And, He's Off....Binyamin Netanyahu Warns of Iranian Nuclear Threat

[tekisui]

Source: Times Online

Israel was set for the return to power of Binyamin Netanyahu after the Likud leader was invited to form a coalition government yesterday.

Immediately after he was invited to become the next prime minister by President Peres, Mr Netanyahu lost no time in restating his warnings about a nuclear-armed Iran, calling it the greatest existential threat faced by Israel since its creation. His words came a day after the UN announced that Tehran had acquired sufficient uranium to build a nuclear bomb — a “red line” development Israel has said it will not tolerate.

Likud came second in last week’s elections to the Kadima party, led by Tzipi Livni, but Mr Netanyahu’s chances of forming a government are significantly greater. However, he may find himself at the head of a narrow, far-right coalition that is at war with itself and at loggerheads with the US.

His main partner will be the hardline nationalist party Yisraeil Beitenu, led by Moldovan Avigdor Lieberman. With the support of the remaining parties on the right — the ultra-Orthodox and settler factions — the new coalition will be able to count on 65 MPs in the 120-seat Knesset.

more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5776460.ece

[babylonsister]

1. Jeeze. Not even a moment to grab a breath.

:eyes:

[LSparkle]

2. Thank God we have Obama and not McLame ...

Had our election turned out differently, we'd be headed for nuclear war
without a doubt.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. I really can't stand that smug asshole.

[Mari333]

4. zzzz. nt

[Metta]

5. Hopefully, he'll shoot himself in the foot and the more liberal gov't will form.

With any luck, this abomination will be short lived.

[GCP]

6. He's truly a frightening man

He's nuts enough to cause WWIII.

[LSparkle]

7. He's like Ariel Sharon on Red Bull ...

[burythehatchet]

10. State terrorists and war criminals never do send out warm vibes do they.

[Hippo_Tron]

8. Netanyahu could inadvertantly help Obama with the Iran nuclear issue

Because now Obama can at least somewhat credibly go to the Iranians and say, "Look guys I want to resolve this whole thing in a peaceful manner, but Bibi is another story. You can either take your chances with me or take your chances with him."

That said, Netanyahu will ruin any possibility of Obama brokering an Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

[burythehatchet]

9. GO FOR IT Bennie. Launch your bombs and then come back and ask the US for $$$

Good luck with that.

[MattBaggins]

11. What are you suggesting?

He would come back for more money and get barrels full of it.

[burythehatchet]

12. I hear you. Perhaps the mood in this country is starting to overtake the

conventional wisdom.

[spanone]

13. this is fucking bad bad bad bad bad bad bad news

[rvablue]

14. Too bad the Israeli people didnt' vote for CHANGE, too. n/t

[laststeamtrain]

15. Israel launches covert war against Iran

Israel launches covert war against Iran

Israel has launched a covert war against Iran as an alternative to direct military strikes against Tehran's nuclear programme, US intelligence sources have revealed.


By Philip Sherwell in New York
Last Updated: 10:38PM GMT 16 Feb 2009

It is using hitmen, sabotage, front companies and double agents to disrupt the regime's illicit weapons project, the experts say.

The most dramatic element of the "decapitation" programme is the planned assassination of top figures involved in Iran's atomic operations.

Despite fears in Israel and the US that Iran is approaching the point of no return in its ability to build atom bomb, Israeli officials are aware of the change in mood in Washington since President Barack Obama took office.

<snip>

Reva Bhalla, a senior analyst with Stratfor, the US private intelligence company with strong government security connections, said the strategy was to take out key people.

"With co-operation from the United States, Israeli covert operations have focused both on eliminating key human assets involved in the nuclear programme and in sabotaging the Iranian nuclear supply chain," she said.

<snip>

"Israel has shown no hesitation in assassinating weapons scientists for hostile regimes in the past," said a European intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity. They did it with Iraq and they will do it with Iran when they can."

<more>

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4640052/Israel-launches-covert-war-against-Iran.html

[wiggs]

16. Once again...disappointing how misleading headlines are about Iran. Yes, Iran

is a serious issue. They have a ton of low grade uranium, which is at this point a concern but not a threat. Reports make it sound as though they could practically tape this stuff to a missile and all of a sudden there's a nuclear weapon. This is not the case. Going from low grade uranium to highly enriched weapons grade uranium is a big, significant step that they are not likely capable of at this point in time. It is a monitorable, detectable step that we would not allow to happen and there have been no credible reports that Iran even wants to do this.

You don't find the distinction in very many reports.

[KamaAina]

17. Next thing you know, he'll want nukes of his own

to counter the (perceived) Iranian threat.

Oh, wait a minute... my bad. :P

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

18. What a complete dick Netanyahu is.

Probably gets taller if he pops a Viagra or Cialis.

[Baikonour]

19. Israel is definitely going to attack Iran this year.

Which is only going to embolden North Korea even more.

Not good at all.

[Hawkeye-X]

20. This fragile - EXTREMELY fragile coalition will collapse in less than 60 days

and Bibi will have to call for another election because he'll have jackshit.

I hate Likudniks with a passion. And Avigodor Lieberman is a fucking idiot.

Hawkeye-X

[NightWatcher]

21. if Bibi is running things, he will attack Iran this time

[Stinky The Clown]

22. Fuck you, Bebe

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Six months, either the Likud collapses, or we have a MAJOR war

that will involve us folks

[tekisui]

24. Please let it be the former.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. Fully agreed, but biby has a stone on his shoulder going back to Entebbe

that is what I fear

Oh and his brother probably is doing summersaults in his grave