The United States is “absolutely not” giving Israel a green light to attack Iran, U.S. President Barack Obama told CNN Tuesday.
“We have said directly to the Israelis that it is important to try and resolve this in an international setting in a way that does not create major conflict in the Middle East,” Obama said, referring to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Obama has been in Moscow for a summit aimed at trying to reset the U.S.-Russian relationship.
On Sunday, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden appeared to leave the door open for Israel to attack Iran if it saw fit.
“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 on ABC’s “This Week.”
Obama said Tuesday that Biden had simply been stating a fact, not sending a signal.
“I think Vice President Biden stated a categorical fact, which is we can’t dictate to other countries what their security interests are. What is also true is that it is the policy of the United States to resolve the issue of Iran’s nuclear capabilities in a peaceful way through diplomatic channels,” he said.
The State Department took a similar line on Monday.
“Our goal here is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. When I say ‘our’ it is just not the United States — it is the international community,” spokesman Ian Kelly said. “Israel is a sovereign country. We are not going to dictate its actions. We also are committed to Israel’s security and we share Israel’s deep concerns about Iran’s nuclear program.”
Asked if this could be interpreted as the United States flashing a green light for Israel to attack Iran’s nuclear sites, Kelly said, “I certainly would not want to give a green light to any kind of military action.”
The Israeli government considers Iran’s nuclear program to be the dominant threat facing the country.
(Source: CNN)
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12 Responses
I told you. Here is the slap down. Now we are waiting for the back pedal.
Mr. Obama: Not wise to put yourself in the company of the enemies of Israel! Look what became of them… Pharoah, Haman, Hitler, Arafat, Nasser, Saddam(your namesake)Hussein, etc., etc., etc.
Does anyone really think that any political leader in either Israel or the United States will talk to the press about possible future military operations? These thinks NEVER are discussed in public, and any discussion in public about them are by definition “smoke screens”.
Knowing what CNN claims is American policy makes you no better informed that if you hadn’t looked in at CNN (or YWN) and spent the morning learning.
I think I like the (unintentional) by-product: keep Iran guessing!
;
But Obama is giving Iran the green light to pursue nukes for their stated purpose of destruction.
The cow is out of the barn. Obama is weakening our alliance with our allies and taking an unAmerican stand.
Impeach Obama!
Biden is an old-fashioned Liberal, sympathetic to Jews.
Obama is a New-Age Leftist, sympathetic to revolutionaries, everywhere.
The only Jews he like are the ones who lick his boots, Axelrod, Eisen, and Emanuel.
To#5; or As R’mille ZT”L would say “his only way of doing tshuva will be by peeling potatoes in a mesivta 4 the rest of his life”
I love this flip-flopping administration…….NOT
the title of this article is wrong….he clearly gave the green light.
“I think Vice President Biden stated a categorical fact, which is we can’t dictate to other countries what their security interests are. What is also true is that it is the policy of the United States to resolve the issue of Iran’s nuclear capabilities in a peaceful way through diplomatic channels,” he said.
In other words, the US won’t attack Iran, but we won’t stop Israel from doing so.
Well now doesn’t that make him Chayav M?
1st – what does it say about Obama for picking a VP like Biden where it constantly seems like Obama is correcting another Biden blunder. When you put yourself in a group of “not intellegent” people, and you happen to be just a tad smarter then them, you stick out like a genious. On the other hand, surroung yourself with “intellegent” people, and if you’re not up to par with the smarts, you will look very dumb. which group do you think Obama is in this case?
2nd – The only way hussein will allow Israel to attack, is if Iran threatens the USA.
3rd – Any news coming out of CNN – WILL ALWAYS BE ARAB BIAS, since it is arab owned and operated. I would get my news elsewhere.
#9, very astute. I did not read the entire article carefully.
It seems like a huge mixed message in Americas position but it is more a good cop; bad cop scenario.