Porter: Dempsey warns Israel against pre-emptive Iran strike


From my good friend Gareth Porter at IPS:

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey told Israeli leaders Jan. 20 that the United States would not participate in a war against Iran begun by Israel without prior agreement from Washington, according to accounts from well-placed senior military officers.

Dempsey's warning, conveyed to both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak, represents the strongest move yet by President Barack Obama to deter an Israeli attack and ensure that the United States is not caught up in a regional conflagration with Iran.

But the Israeli government remains defiant about maintaining its freedom of action to make war on Iran, and it is counting on the influence of right-wing extremist views in U.S. politics to bring pressure to bear on Obama to fall into line with a possible Israeli attack during the election campaign this fall.

...The message carried by Dempsey was the first explicit statement to the Netanyahu government that the United States would not defend Israel if it attacked Iran unilaterally.

Gareth has a great track record on being right about Iran so, like, woah.


Steve Hynd February 2, 2012 - 12:49am
( categories: Iran )


“Easy is an adjective used to describe a woman who has the sexual morals of a man.” ~ anon :D

Tina February 2, 2012 - 1:17am

against Israel for their rogue nuclear weapons program?

chalo February 2, 2012 - 4:43am


Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them,and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows,or with both~FDouglas

Celsius 233 February 2, 2012 - 9:26am

I doubt this statement will stop the Israeli Right from launching an attack, then running to hide behind the US's skirts when the Arab world rises up in retaliation.

Also, I have doubts that, once the chips are down, the American Right (Conservatives in general, Republicans specifically) would sit quietly and allow this policy statement to be carried out---I'd look for some idiotic attempt to Impeach and remove, should Israel launch a war and we not jump to their defense. The Christianists will not sit quietly while there may be a chance the Temple Mount might fall back into the hands of the Saracen, once again proving them wrong re: the Temple being rebuilt and the Rapture coming...

"It's no longer IOKIYAR....It's OK If You're A Republican, but IOKBYAR--It's OK BECAUSE You're a Republican." -- Me

justadood February 2, 2012 - 11:24am

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