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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009

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NEXT STOP, REALITY TV (MAYBE)

Va. Socialites Crashed
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Nov 25, 09 9:29 PM CST
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Blog site removes it, not Google, then issues apology

Nov 25, 09 2:07 PM CST
PROFILE

Biden the
Second Most
Powerful
Vice Prez

He's scaling back from Cheney, but a major player in his own right

Nov 26, 09 12:47 PM CST
Worst Modern VP Picks

Don't be so quick to judge Palin

Nov 26, 09 11:52 AM CST
FACEBOOK DOESN'T LIE, RIGHT?

Party-Crashers Got Close
to Obamas Before

Photos show them in inaugural box; Secret Service admits mistake

Nov 26, 09 7:28 PM CST
Blair Knew Iraq Had No WMD
10 Days Before War Began

Intelligence ignored, British panel told

Nov 25, 09 8:16 PM CST
analysis

Kid Lit Goes Political

Children's books get hyper-partisan

Nov 26, 09 4:33 AM CST
White House Backs Senate On 'Cadillac' Health Tax

Advisers outline cost control measures for health plan

Nov 26, 09 8:48 AM CST
Google Issues Disclaimer
Over Racist Michelle Image

But company won't
pull doctored photo

Nov 24, 09 12:28 PM CST
Clintons Strive to Avoid Conflict of Interest Claims

Pair lead separate lives focusing on same issues

Nov 26, 09 9:20 AM CST
MALKIN GETS FESTIVE

This Year's Top Liberal Turkeys

Stimulus, President O-bow-ma get top billing

Nov 25, 09 8:01 PM CST
Bachmann, Palin
to Address
Tea Party
Convention

Nashville to host ultra-conservative gathering February

Nov 25, 09 4:34 PM CST
Lobbyists See Advisory Roles Clipped by New Obama Rule

Feds aim to cut special-interest access; K Streeters demur

Nov 26, 09 11:06 PM CST

|NEXT STORY »

OPINION

Obama's Forcing Israel to Attack Iran

President accused of 'outsourcing' action against Iran's nuclear program

By Rob Quinn| Posted Sep 15, 09 3:54 AM CDT|

(Newser) – An Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities now looks inevitable and President Obama appears to be doing his best to speed the process along, Bret Stephens writes in the Wall Street Journal. The president has accepted Iran's offer for talks—despite Iran making it clear that its nuclear program won't be up for discussion—Stephens writes, making it clear to Israel's leaders that he's not playing hardball and they must take action themselves to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.

Israel has made its willingness to strike Iran clear in an effort to goad the US into taking a firmer stance on Iran, Stephens argues, but Obama hasn't taken the bait. "President Obama has now ceded the driver's seat on Iran policy to Prime Minister Netanyahu," Stephens concludes, and has apparently failed to realize that while it is certainly in America's best interests for Iran to not acquire a nuclear capability, it shouldn't be Israel that has to take action.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

A pre-emptive Israeli strike on Iran is likely to happen by next spring, Stephens writes. (AP Photo/Dan Balilty)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks with the media during a press conference at the presidency in Tehran, Iran last week. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

The longer the US delays playing hardball with Iran, the sooner Israel is likely to strike. - Bret Stephens

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28 comments

VIEWING:

Placebo
Sep 15, 09 4:09 AM CDT

Middle Eastern leaders are like most leaders. Full of sound and fury and signifying nothing. To press them in public on a subject such as Nuclear Research or weapons will do noting but make them dig in their heels. All negotiations should be done face to face and in private where Ahmenijad and his ilk can show their true face. KNOWING that nothing good will come of a physical confrontation and that Israel will blow his house up, his tone in private will allow for not only the discussion of the topic, but also some form of backroom compromise. Allowing people to save face is the very essence of diplomacy.. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

JonmarkP
Sep 15, 09 8:09 AM CDT

If you read it in the Wall Street Urinal, it's a lie. It's as simple as that.

IN RESPONSE:

Abdulsamadabdul
Sep 15, 09 8:37 AM CDT

Are you sure about your read on AHmenijad?

IN RESPONSE:

Placebo
Sep 15, 09 1:34 PM CDT

No, I'm not sure he's reasonable. But if he's not and refuses to negotiate.. I predict a shortened life span.. at the hands of his own countrymen.. who're close to a full scale revolution as it stands.

| 0 minutes ago

Collusive
Sep 15, 09 4:13 AM CDT

Uh I still don't understand why defending Israel would be our responsibility. Israel is what got us involved in the 'war on terror.' Reply

IN RESPONSE:

RockyPneumonia
Sep 15, 09 6:24 AM CDT

Yeah, that annoying habit the Israelis have of wanting to stay alive. How dare they!

-4

IN RESPONSE:

shonangreg
Sep 15, 09 7:12 AM CDT

You mean that annoying habit of taking other people's land? How would you like it if I camped out in your living room? And then I'll call the cops every time you harass me and they'll beat you and take one member of your family away. Next I'll take over your kitchen, then a bedroom . . .

IN RESPONSE:

RockyPneumonia
Sep 15, 09 7:41 AM CDT

Well, if they'd actually -- I mean in this universe -- taken anyone's land, you'd have a point. It's interesting how you justify murder, though, and accuse those who are merely defending themselves of the very crime of which they're actually the victim.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

shonangreg
Sep 15, 09 9:44 AM CDT

Are you mental? You think no one lived there before the British and Americans settled the displaced Jews from Europe there? What universe do you live in? And the Iraelies are occupiers. They *might* be able to get away with staying in Israel proper, but they keep wanting to expand it even further into more Palestinian territory. You think forcing people off their land should be tolerated? What would you do if you were a Palestinian forced to leave your land?

IN RESPONSE:

shonangreg
Sep 15, 09 8:43 PM CDT

"Deserved" to be attacked? The US was attacked BECAUSE we we had soldiers in Saudi Arabia, according to what bin Laden said. Rocky, why don't you "man up" and take responsibility for your own words instead of trying to put straw men in the mouths of others? (and I thought I posted this already...I don't know where it went...)

| 0 minutes ago

edtastic
Sep 15, 09 4:43 AM CDT

We give them 4 billion a year so they better do whatever the hell we say. We paid for those bombs and ought have a say on how they are used. Israel is just a damn racist parasitic state waiting to collapse under the weight of its own hypocrisy, with over a hundred nukes and plenty of missiles that can reach Europe. They need so chill out and let America lead so that at least it can be wound down peacefully into a real democracy instead of an apartied state. America is after all the worlds only super and need not take crap from a nation of less than 10 million on US taxpayer welfare. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Timinator2K
Sep 15, 09 7:36 AM CDT

America no longer has the balls or, money to lead. We're renting a second-rate pair from the Chinese, if you recall and they can foreclose on them any moment they want. Israel goes down, we go down...and I don't want real events to have to play out prove me right.

IN RESPONSE:

I_hate_to_say
Sep 15, 09 12:34 PM CDT

Rocky, you and those who are on the extreme opposite end of the opinion scale on this issue could benefit from a quick review of some commonly acknowledged truths (along with a number of little understood / appreciated insights) on npr's award winning website: "The Mideast: A Century of Conflict." http://www.npr.org/news/specials/ mideast/history/ How different this region's history would have been (not to mention ours) but for the assassination of Sadat, Rabin, and the victory of Ronald Reagan (who was not averse to negotiations with Iran I should note.)

| 0 minutes ago

yoeydude
Sep 15, 09 5:19 AM CDT

game this out ,... what damage does Israeli bombs do ? to the program ? , to the leadership ? , can they do anything but send a message ? feeble as it was in Lebanon ,...... Iranians are dealing with the real threat of a domestic uprising , that may overthrow ,and reverse the recent coup , why in the sane world would you want to unite the population against an outside and ancestral threat , at this time ? If your enemy is destroying itself , get out of the way , duh , unless you need to keep Iran as a boogie man ,... they did it with the Palestinians so , what does history teach us ? ,........ Reply

| 0 minutes ago

geneparmesan
Sep 15, 09 6:50 AM CDT

"it shouldn't be Israel that has to take action."??? What kind of ass-backwards logic is that? It shouldn't be the US that HAS to take action. We may choose to, but our new President was elected under the notion that we would give diplomacy a chance first, and that is only now beginning to happen. And Iran is in enough disarray that positive strong western influence and attention will only weaken the extremists and strengthen the moderates. Bombing them at this moment would set us back decades in any type of peaceful solution to middle east instability. It will only put off the problem and escalate the instability. It is a sweep under the carpet approach to maintaining the idea of control some countries feel they can obtain. Meanwhile, 10 years from now, the same problem would be discussed, with the same bombing solutions. After how much blood shed, fear and endless hatred. Where does it end? It ends with mutual respect and dialogue, as do all progressions in society. Obama is trying that. We'll see. If Israel wants to muddy the water with bombs, that's their choice. But if they want our support, they will let us exhaust all diplomatic options before we get involved in a 3rd simultaneous war. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

polstroad
Sep 15, 09 6:58 AM CDT

Israel will not do anything without our unspoken (in pub ic ) consent..This conservative WSJ piece is just a slap at Obama for not going to war with Iran and thus claiming theat our president :forcing" Israel to do something. utter crap. We train 9airforces) with Israel, we have consultants in Israel. We exchange intel info with israel. Ps: if we do spend so much yearly on Israel, can you tell me which country is second in getting our yearly money? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

SPH
Sep 15, 09 4:17 PM CDT

Egypt.....

| 0 minutes ago

BlahBlahBlah
Sep 15, 09 8:49 AM CDT

So a president that has a clear head and won’t be bullied into action is a bad thing? Oh that's right; the policy for the last eight years has been shoot first, cover up later. Keep doing what you are doing Mr. President, you are doing one hell of a job and the country / world will be better off for it. Commence the right wing onslaught of ignorance and intolerance in 3…. 2…… 1…….. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

DontLikeYou
Sep 15, 09 9:46 AM CDT

Obama is inept. Reply

-7

IN RESPONSE:

DontLikeYou
Sep 15, 09 9:46 AM CDT

and weak.

-6

IN RESPONSE:

DontLikeYou
Sep 15, 09 9:47 AM CDT

like Jimmy Carter.

-6

IN RESPONSE:

logothete
Sep 15, 09 11:25 AM CDT

There you go again Idontlikeyou, there you go again. No thoughts, no ideas, nothing - just the sound of an empty head with invective rattling around in it. Two suggestions for you: join the human race and grow up.

IN RESPONSE:

Pragmaticrealism
Sep 15, 09 9:07 PM CDT

your preconceived notions of the world are proving you to be as ignorant as any Islamic extremist.

IN RESPONSE:

Pragmaticrealism
Sep 15, 09 9:07 PM CDT

WAR DRUMS SOUND FROM WALL STREET

IN RESPONSE:

yoeydude
Sep 16, 09 2:09 AM CDT

you dont like yourself ,... self loathing is a strange beast , you hate yourself for being an idiot ,... but feel the need to defend yourself ,.... that wont leave room for self improvement through education , because if you acknowledge the need you simultaneously admit that what had been defended was unworthy ,.... a vicious cycle

IN RESPONSE:

yoeydude
Sep 17, 09 9:03 AM CDT

you are a broken record , stuck on an off note , what is your life like ? do you have a dictionary ? because I honestly dont think you know the meanings of the words you use ,.... disabuse me of this by showing a little depth and explain your thinking ,... enlighten us to your perspective with something other than a shitty bumper sticker slogan

| 0 minutes ago

passinthru
Sep 15, 09 1:19 PM CDT

i dont believe this article. its full of bullshite. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

lowstar
Sep 17, 09 3:46 AM CDT

Can anyone tell me why everything that happens in the world is our problem. You know what I am an average American. I'm a soldier who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. And I could not care less if Isreal attack Iran. Go nuts, bomb every single nuclear reactor capable of enriching uranium. Spread nuclear fallout over that whole region and I'll even throw in a prize. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 28 comments »

Iran • Israel • diplomacy • nuclear weapons • Benjamin Netanyahu • nuclear program • nuclear facilities • President Obama • preemptive strike

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Obama's Forcing Israel to Attack Iran