Obama has spoken in the person of Leon Panetta. This shows that the Israeli threat to bomb Iran is significant. Obama and Panetta have basically said something like this: “Back off, Bibi. (And don’t pay any attention to Sarkozy’s calling you a liar.) Don’t bomb them yet. If you do, there will be unintended consequences and you’ll jeopardize our people in Iraq whose supply lines can be cut off in southern Iraq. Let’s first apply stiffer sanctions. Let’s paint Iran as flaunting the international will and the respected IAEA. Then we’ll gain legitimacy. Then we can bomb the hell out of them.”
So maybe Obama in his heart of hearts doesn’t want World War III. Who really knows? Yet for the sake of U.S. global hegemony he’s willing to risk the lives of many. That comes to about the same thing. He’ll risk World War III to get something else he wants. The point is this: Who needs this? Who needs this grief? Is attacking Iran or sanctioning it or threatening it or risking World War III necessary to our lives in America? There are no other ways to live with others? I don’t believe this even for an instant.
