Israeli PM Netanyahu pulls out of US nuclear summit

[Poll_Blind]

From the BBC:

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has cancelled a visit to the US where he was to attend a summit on nuclear security, Israeli officials say.

Mr Netanyahu made the decision after learning that Egypt and Turkey intended to raise the issue of Israel's presumed nuclear arsenal, the officials said.

Mr Obama is due to host dozens of world leaders at the two-day conference, which begins in Washington on Monday.

Israel has never confirmed or denied that it possesses atomic weapons.

Sad, really. Thanks to an Israeli whistleblower, the world has known of Israel's nuclear weapons program for almost 30 years now. But they haven't signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the U.S. hasn't pressed the point. Just like the U.S. hasn't pressed the point about India not signing the NPT, either.

Reason: We're buddies!

This point is not missed by the rest of the world's governments or news organizations. The United States has a grotesque double standard when it comes to what our governments (Democratic and Republican, alike) claim to be one of the most important cornerstones of keeping a reasonably-orderly world: the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The United States openly disregards the Nuclear Arms Proliferation Treaty for favored nations (even those who admit nuclear weapons programs, like India) while sanctioning adversarial nations in the extreme, including the possibility of attack for nascent nuclear programs which haven't so much as produced nuclear power yet, like Iran.

I believe Obama may actually be trying to change things on this front but it is hard to say we are blameless in Israel's behavior: We have protected and encouraged this behavior for far too long.

PB

[cali]

1. Nutty's having a little temper tantrum.

[ashling]

2. So, it would be acceptable to use nuclear weapons against

Israel under the new nuclear policy ?

[cali]

3. huh?

[ashling]

4. First of all, this is sarcasm, but based upon:

The Administration's new policy on the use of nuclear weapons (Nuclear Poature Review) specifically excepts those states that are not part of the
nuclear non proliferation structure

Gates said Iran and North Korea in particular should view the new U.S. policy as a strong message about their behavior.

"If you're not going to play by the rules, if you're going to be a proliferator, then all options are on the table in terms of how we deal with you," he said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36191553/ns/politics-white_house/page/2/

from the Nuclear posture review: http://www.defense.gov/npr/docs/10-04-06_NPR%20201%20Briefing%20-%201032.pdf
– “The United States will not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapons states that are party to the NPT and in compliance with their nuclear nonproliferation obligations”