In a move that could signal a major change in US foreign policy, the Obama Administration is reportedly in talks with Egypt and others on the particulars of a non-binding resolution calling for a nuclear weapons-free Middle East.
Though couched in the language of regional disarmament, and though many will likely spin it as a condemnation of Iran’s civilian program, the central nature of talks with Egypt, the Arab League, and the Non-aligned Movement is a tacit acknowledgement of why this resolution is really important, and why it marks a real change in US policy: the Israeli nuclear arsenal.
The only nuclear weapons power in the entire Middle East, Israel’s nuclear arsenal has been one of the worst kept secrets on the planet. Its “official ambiguity” on the stockpile of weapons, one of the world’s largest, has been formally backed by the US for decades, and American presidents have always been loathe to include Israel in any talks of international non-proliferation obligations.
This resolution, non-binding though it may be, could change all that, as it would clearly be an official American condemnation, if not in so many words, of Israel’s undeclared and unsupervised weapons of mass destruction.
Undersecretary of State Ellen Tauscher even addressed Israel directly when discussing the aims of nuclear arms control in the Middle East, saying that it would likely be dependent on a comprehensive peace plan.
Any actual results from this resolution would likely be slow in coming, but the policy change itself is potentially of enormous significance, as it would strip the Israeli government of its American imprimatur to develop and maintain such a large nuclear arsenal.
"it would likely be dependent on a comprehensive peace plan."
That is the Operative Phrase: they will "address" the issue of Israeli nukes once a "comprehensive peace" is achieved. I.E. NEVER, or when Israel achieves Complete Military Domination over the Entire Middle East and all would-be regional powers are destroyed by future US miliatry invasions.
The posturing and double-speak of all things related to Israel by this absurd occupied Obama government, not to mention the previous 12 administrations, is obscene.
Utterly humiliating to realize that the government of the largest military power in the world which was once a force for good has been throughly captured by the megalomanic government of a shitty little country in the Middle East, thus that its Senators, Congressmen and even President grovel before it and the fifth column of its own citizens.
Now you know why there will never be real campaign finance reform. Whatever would AIPAC et al. do with those unspent shekels that once went to bribe American senators and congressmen?
AIPAC's tactics wouldn't be affected a lot by campaign finance reform. Read Paul Findley's "They Dare to Speak Out" for details.
AIPAC's tactics wouldn't be affected a lot by campaign finance reform. Read Paul Findley's "They Dare to Speak Out" for details.
This is indeed in origin the sane and sensible formulation of a supposedly crazed Iran, is it not?
Quite ironic what the predatory Capitalist warfare state which is the US finds it convenient to coopt in order to continue its overt and worldwide nuclear intimidation of various other states, including Iran.
Here is a signal opportunity for detourning "Israel First."
How tiresome. We have seen all this before. There was always to be this or that, AFTER the Palestinians give away more than they have already given up before. Now, decades later, they are in hundreds of little bantustans, controlled, and program managed, while the appearance is created that they actually have the standing to "negotiate" with Israel. More, and more tiresome. Now this. Why bother — we all know the end. When one party has no conceivable reason to negotiate, and wants absolutely everything on their terms, what can one expect?
How tiresome. We have seen all this before. There was always to be this or that, AFTER the Palestinians give away more than they have already given up before. Now, decades later, they are in hundreds of little bantustans, controlled, and program managed, while the appearance is created that they actually have the standing to "negotiate" with Israel. More, and more tiresome. Now this. Why bother — we all know the end. When one party has no conceivable reason to negotiate, and wants absolutely everything on their terms, what can one expect?
when did them finally admitting to being wrong ever lead to a change in behavior?
Wondering if it is a true shift in US policies toward sloving this incisive nuclear problem or one of those gemics dominating decades of false gestures.It is however, a move in the right direction to include Israel provided that it agrees to submit its nuclear arsenal for IAEA’s inspection.Such move, though falling short of what the region wants,it still deserve full attention from all parties concern.Since late 80s, Arab countries especially Syria, had called for a nuclear free Middle-East, but Western blind support for Israel failed to realize the importance of this initiative.It took almost 3decades to realize its importance not only to the region as such but also its contribution to the world’s peace and security.
key words "non-binding"
which means its as much of a fake as the Dem's 'non-binding' resolutions to end the war.
substitute 'BS' for 'non=binding' and you don't change the meaning at all
Does this "nuke free mideast" include Israel???
How about the World's # 1 and 2 terrorist nations- amerika and israel setting the example and getting rid their nukes ?! Sadly- no chance !
One anti-Empire site after another falls. This kind of credulity is just stunning. And sickening. For the price of a bit of pressure on Israel, that isn't pressure at all, Obama gets his war.
Jesus, I keep telling myself to stop reading Antiwar, because it has become a useless site. But since it's the ONLY antiwar site, that's hard. And now it isn't an anitwar site either. It's yet another Yay Obama site.
But this time I think I really will. You go ahead and shill for Obama and Israel. This is how he got his Nobel Prize. He does nothing but a rhetorical flourish and he gets praised for it.
I agree with the posters who feel that Israel calls all of the shots. I am disgusted at the way that AIPAC, et al control the US Congress. Israel will never admit to having nuclear weapons nor sign an agreement not to use them until it gets what it thinks it deserves: all of Palestine. The US should summarily cut the cord once and forever.