Can we trust Obama?
Several American allies don't trust President Obama to carry out an attack on Syria. And in Israel, there is consternation over the fact that he is framing the attack on Syria in terms of protecting us, and fear of the consequences for Iran of the American decision, whatever it might be.
"If the Hill does not approve this, no one will believe Obama when he says he will prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon," one senior Arab diplomat said.
"They are opening the Champagne in Iran and probably switching to higher gear on their way to nuclear weapons," Israeli Housing Minister Uri Ariel wrote on his Facebook page after Obama's speech on Saturday. "With the world silent toward the atrocities in Syria, toward 100,000 testimonies buried in the ground, and after the clear use of weapons of mass destruction, we learn that when the day comes when we face real danger, no one in the world will stand at our side, and we can only defend ourselves."
Ariel was one of few Israeli lawmakers ignoring a request from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who, at his cabinet meeting, asked government officials to keep silent about the "sensitive and delicate issues" at stake. Israeli officials said privately Obama's invoking the need to protect Israel as he discusses Syria put their country in a difficult position in terms of how to respond.
"We are stuck in an impossible situation," one senior Israeli official said. "If we endorse Obama's message or publicly encourage him to act we are seen as weak or trying to drag America into a war it doesn't need for Israel's sake.
"If we stay on the sidelines, we are not seen as being supportive enough in calling for action. We totally do believe the international community, led by the United States, should do something because not acting is a signal to like-minded dictators they can act with impunity. But we want them to do it because it is a moral imperative for the world, not for our sake. We have always said we don't rely on anyone for our security and can take care of ourselves."
Israeli officials said the delay in acting against Syria is raising questions about Obama's stated commitment to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
"The psychological barrier has been broken, these weapons are being used on a periodic basis," another senior Israeli official said. "So what does President Obama do when the information comes that the Iranians are making a breakout? This is what is on people's minds. Next time President Obama meets Netanyahu and he says 'I have your back,' how can you trust what he is saying?"Read the whole thing.
Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Binyamin Netanyahu, chemical weapons, Syria, Uri Ariel
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:45 PM
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