Iran, in Today's News 07.08.09

Iran. President Obama over the weekend gave interviews in which he, in effect, rebuffed Vice President Biden's remarks on July 5 that indicated a change in US policy toward military action against Iran. 

Obama's statements seem to be pro forma, and nothing more. It is the old game of asserting something baldly, and then 'retracting' it via a more reasoned statement that still supports the original. Biden has an inability to state things without causing controversy, and so Obama had to 'clarify' the US position.

The United States still is not ready to militarily attack Iran, but it is proceeding with preparations behind the scenes and in cooperation with Israel. This is shown by a statement made by the top US military officer, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff yesterday.

Adm. Mullen, according to today's Wall Street Journal (page A9)"...told a Washington think tank that Iran was likely just one to three years away from successfully building a nuclear weapon, which means that U.S. and its allies are running out of time to persuade Iran to abandon it nuclear program."

Further WSJ: "In his remarks Tuesday, Adm. Mullen said that the U.S. is keeping all options on the table as it worked to prevent Iran from attaining nuclear weapons, 'including certainly military options.'" [Emphasis added.]

WSJ: "Still, Adm. Mullen made clear that an Israeli strike was far more likely than an American one."

Clear enough? Be prepared at any time for any option from the current diplomatic busywork, to an Israeli military attack, to a US military attack.

And now for the double-standard and a full dose of hypocrisy. All this hullabaloo is over Iran and nuclear weapons.  And yet, (WSJ) "Earlier this week, an Israeli submarine believed to be carrying nuclear-tipped missiles returned to the Mediterranean after crossing the Red Sea and moving towards Iran. An Israeli official said in an interview that the maneuver was meant to show Iran that 'they are not beyond our reach.'" [Emphasis added.]

So, it is forbidden for Iran to try to produce nuclear weapons, but not only is it okay for Israel to have nuclear weapons, but is also okay for them to sail around the mideast threatening to actually use them.

This is the double-standard epitomized. And it is also more than alarming that Israel is so close to using nuclear weapons. (See Michael Collins Piper's book, "The Golem," published by American Free Press, for background on Israel's nuclear threat.)