Obama clarifies Biden on Iran
President Obama found himself today revising and extending remarks made by his number two on a hair-trigger topic -- Iran's apparent pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Vice President Joe Biden said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" that the administration wants to negotiate with Iran, but also seemed to suggest that the United States would not stop an Israeli pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
"Look, Israel can determine for itself -- it's a sovereign nation -- what's in their interest and what they decide to do relative to Iran and anyone else," Biden said. "Whether we agree or not," added the former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who has developed quite the reputation for misspeaking and straying off message.
Obama was asked on CNN this morning, "Are you giving Israel a green light?"
"Absolutely not," the president replied. "And I think it’s very important that I’m as clear as I can be, and our administration is as consistent as we can be on this issue."
"I think Vice President Biden stated a categorical fact which is we can't dictate to other countries what their security interests are," Obama added. "What is also true is that it is the policy of the United States to try to resolve the issue of Iran’s nuclear capabilities in a peaceful way through diplomatic channels. That is our policy, I have been talking about this for the last two years, we are going to continue to pursue this, and you know we have said directly to the Israelis that it is important to try and solve this in an international setting in a way that does not create major conflict in the Middle East.
"Now this is a tough job and nobody is under any illusions that it will be easy, and I've always said that we, the United States, preserve the right, and I as the commander in chief preserve the right to take whatever actions are necessary to protect the United States. But we are committed to a peaceful resolution to this conflict and I think it is still possible, but ultimately if we present an opportunity to the Iranians at some point, they've got to seize that opportunity."
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He certainly did not not backtrack. Isreal reserves the right to determine its own National Security.
The real question is: What will our jets do when the Israeli's fly through their command airspace in Southern Iraq ?? Obama's usual no answer/ answer does not address this. Question on the ground - what is the standing orders to these pilots ??? Its an easy one. the answer is there. what is it ??
"What will our jets do when the Israeli's fly through their command airspace in Southern Iraq ??"
What do you expect that we do? Shoot them down to protect Iran? Come on.
Once again, the need to "clarify" Biden's remarks. And we thought having Sarah Palin "a heartbeat away from the President" would be scary.
And what would you expect or want Obama to do, Kerr.....Lay all our diplomatic cards on the table..??
And what would you expect or want Obama to do, Kerr.....Lay all our diplomatic cards on the table..??
NO is NO!
Lets get real, what does anyone with a grain of inteligent think that Israel can do without starting another war and giving Iranian government the CAUSE it desparately needs. In such a war, the losers will be Iranian people, Israel, USA!
After all, Iranian government will gain a cause, lose hundreds of thousands of people if necessary, they will be the victim and sooner or later the European's will try to engage them anyway!
In the meantime, they will definately start the nuclear arms program, if only for a justified defensive reason!
The change in demographics of Iran toward a larger middle class will shift the internal Iranian policy toward the Progressives. Our past political mistakes, and financial burdens we have placed on the Iranian people will not advance our long term American interests. To assist the Progressive movement allow a greater exchange between the two societies, remove the burdens placed on the Iranian people, and don’t punish the people for our disagreements with their government.
We will not advance our American interests, or the the Prgoressive Iranian movement, by listening to those who advocate a more aggressive policy toward Iran. Your diplomatic approach to Iran will disarm the members of the Traditionalists and advance the progressive movements. We bear some responsibility for election and re-election of Ahmadinejd. Please read:"Cool Clinton Response to Khatami Initiative Shows Israel-Inspired Dual Containment Policy Not Yet Dead" By Paul Findley, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, April 1998, Pages 32, 101.
He said:"If President Clinton does not quickly come up with a generous, cooperative response he will leave a sorely embarrassed Khatami hanging, twisting in the wind—an easy target for the radical religious leadership within Iran that opposes any rapprochement with the United States and seems to have control over most foreign policy questions. The hard-liners in the Iranian government will have a field day and may well be able to discredit the new president, despite the 70 percent vote he received."
" Obama added..I think Vice President Biden stated a categorical fact which is we can't dictate to other countries what their security interests are ;
SO then "Why the Maxim is not true about Iran...great country of civilization and been victim of arrogant powers for centuries...
" Obama added..I think Vice President Biden stated a categorical fact which is we can't dictate to other countries what their security interests are ;
SO then "Why the Maxim is not true about Iran...great country of civilization and been victim of arrogant powers for centuries...
Biden, jeeze.... Can we just Dick Cheney him to some underground compound in Vermont until 2012, and then run somebody else for Vice President? He never seems to help a situation, but just inflames them, not that Hillary is not much better. You'd think these people could see how effective Obama's careful and pragmatic diplomacy is, and start censoring themselves a little better.
Where are his talking points... Nobody this this Administration goes on these Sunday Monring talk shows without talking points! And Biden doesn't speak off the cuff just to hear his own voice. So he has to have had talking points! I don't believe he misspoke and the press apparently won't even bother to clarify the issue. What gives? Is the WH sending world wide messages to IRAN and the entire middle east via the Media using Biden?
Why doesn't Iran have the same right (all optionis on the table, etc..) to defend it's national security? Even if that means making a bomb? (which btw, I think is Western fear mongering)
No one has threatened to destroy Iran, least of all Israel (and they could easily do that). Iran is the aggressor here. If your neighbor threatened to shoot you, that would be a crime--more so if he was just saving up his money for the biggest gun available so he could blow you, your family, and your little dog, too, into the sea. Why is this not a problem when a madman (and his handlers) wants to do this to a whole country full of people? Not that Israel is perfect--notice that I said a country full of people--not a country full of innocent people. Nevertheless, Israel does not deserve to be nuked off the planet. They have a right to protect themselves just as we do.
Citizens of the United States, you have lost the initiative and have surrendered your basic and fundamental constitutional rights. The GOP, once the government of the People is now The GOP- government of the Politicians.
Isreal-Iran
"the Dark Knight" holds the answer.