Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has reportedly reassured Israel about the ongoing threats to attack Iran militarily, saying that they will start seriously considering it again after Iran’s June 14 elections.
The election will choose a replacement for outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the US and Israel have scheduled a “joint assessment” for after the result is announced to decide how it impacts the ongoing threats to attack them.
Bizarre, to say the least, because Iran’s president has limited power over the nation’s civilian nuclear program, and even less on the P5+1 negotiations. Rather, while Ahmadinejad’s rhetoric is often cited as an excuse for war, his actual ability to implement changes in Iranian policy is comparatively minimal.
Ahmadinejad is perceived as on the outs with the ruling clergy in Iran at any rate, and the fact that he survived to the end of his term is a bit of a surprise as well. His hand-picked successor, Esfiander Mashei, hasn’t been confirmed as a candidate yet, and has been accused of religious deviancy. A more religiously hardline candidate is expected to be the Ayatollahs’ preferred choice, though a front-runner hasn’t been named yet.
It isn’t clear then what this new “assessment” will focus on, since literally nothing will change about the program no matter who wins the election. Rather, the comments may be seen as the Obama Administration trying to put off the Netanyahu government’s incessant calls for military action.
Actually, it sounds particularly offensive. Elect a candidate satisfactory to us or we bomb you.
Good to know about the date.., get ready people.., for Third World War after June election.., war is the presidential proud of USA and EU governments and it has been for last 60 years.., so what happens if people of Iran will vote for the same.., is there any other alternative beside what Iranian people got.., what the Iranian people have done to Obama or Hagel so they need to suffer by being bombed..,???
USA is a self sufficient country in this world yet at war with the world.., not because of the fact that USA needs anything from any country.., but because USA is a militarism regime.., without it there won't be any empire.
The only thing that will stop Netanyahu is for the US to pull the plug on money Israel extorts from the US as loans, free weapons etc.
F*ck America and F*ck the Shi**y little state, this is direct meddling in Iran elections you stupid bastard. You were not an Israeli senator but now you are an israeli defense minister. The world is sick and tired of you barbarians.
Aren't they even going to give Ahmadinejad's successor time to change into his "Hitler Suit"?
I hope to God that you're right and that it's just a stall tactic on the part of the Obama Administration and not serious talk from Hagel. I think a lot of us thought, based on Hagel's actions in the past with regard to Israel, that he would have a cool head and an even hand, but so far it looks like he's caved to pressure from these dual loyalist Israel-Firsters. For the US to even consider attacking Iran for Israel is sheer lunacy!!
Jane, if had not shown signs of caving he never would have been confirmed.
Another day and another sovereign country to put on the to do list.
"…trying to put off the Netanyahu government’s incessant calls for military action." That's exactly what it is…and good on them. There is no serious need – or non-serious for that matter – for the US to engage in another "war of choice" in the Muslim world. The trick is blowing Israel off and making them like it. In fact, the US should disengage from internal issues in the ME altogether. Let them settle things themselves. That also means ending any and all military and financial aid to ANYONE in the ME. Screw 'em. If they can't manage on their own resources then they can go ballsup. We have better things to do with our own resources instead of giving them to those countries more interested in genocide and eternal war.
Manifest from 1970 with Trident-1 (Robert C. Aldridge: The Counterforce Syndrome), the US has been seeking to replace MAD with Disarming First Strike Capability. With the missiles on 32 ships in the Mediterranean Sea, in Romania and Poland by 2018 the Pentagon will achieve Disarming First Strike Capability. However, that leads to Launch On Warning by 2017. That made General Harbottle state: "They are bloody fools in the Pentagon, all of them ! Of course, most bloody fools are in the office for First Strike Plans. Inevitably, it leads to Launch On Warning, Accidental Nuclear War and Suicide. For that reason the great Trident missile engineer Bob Aldridge resigned.
Wow, I didn't know the President of the USA can arbritarily attack another nation without a Congressional declaration of war. We have deteriorated to the point of no return.
With Ahmadinejad (sp?) gone, they'll have to invest in demonizing another man in the US public eye if they really want what they've been pushing. They'll damn well try. And it'll damn well get old just as quick.
Wasn't this guy Hagel expected to be a more peaceful person?
I'm very sorry but I can't see much difference to all those other war mongerers!
Revenge called terrorism
To end this revenge called terrorism, which is more important, to catch those filled with vengeance, or to catch those Empire builders who generate all the vengeance?
For throw all the would be terrorists on earth square into Gitmo Bay and that would accomplish nothing. For vengeance unending is Israel stealing land at gun-point. For Empire USA and Saudi Arabia are now trading $60 billion of Middle-East oil for $60 billion of war materials — now that is vengeance a million killer drones could never keep up with.
I am from Iran.All my life I had the fear of being attacked by Israel or US.Today I am 22 and life is just started being meaningless the minute I just read this article…It's not fair , they know we "people" want to be friend.we are 75 million people living here..how come we are all known as bad???..at the end…when the war starts I can imagine how much the world will be sad of watching us dieing because of nothing.The world will lose good people.They might think we are aggressive or bad based on news and sayings but the minute you meet one of us ( People) you will know how much they have given you wrong information about us, I can surly say 100% wrong information ..I hope things change .I believe in change, I hope the world believe it too…we are good people.