President Obama’s high profile AIPAC speech devoted much time to discussing a possible US or Israeli attack on Iran. It was loudly cheered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he appreciated President Obama’s defense of Israel’s “right” to launch a unilateral attack on Iran in “self defense.”
Netanyahu is preparing to leave from his state visit to Canada to visit the United States, with a scheduled meeting with Obama on Monday. The meeting is expected to focus on the timing of a potential attack.
And though Netanyahu seemed quite pleased with the comments, Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman warned that his opinion didn’t mean much, saying that as “an independent and sovereign state,” Israel would make its own decision on whether or not to start a war.
Lieberman and Netanyahu have regularly butted heads on foreign affairs, with the prime minister operating virtually an alternate foreign ministry out of his office in response to Lieberman’s hostility. Rhetoric aside, both seem strongly in favor of attacking Iran.
It works both ways, guys–if attacked, Iran has the right to defend itself by any and all means possible.
Shhh, don't say that too loudly. You might get into trouble for such a candid remark. Your statement is rational and understandable by any clear-thinking person…but not in today's United States. Rationality and clear-headedness went out the window after 9/11.
And the US "will decide alone" whether it will come to Israel's rescue after they bomb Iran!
Let's see how that high diplomatic principle of the Nobel Peace laureate holds up as a universal. If Israel has a right to “right” to launch a unilateral attack on Iran in “self defense", then does likewise Iran have a “right” to launch a unilateral attack on Israel in “self defense”? If not, then what qualifies one over another? Loyalty to and/or usefulness to the maintenance of "American" Imperial Power (the nation-state just provides means and muscle to fully globalized capital that is the core of empire today) seems to be decisive. How long can such a situation be sustained at all?
So much for the US being the world leader on the rule of law. Having grown up under the umbrella of the US saving Europe from fascism, I am ashamed at where we are now going. God have mercy on us all.
The massa is pleased. Very, very pleased.