Despite the words of friendship, the diverging perspectives of the Obama administration and the Netanyahu government on key issues in the Middle East -- the Arab uprisings, the Palestinian issue and the Iranian nuclear program -- are profound.
The dispute on the nuclear issue is centered on red lines. Israel, like the Bush administration, considers a nuclear capability in Iran a red line. It argues that the only acceptable guarantee that Iran does not get a nuclear weapon is for Iran to have no enrichment program.
The Obama administration puts the red line not at enrichment -- which is permitted under international law -- but at nuclear weapons. This is a clearer, more enforceable red line that also has the force of international law behind it.
While expressing his sympathy and friendship with Israel, Obama did not yield his red line at AIPAC. With the backing of the U.S. military, he has stood firm behind weaponization rather than weapons capability as the red line.
He said: "I have said that when it comes to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon[emphasis added], I will take no options off the table, and I mean what I say."
This is crucial because it is essentially a question of war and peace.
Critically, Obama's rejection of containment at AIPAC was in the context of containing a nuclear-armed Iran, not a nuclear capable Iran.
He said: "Iran's leaders should know that I do not have a policy of containment; I have a policy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon."
Nowhere in the speech is he aligning himself, or even mentioning, the Israeli red line of "nuclear capability."
The president's tough words regarding his readiness to use military action is all in the context of preventing a nuclear weapon in Iran, not a nuclear capability. Strikingly, the president uses the D word -- diplomacy -- more than the M word -- military action -- in his speech (even though he primarily presents it as move that enabled greater sanctions on Iran.)
The Israeli red line is a fast track to an unnecessary and counterproductive war. This is why the U.S. military and Obama so adamantly opposes this red line -- because it ensures both war and a nuclear-armed Iran down the road.
Trita Parsi, Ph.D. is the author of A Single Roll of the Dice: Obama's Diplomacy with Iran
Follow Trita Parsi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/tparsi
must serve, no excuses.
more then 30 thousand have been wounded, we cannot keep reclycling the others, some
of who are already being defacto drafted because they have been called back at the end of their volunteer period.
everyone should share the burden of defending our "freedom's" against the tyrants like
the ayatolahs who would nuke us the first chance they got.
It is always amazing to watch highly educated people conclude that a president will most certainly do what he says he will do when the evidence to the contrary is so overwhelming. In fact it is rare and therefore very noteworthy when they actually do what they say they will do. Why do you think people are turning off totally to politics and politicians?
www.raceforiran.com
www.ifamericanknew.org
And if we want to talk about terrorist action and potential aggression - let's look no farther than the US which has attacked more countries during the past 60 years than probably the rest of the world combined; at Israel that is conducting an illegal occupation and engaging in war crimes on an on-going basis; and both countries' use of missiles and drones that kill civilians on a regular basis.
It is as clear as can be as to which are the "rogue states" and are a threat to international peace.
Enough said,
Rob Wheeler
www.ifamericanknew.org
www.ifamericanknew.org