holy king
Deity
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/16/israel-demands-us-red-line-iran-nuclear
or is he simply acting in the best interest of his country?
or is he simply acting in the best interest of his country?
Benjamin Netanyahu wants War and Mitt Romney
- Thread starter holy king
- Start date
Dreadnought
Deity
Any strike made before the election would probably favor Obama.
Formaldehyde
Both Fair And Balanced
It must be very frustrating to him to have a president which isn't so easily manipulated.
Terxpahseyton
Nobody
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
- Messages
- 10,759
of his political career. You know, playing the strong man who protects his people from the evil monkey. Unless he actually believes that Iran may nuke Israel. Then he is just delusional. Maybe it is a bit of both.
Winner
Diverse in Unity
He is well aware any Israeli strike except a nuclear one would be just a stop gap measure and it would greatly damage Israel's position in the world.
Netanyahu simply smells opportunity created by the presidential race and tries to force the US to commit itself to do Israel's dirty work. The strategy is simple - neither candidate can be seen "sacrificing" Israel to the ayatollahs (especially not when mobs of angry Muslims are plundering US embassies) unless he wants the conservative s-storm to damage his ratings.
Netanyahu is very knowledgeable when it comes to how the US politics works, and he's not beyond meddling in it to further his government's goals. Can't blame him for that, really.
Formaldehyde
Both Fair And Balanced
It is just too bad no US president has been willing to do the same.
Winner
Diverse in Unity
It's hardly possible to do that in Israel, with its incredibly messy party system. In the US where presidential elections are often a very close thing (according to polls), it doesn't take much to influence the outcome.
Don't blame Israel for following its national interest (as formulated by the ruling cabinet). Blame your political system for being stupid.
Don't blame Israel for following its national interest (as formulated by the ruling cabinet). Blame your political system for being stupid.
Terxpahseyton
Nobody
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
- Messages
- 10,759
Why not?
And jeez what intellectual sewage Netanyahu spouted (according to the link)
Look at those ******** Muzlims who attack embassies. Aren't they crazy? And Muzlims? Well guess who is also crazy and Muslim? The Iranian leadership! I rest may case.
Winner
Diverse in Unity
Why not?
And jeez what intellectual sewage Netanyahu spouted (according to the link)
Look at those ******** Muzlims who attack embassies. Aren't they crazy? And Muzlims? Well guess who is also crazy and Muslim? The Iranian leadership! I rest may case.
He used the language the average American voter is receptive to. Can't blame him for that either.
Terxpahseyton
Nobody
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
- Messages
- 10,759
Again: Why not?
Winner
Diverse in Unity
Because he's just doing what the Americans let him do. If I were in his position, I'd meddle in the US campaign as well, trying to get the most for Israel (and my government). Not doing so means potentially weakening your position.
What exactly do you want to blame him for? He's not doing anything illegal by any standard. It's comparable to German politicians voicing opinions on how Greece should best deal with its mess just before the Greeks vote in elections.
Terxpahseyton
Nobody
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
- Messages
- 10,759
Of course doing the right thing means weakness. Otherwise we would call it self-interest which happened to coincide with the right thing. Now why can't I blame someone for putting his or her interests above the right thing? I think you somehow mix up what politicians can be expected to do and what they can not be blamed for. Because you seem to somehow have managed to have them mean identical things.
Winner
Diverse in Unity
Iran is not its neighbour.
Winner
Diverse in Unity
What is a "right thing" here is a moral judgement. For N. it might be to further the security of Israel by making it possible to remove one of the greatest threats to its existence.
I'd advise you to cease with this "holier-than-you" nonsense and face the reality of this world. Influencing politics in other countries is pretty much the norm, only incompetent idiots don't do it when they can. It's far more vital for a small country like Israel to play all its cards whenever it can, and since the US politics is receptive to the kind of influence N. wields, there's no rational reason to blame him for using it.
If you still don't get what I am saying, let's just agree to disagree on this.
Terxpahseyton
Nobody
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
- Messages
- 10,759
I find the choice between agreeing with you or not getting it a little meager.
hobbsyoyo
Deity
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2012
- Messages
- 26,575
Your point being? Is the guy who lives two houses down from you not your neighbor? Are the people in your apartment building not your neighbors? Yeesh
Agreed.
GhostWriter16
Deity
I don't blame Israel for being concerned about Iranian nuclear programs, and if they decide they need to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities, that's up to them, but any fiscal conservatives in America SERIOUSLY need to realize that another war is going to screw over our economy even more.
If Israel wants to go to war with Iran, we should stay out of it. And this from a pro-Israel poster. If Iran were to start a war with Israel I'd suggest removing them from the map.
If Israel wants to go to war with Iran, we should stay out of it. And this from a pro-Israel poster. If Iran were to start a war with Israel I'd suggest removing them from the map.
We didn't set a great precedent for the whole expelling-a-foreign-rabble-rouser thing, especially if the Israelis decide they don't want him.
On a more serious note: red lines tend to restrict your actions because it's a firm position that can be approached, flirted with, and negotiated with. Or it shows you are bluffing and you don't intend to hold the red line. One wonders why the Israeli PM hasn't set his own red line yet.
Which in what way is relevant to the statement that Israel is unwilling to live in peace with their neighbors?*
