Panetta lashes out at everyone
Leon Panetta is almost making us long for his predecessor as US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. On his first trip to Israel as Secretary of Defense, Panetta has given Israel a red light on acting against Iran, has come out strongly against the release of Jonathan Pollard, and has criticized the US Congress for putting a stop on funds to the 'Palestinians.' This is from the Iran link (JPost). US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta hinted Monday that America was opposed to unilateral Israeli action against Iran, saying during a press conference in Tel Aviv that the way to stop the Islamic Republic's pursuit of a nuclear capability for countries to work together.That's just been so effective up to now, hasn't it?
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During the joint press conference with Defense Secretary Ehud Barak, Panetta said the US is "very concerned and we will work together to do whatever is necessary" to prevent them from threatening the region.
The US recognizes the threat from Iran, he said, as it continues to develop a nuclear capability and supports terrorist organizations throughout the region, some of which are responsible for the deaths of American soldiers.
Here's what Panetta had to say about Pollard and the cutoff of aid to the 'Palestinian Authority' (from YNet).
In a press conference with Minister Ehud Barak at the Defense Ministry offices in Tel Aviv, Panetta said that this, "a critical time," was not the time to withhold funds from the PA. He added that both Israel and the Palestinians benefit from the aid transfer, noting that positive outcomes from the investment had been observed.One of the 'positive outcomes from investment' is that more homes were built for 'Palestinians' in 2011 than were built for Jews in Israel in 2010. Thanks to the 'international community's spooking construction in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem, housing prices here have soared and there's a severe shortage.
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Regarding Pollard, he said the issue was sensitive, noting that Obama had said that the US stance on the matter is not to allow the release of a convicted spy.
As to Obama releasing spies, I guess he releases them before conviction or trial. Not to mention the many spies that the US released before Obama took office, who spied for Russia and who caused the death of US agents.
Obama is holding Pollard so that he can be released as a political ploy. Watch, if Obamas reelection bid is in trouble a year from now, Pollard's release will be an 'October surprise.'
Labels: Iranian nuclear threat, Jonathan Pollard, Leon Panetta, US foreign aid
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:24 PM
3 Comments:
If Obama is opposed to unilateral action against Iran by Israel, then he should get off his idealistic @$$ and do something about it himself. In nearly 3 years he has done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
Hi Carl.
Don't tell me you expected anything else from 'Obama's voice'?
Have a great week!
Will.
The only way to stop Iran nukes is military action by: a) US (ha ha) or b) Israel (which Obama opposes of course--as do some at the tippy top of the IDF/Intel estab--Meir Dagan was not alone). It is fair to wonder if Obama deep down really worries about Iranian nukes as sanctions were a PR program to fend off domestic pressure to actually stop the Iranian program while creating an environment to permit containment and information gathering on a slowed-down Iranian acquisition.
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