Report: Emanuel Says Dealing With Iran's Nukes Depends On Progress Between Israel And Palestinians

If true, it makes no sense on several levels.

Thwarting Iran's nuclear program is conditional on progress in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, according to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Israeli TV reports said Monday that Emanuel made the comments in a closed-door meeting the previous day with 300 major AIPAC donors.

It's not clear to me what the hell this is supposed to mean.

Is he saying that if Israel does what Obama wants and negotiates with the Palestinians then Obama will reward them with action on Iran? Or is he saying that if Israel makes progress toward a deal that in and of itself will induce Iran to give up its nuke program?

Neither one of these makes any sense and both are dangerous in their own way.

If Obama is blackmailing an ally, we'll that's, I don't know what the hell that is. Morally bankrupt, strategically inept, dangerous to American security are a few thoughts that come to mind.

If it's some pie in the sky idea that Iran will be deterred from its nuclear and regional goals in service of the Palestinians (or some regional "super deal"), it's strategically inept, dangerous to American security and naive as all hell.

My guess is now that this has leaked out there will be 'clarifying' statements tomorrow. It's not the first time Obama will have hastily back tracked from something said at AIPAC.

Also...will an improvement in Israeli-Palestinian relations mean Iran will stop attacking Iraq?

posted by DrewM. at 07:59 PM

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