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Bolton: Israel May Strike Iran by December

Jerusalem gets what Obama doesn't, writes ex-UN ambassador

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 29, 2009 5:57 AM CDT

(Newser) – Defense Secretary Robert Gates was in Jerusalem recently to dissuade Israel from attacking Iran, but according to John Bolton, "relations between the US and Israel are more strained now than at any time since the 1956 Suez Canal crisis." Israel understands what the Obama administration does not—the Iranians are churning ahead with their weapons program, and no diplomacy can stop them. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Bolton writes with approval that Israel will probably strike "by year's end."

President Obama has "no new strategic thinking on Iran," says Bolton, only a tired talks-or-sanctions approach that's even less likely to bear fruit after June's fraudulent election. Thankfully, the Israelis have so far refused to support Washington's "fanciful analysis" and are weighing a military solution. Israel bears "a lonely burden," the diplomat writes, but at this point, "absent Israeli action, prepare for a nuclear Iran."

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

John Bolton, former US ambassador to the UN, writes that Israel may attack Iran by the end of the year. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, right, meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem Monday, July 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Jim Watson, Pool)

The Israeli defense secretary, Ehud Barak, told his counterpart Robert Gates that Israel is taking "no option" off the table regarding Iran's nuclear program, including a military strike. (AP Photo/Jack Guez, Pool)

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Striking Iran will not be precipitous or poorly thought out. Israel’s attack, if it happens, will have followed enormously difficult deliberation and years of patiently waiting on innumerable failed diplomatic efforts. -

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 15 comments

bewilderbeast

Jul 30, 2009 10:49 AM CDT

Ah, so some Yanks are still convinced military might is the answer? Isn't that bloody amazing? You invade a country one hundredth your size with one thousandth your firepower. Six years later you're still f*ing around in it getting your asses kicked, your beards tugged and what solution do you have to Iran? Let's bomb them! How a country with so many universities can be so stupid is frightening. Well, I suppose as long as its not YOU PERSONALLY going to get yourselves shot, you can send in the cannon fodder. Actually, you know what: I AM shocked and awed.

Spudsy

Jul 30, 2009 2:58 AM CDT

You make some sense. Israel is free to do what it wants. But why should the US be involved at all? I don't understand our fascination with the country. Europe created the mess down there when they chased the Jews out in the 1940's. Europe should take a stronger role in the Israeli issues and the US should pay more attention to the oil producing countries that we helped create with our gas money.

Spudsy

Jul 30, 2009 2:52 AM CDT

Maybe the press needs to question the Iran nuke program's existence. The joker CIA was 4000 dead soldiers wrong about those big scary Iraqi weapons. But of course, the CIA is smarter now. They got rid of Valerie Plame ...... wait a minute......

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Wall Street Journal (Source Grid »)

Iran • Israel • Middle East • Robert Gates • nuclear weapons • nuclear program • John Bolton • negotiations • Obama administration • preemptive strike

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Bolton: Israel May Strike Iran by December