July 22, 2009 6:28 PM

Clinton Remark on Iran Raises Concern in Israel

By
Kevin Hechtkopf
Topics
Foreign Policy
(AP Photo/Mustafa Quraishi)
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made statements about Iran Wednesday that are causing a bit of a stir in Israel.

In a television interview in Bangkok, Clinton talked about extending a "defense umbrella" over U.S. allies in the Middle East in the event Iran develops a nuclear weapon.

"We want Iran to calculate what I think is a fair assessment: that if the United States extends a defense umbrella over the region, if we do even more to develop the military capacity of those (allies) in the Gulf, it is unlikely that Iran will be any stronger or safer because they won't be able to intimidate and dominate as they apparently believe they can once they have a nuclear weapon," Clinton said, according to the Associated Press.

The reaction from Israel was swift, with some expressing concern that the comments were an indication that the U.S. would accept a nuclear-armed Iran.

"I heard, unenthusiastically, the Americans' statement that they will defend their allies in the event that Iran arms itself with an atomic bomb, as if they have already reconciled with this possibility, and this is a mistake," Dan Meridor, Israel's minister for secret services, told Army Radio, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

"Now, we don't need to deal with the assumption that Iran will attain nuclear weapons but to prevent this," Meridor added.

Later Clinton sought to clarify the remarks by saying that she was "not suggesting any new policy" during a press conference in Phuket, Thailand, where she attended a security conference.

"In fact we all believe that Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons is unacceptable, and I've said that many times," Clinton said, according to AFP.

"I'm simply pointing out that Iran needs to understand that it's pursuit of nuclear weapons will not advance its security or achieve its goals of enhancing its power regionally and globally," she said.

The AP notes that Clinton mentioned the notion of a "defense umbrella" earlier this year, but officials said it has not been more than an amorphous idea.

Haaretz reports that a senior U.S. delegation, led by National Security Adviser James Jones, will arrive in Israel next week, along with President Obama's special Mideast adviser Dennis Ross and representatives from the CIA and the departments of Defense, Treasury and State.

Add a Comment
by edfane July 23, 2009 1:29 AM EDT
Ahmadinejad does not want to enhance Iranian power or influence, he wants to start WWIII because he believes it will cause the return of the Mahdi. This probably sounds ridiculous to most readers but he has stated that Allah has spoken to him and assigned him the task of ushering in the return of the Mahdi. Mainstream media will not comment on this because it sounds so absurd, but this man really does believe that he can influence the return of the Mahdi and then Jesus(yes muslims believe in the return of Jesus) by creating the scenario described in Revelations as well as Muslim prophecy.
Reply to this comment
by mrjustice1 July 22, 2009 9:03 PM EDT
APOCALYPTIC SCENARIO:
ISRAELIS ARE LIKELY TO TAKE MILITARY ACTION
AGAINST IRAN'S NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

If there is one reality(real or perceived) that should be understood, it's Israel's very well justified fear of its citizens being mass-murdered via Iranian nuclear weapons, as well as the threat of the State of Israel's being destroyed.

Such line of 'survival-thinking' has indeed resulted from the Jewish People's continuing historical experiences of being a minority, with specific reference to the Holocaust perpetrated against them by the German Nazis and by the Euro-Nazi collaborators in Europe throughout World War Two.

The message that the Israelis are sending seems pretty clear. And that message is:

We are not buying oil-and-gas-rich Iran's claims that their nuclear development is needed for Iran's peaceful internal energy requirements.
(As a matter of fact, only the most naive would believe such Iranian claims ).

Pre-emptive measures to eliminate Iran's nuclear weapons capability to destroy Israel will be taken by Israel alone, if the rest of the world's nations fail to stop Iran from procuring nuclear weapons.
Reply to this comment
by formrusmcsgt July 22, 2009 7:06 PM EDT
...and this is a mistake" - Dan Meridor
------

Isreal told us to "get pumped" last week over their illegal settlements.

Who cares what Israel does and doesn't like?

We are not here to serve Israel.
Reply to this comment
by the74blaster July 22, 2009 7:37 PM EDT
I have to agree with you. We have given Isreal how much in foriegn aid and they tell us to get lost when their actions are inflaming the Arabs with building settlements on occupied land?

It would not surprise me if the Isrealis aleady have nuclear weapons courtesy of Uncle Sam.

So what difference does it make if Iran manages to develop one?

A response to nuclear attack on Isreal would be sufficient enough to convince any hostile government that it is not worth it.

However, having a nuclear weapon also provides an obstacle to an Isreali attack.

I guess its all about restoring the balance of power that Bush disrupted by eliminating Sadam.
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