Def. Sec Gates says Iran overture not open-ended.

[AztecWilliam]

In response to Israeli pressure, Sec. of Defense Gates says, in effect, that Iran should not think that they can do a negotiating rope-a-dope indefinitely on the issue of their nuclear weapons program.

www.nytimes.com/2009/07/28/world/middleeast/28military.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

AzWm

[Bob Forsythe]

Israel can't attack without our help and we are not going to give them that help. Gates and Mullin are quite correct that it would destabilize the entire region. The real threat to Iran would be putting sanctions against selling them gasoline in place and the Iranians are damn well aware of that.

=Bob

[AztecWilliam]

Jul 29, 2009 17:56:07 GMT -8 Bob Forsythe said:

Israel can't attack without our help and we are not going to give them that help. Gates and Mullin are quite correct that it would destabilize the entire region. The real threat to Iran would be putting sanctions against selling them gasoline in place and the Iranians are damn well aware of that.

=Bob

And what do you think the odds are of such sanctions being brought against Iran? My guess is very slim and none.

I think that Israel might very well go ahead and attack the Iranian nuclear facilities regardless of what we say if, I repeat IF, Israel decides that it risks annihilation if the Mullahs get the BOMB. That might be an unwarranted assumption, but that is easy for us to say sitting here comfortably in San Diego. Take a look at the map of the Middle East and remind yourself of how small Israel is.

AzWm

[aztecwin]

Jul 29, 2009 17:56:07 GMT -8 Bob Forsythe said:

Israel can't attack without our help and we are not going to give them that help. Gates and Mullin are quite correct that it would destabilize the entire region. The real threat to Iran would be putting sanctions against selling them gasoline in place and the Iranians are damn well aware of that.

=Bob

When the time is right, Israel will get our help. Iran with nukes is not going to happen!

[Bob Forsythe]

Jul 29, 2009 21:47:51 GMT -8 AztecWilliam said:

Jul 29, 2009 17:56:07 GMT -8 Bob Forsythe said:

Israel can't attack without our help and we are not going to give them that help. Gates and Mullin are quite correct that it would destabilize the entire region. The real threat to Iran would be putting sanctions against selling them gasoline in place and the Iranians are damn well aware of that.

=Bob

And what do you think the odds are of such sanctions being brought against Iran? My guess is very slim and none.

I think that Israel might very well go ahead and attack the Iranian nuclear facilities regardless of what we say if, I repeat IF, Israel decides that it risks annihilation if the Mullahs get the BOMB. That might be an unwarranted assumption, but that is easy for us to say sitting here comfortably in San Diego. Take a look at the map of the Middle East and remind yourself of how small Israel is.

AzWm

A small country with about 100 nukes plus the material to make at least 50 more is not a country to be toyed with.

=Bob