Cheney Puts Iran on Notice) U.S. Adds Israel to the Iran Equation

[papau]

Dick Cheney Clearly Puts Iran on Notice as he points to Israel's nuclear program and says Israel 'might well decide to act first.'

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-cheney21jan21.story
THE INAUGURATION
Cheney Puts Iran on Notice)U.S. Adds Israel to the Iran Equation
The Jewish state 'might well decide to act first' to foil Tehran's nuclear ambitions, Cheney says.
By Paul Richter
Times Staff Writer

January 21, 2005

WASHINGTON — In bluntly threatening terms on Inauguration Day, Vice President Dick Cheney removed any doubt that in its second term the Bush administration intended to directly confront the theocracy in Tehran.

Cheney, who often has delivered the Bush team's toughest warnings to foreign capitals, said Iran was "right at the top" of the administration's list of world trouble spots, and expressed concern that Israel "might well decide to act first" to destroy Iran's nuclear program. The Israelis would let the rest of the world "worry about cleaning up the diplomatic mess afterward," he added in a radio interview with Don Imus that was also broadcast on MSNBC.

The tough talk was part of the administration's attempt to halt what Iran contends is a peaceful, civilian nuclear energy program but which Washington believes is a clandestine program to develop nuclear weapons.

Facing weak diplomatic and military options, the administration has issued increasingly stern warnings in hopes that threats of sanctions and international isolation will convince Iran to shun nuclear weapons. President Bush and other top administration officials also have spoken in menacing terms about Iran in recent days.

But Cheney's words marked the first time that a senior official has amplified the threat by suggesting that the United States could be unable to prevent military attack by its close allies in Jerusalem, analysts and diplomats said.<snip>

[YusefHawkins]

1. How else do you bring back the draft

You have to allow another attack or some other catastrophic event to stir up nationalism and patriotism. The draft then becomes an unfortunate but necessary evil that the Bushbstrd Administration has no choice but to resurrect.