Clinton says US may shield Middle East

[Forkboy]

Warns Iran on nuclear weapons plan

PHUKET, Thailand - Stiffening the American line against Iran, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned yesterday that the United States would consider extending a “defense umbrella’’ over the Middle East if the country defies international demands that it not seek a nuclear weapons program.

While such a defensive shield has long been assumed, administration officials in Washington acknowledged yesterday that no senior official had ever publicly discussed it. Some of the officials said that the timing of Clinton’s remarks reflected a growing sense that President Obama needed to signal to Tehran that its nuclear ambitions could be countered militarily, and diplomatically. It also marked increasing concern in Washington that other Middle East states - notably Saudi Arabia and Egypt - may be tempted to pursue their own nuclear programs for fear Iran is growing ever closer to realizing its nuclear ambitions.

Clinton later clarified her comments on Iran, delivered in advance of a regional meeting here, saying that her warning that the United States would create such a “shield’’ did not represent any backing away from the Obama administration’s position that it must prevent Tehran from obtaining a bomb capability. But her words suggested the administration is already thinking ahead to what would amount to a containment strategy, should all efforts at negotiation fail.

Her statement also came when Iran’s internal divisions and crackdown on postelection protests have complicated Obama’s pledge to directly “engage’’ Iran. Iranian officials have hinted they will present new proposals on the nuclear program, and US officials have said their offers to negotiate still stand.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2009/07/23/clinton_says_us_may_shield_middle_east/

[Alamuti Lotus]

1. Change you can.........umm, umm..

You know, if they're not going to try to hide this garbage anymore, I won't try to come up with clever catch-phrase mutilations.

[leveymg]

2. Does this mean that the shield also extends over Iran?

Such as, if the Israeli Air Force launches a massive first-strike, the U.S. will intercept them before they reach targets inside Iran?

Maybe the 187 F-22s will prove to be useful, after all.