Netanyahu defends speech to Congress about threat of Iran nuclear deal

[bemildred]

Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu defended on Sunday a planned speech to Congress about Iran, saying he had a moral obligation to take every opportunity to speak out on an issue that poses a mortal threat to his country.

His visit to Washington in March has opened up a political rift in the US and has drawn accusations in Israel that Netanyahu is undermining a strategic alliance in order to win an election due two weeks after the trip.

Briefing his cabinet on the speech to be made on 3 March to a joint session of Congress, Netanyahu said his priority was to urge the US and other powers not to negotiate an Iranian nuclear deal that might endanger Israel.

“In coming weeks, the powers are liable to reach a framework agreement with Iran, an agreement liable to leave Iran as a nuclear threshold state,” he said in remarks carried by Israeli broadcasters.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/25/netanyahu-defends-us-trip-congress-speech-iran

[djean111]

1. I feel that Netanyahu believes the only acceptable thing to do to Iran is to bomb/nuke it.

And he has willing accomplices right here in Congress.

[oberliner]

2. He is nothing if not consistent on this matter

He has been beating this same drum for years now. Protocol be damned!

[bemildred]

3. And Feinstein is dumping on him for it.

[geek tragedy]

7. And Fox News. And Peggy Noonan. And Abe Foxman of the ADL.

AIPAC has been mighty quiet.

[Fred Sanders]

4. Liar. Even Fox will not rescue you this time. But, to give you the be edit of the doubt, the

presumption of innocence, I would suggest a thorough investigation of this, let it all come out, the months of negotiations leading to this dump, let it all out and let the facts speak for themselves.

Start with a look at the who, what , when, where and then the why of a clear violation of longstanding protocol, separation of constitutional powers and the role of the Israeli Ambassador.

What is there to hide if this is so above board and desirable?

Maybe Mossad has an opinion in it? That would be part of the investigation.

[williesgirl]

5. we should cancel all foreign aid to Israel if he does this

[geek tragedy]

6. Ron Dermer is pretty much persona non grata to the WH after this.

Virtually zero information will be shared with him, or with Bibi, that isn't given as well to Boehner and McConnell.

So long as Bibi is in charge, the inescapable conclusion is that Israel's government is completely untrustworthy.

[bemildred]

8. I was a little surprised he went this far. Not very, but a little.

I can't remember when things were this testy, not even under Bush the Elder and Baker.

[geek tragedy]

9. sraeli ambassador in U.S. reprimanded for forbidden political campaigning on behalf of Netanyahu

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.639004

[bemildred]

10. There you go.

I keep thinking "desperate times call for desperate measures". I think Bibi is getting desperate.

[geek tragedy]

11. Appoint a partisan hack, get a partisan hack. nt

[bemildred]

12. Win by political chicanery, lose by political chicanery.

A very popular plot here too, but they never seem to learn.

[geek tragedy]

14. Chicanery doesn't seem to lose elections so much as

immediate and obvious policy catastrophes. Israel's policies are catastrophic, but are more of a slow burn than wildfire.

[azurnoir]

13. well Times of Israel is willing to help him out

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6131621

[bemildred]

15. I've seen that a couple times now.

I consider it fearmongering, mostly. Any renewed belligerence against Israel would just give ISIS an opening, and a marketing opportunity, but "reason can only take you so far". They would all do well to deal with ISIS before resuming their own wars. ISIS is a movement, a childrens crusade, but with militarily capable leaders. They are unpredictable, and likely not very well under control either.

Israel Hayom and Ynet and those guys are fulminating like mad, although I haven't been bothering to read them. ISIS is in all sorts of places now, that is somewhat true. My response is "Good Job guys!" You sure prevented terrorism.