"Existential threat to Israel": Obama's relentless war effort against Iran and Syria

by Cem Ertür Saturday, Mar. 23, 2013 at 9:26 AM

Syria and Iran are showing remarkable resilience and restraint in the face of extreme aggression by the U.S., Israel and NATO.





Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and US President Barack Obama shake hands
during a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem, March 20, 2013,
on the first day of Obama's three day trip to Israel. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB

_____________________________________________________________________________________





http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/03/21/18734025.php


"Existential threat to Israel": Obama's relentless war effort against Iran and Syria


Propaganda alert

compiled by Cem Ertür

21 March 2013





Syria and Iran are showing remarkable resilience and restraint in the face of extreme aggression by the U.S., Israel and NATO. 




_________________________________




“As we all know, the Syrian situation continues to become worse and worse and worse. The [NATO] alliance has taken a position that it will follow the same sequence that was used in Libya. [...]  We are looking at a wide range of [military] operations, and we are prepared if called upon to be engaged [militarily] as we were in Libya.” 


[NATO’s top commander Adm. James Stavridis, testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, 19 March 2013]  [1]



_________________________________




America’s commitment to the security of the State of Israel is a solemn obligation, and the security of Israel is non-negotiable. Today, our military and intelligence personnel cooperate more closely than ever before. [...] 

With respect to Syria, the United States continues to work with allies and friends and the Syrian opposition to hasten the end of Assad’s rule [...]  Assad has lost his legitimacy to lead by attacking the Syrian people with almost every conventional weapon in his arsenal, including Scud missiles. And we have been clear that the use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people would be a serious and tragic mistake.

We also share Israel’s grave concern about the transfer of chemical or other weapon systems to terrorists -- such as Hezbollah -- that might be used against Israel. The Assad regime must understand that they will be held accountable for the use of chemical weapons or their transfer to terrorists. [...]

We agree that a nuclear-armed Iran would be a threat to the region, a threat to the world, and potentially an existential threat to Israel. And we agree on our goal. We do not have a policy of containment when it comes to a nuclear Iran. Our policy is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. [...]  All options are on the table. We will do what is necessary to prevent Iran from getting the world’s worst weapons. [...]

[W]e consider Israel's security of extraordinary importance to us [...]


[U.S. President Barack Obama, joint press conference with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jerusalem, 20 March 2013]  [2]






A nuclear-armed Iran is completely counter to Israel’s security interests. But it is also counter to the national security interests of the United States. Indeed, the entire world has an interest in preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. [...]  

[A nuclear-armed Iran] would embolden a regime that has brutalized its own people, and it would embolden Iran’s proxies, who have carried out terrorist attacks from the Levant to southwest Asia.


[U.S. President Barack Obama, speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) annual policy conference, Washington DC, 4 March 2012]  [3]






[W]hen I walked among the Hall of Names at Yad Vashem [Holocaust Museum], I was reminded of the existential fear of Israelis when a modern dictator seeks nuclear weapons and threatens to wipe Israel off the face of the map -- face of the Earth.

Because we understand the challenges Israel faces, I and my administration have made the security of Israel a priority. It’s why we’ve increased cooperation between our militaries to unprecedented levels.  It’s why we’re making our most advanced technologies available to our Israeli allies. It’s why, despite tough fiscal times, we’ve increased foreign military financing to record levels. [...]  

You also see our commitment to our shared security in our determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. [...]  Iran continues to support terrorism across the region, including providing weapons and funds to terrorist organizations.  


[U.S. President Barack Obama, speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) annual policy conference, Washington DC, 22 May 2011]  [4]






Iranian regime [...] sponsors terrorism, pursues nuclear weapons and threatens Israel's existence. A nuclear Iran would pose a grave threat and the world must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. [...]  

I bring to Sderot, an unshakeable commitment to Israel's security. The state of Israel faces determined enemies who seek its destruction. But it also has a friend and ally in the United States that will always stand by the people of Israel. [...]  I will take no options off the table in dealing with this potential Iranian threat. [...]


[U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama, press conference in Sderot, Israel, 23 July 2008]  [5]






Syria continues its support for terror and meddling in Lebanon. And Syria has taken dangerous steps in pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, which is why Israeli action was justified to end that threat. [...]

There is no greater threat to Israel – or to the peace and stability of the region – than Iran. Now this audience is made up of both Republicans and Democrats, and the enemies of Israel should have no doubt that, regardless of party, Americans stand shoulder-to-shoulder in our commitment to Israel's security. [...]

The Iranian regime supports violent extremists and challenges us across the region. It pursues a nuclear capability that could spark a dangerous arms race, and raise the prospect of a transfer of nuclear know-how to terrorists. Its President denies the Holocaust and threatens to wipe Israel off the map. The danger from Iran is grave, it is real, and my goal will be to eliminate this threat.

But just as we are clear-eyed about the threat, we must be clear about the failure of today's policy. We knew, in 2002, that Iran supported terrorism. We knew Iran had an illicit nuclear program. We knew Iran posed a grave threat to Israel. But instead of pursuing a strategy to address this threat, we ignored it and instead invaded and occupied Iraq.  


[U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama, speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) annual policy conference, Washington DC, 4 June 2008]  [6]






As the U.S. redeploys from Iraq, we can recapture lost influence in the Middle East. We can refocus our efforts to critical, yet neglected priorities, such as combating international terrorism and winning the war in Afghanistan. And we can, then, more effectively deal with one of the greatest threats to the United States, Israel and world peace: Iran. Iran's President Ahmadinejad's regime is a threat to all of us. [...]  In the 21st century, it is unacceptable that a member state of the United Nations would openly call for the elimination of another member state. [...]  

The world must work to stop Iran's uranium enrichment program and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. It is far too dangerous to have nuclear weapons in the hands of a radical theocracy. And while we should take no option, including military action, off the table, sustained and aggressive diplomacy combined with tough sanctions should be our primary means to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons.


[U.S. Senator Barack Obama, speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) annual policy conference, Chicago, 2 March 2007]  [7]



_________________________________



Notes:


[1]  Stavridis shares NATO perspective on Afghanistan, Syria

by Tyrone C. Marshall, U.S. Department of Defense website, 19 March 2013



[2]  Remarks by President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel in joint press conference

The White House website, 20 March 2013



[3]  Remarks by the President at AIPAC Policy Conference

The White House website, 4 March 2012



[4]  Remarks by the President at the AIPAC Policy Conference 2011

The White House website, 22 May 2011



[5]  Obama’s speech in Sderot, Israel

New York Times website, 23 July 2008



[6]  Remarks to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference in Washington, D.C.

The American Presidency Project website, 4 June 2008



[7]  Remarks at the AIPAC Policy Forum in Chicago

The American Presidency Project website, 2 March 2007


_________________________________



Related articles:


US-Israeli bellicose threats against Syria and Iran

by Bill Van Auken, Global Research, 21 March 2013



US, NATO prepare Syria Intervention

by Bill Van Auken, Global Research, 20 March 2013



NATO proxies using weapons of mass destruction in Syria

by Tony Cartalucci, Press TV, 19 March 2013


_________________________________



From the archives:


Israeli President Peres calls for an Arab League-led invasion and occupation of Syria

by Cem Ertür, Indybay, 14 March 2013



"Those who seek to destroy Israel": Endless fear mongering by Prime Minister Netanyahu

by Cem Ertür, Indybay, 29 January 2013



Israel's "red line" on Iranian nuclear programme and a flashback to 1986

by Cem Ertür, Indybay, 28 September 2012



President Obama threatens Iran and Syria: "I will always stand with Israel"

by Cem Ertür, Indybay, 25 April 2012


_________________________________

Original: "Existential threat to Israel": Obama's relentless war effort against Iran and Syria