"Vice President Joe Biden signaled that the Obama administration would not stand in the way if Israel chose to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, even as the top U.S. military officer said any attack on Iran would be destabilizing.
Biden's remarks suggested a tougher U.S. stance against Iran's nuclear ambitions, but administration officials denied that. Instead, White House officials said, his televised remarks Sunday simply reflected the U.S. view that Israel had a right to defend itself and make its own decisions on national security." LA Times
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Is Biden warning the Iranians that US patience is coming to an end? That is the only way his statements make sense to me.
Only the truly egregious and ignorant think that an Israeli/Iranian air war would not involve the United States. The presence of US forces in the countries adjoining Iran ensures that such a war would affect the US profoundly. That being the case, it follows that Israel, as a junior partner of the US and recipient of a mountain of American money and materiel CAN NOT be given a free hand to start such a war without US consent.
The ridiculous Donny Deutsch fantasized today on "Morning Joe" (MSNBC) that Israel finishes it own wars... "Just turn them loose!" he raved. Another ignorant fool heard from.
Without large scale US operational and logistical assistance Israel can put a hundred planes over Natanz once, maybe twice in smaller numbers. It's a long way out there. Is the US going to give the Israelis overflight clearance for Iraq? What would our "good buddy" Maliki say about that? In Biden's words, Iraq is also a "sovereign country." What about Search Air Rescue support for aircraft that experience mechanical failure or battle damage? The US will let them recover on Iraqi air bases?
Either Joe Biden was a messenger or they need to find a big enough gag for him. pl
