشفافية مطلقة، ومحاسبة مدعومة بالقانون والبرلمانات الحرة المنتخبة.
لسنا من زوار القبور والاضرحة، والاستثناء الوحيد هو قبر الرسول محمد(صلى الله عليه وسلم)، وصحابته الكرام (رضي الله عنهم)، ولم نكن يوما، ولن نكون، معجبين بالديكتاتوريين وانظمتهم القمعية، ولكننا كنا، وسنظل، ضد مشاريع العربدة والهيمنة الامريكية التي تريد سلب خيرات بلادنا، وتحويلنا الى سبي للاسرائيليين ، ولهذا وقفنا دائما في الخندق المقابل لهذه المشاريع، ومن يتواطأ معها.
This is all just wasted ink, until the US rids itself of dual citizens in the Senate and Congress and less influince from AIPAC , can the US have its own foreign policy, not just in Iran but the entire ME. However Obama will be under such pressure that there will be errors that will bring on war, anyones guess to what it will lead to.
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