Rice Warns Iran: US Will Defend Israel

[Purveyor]

Source: Agence France-Presse

TBILISI (AFP) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran on Thursday that Washington had beefed up its security presence in the Gulf and would not hesitate to defend Israel and other allies in the region.

"We will defend American interests and the interests of our allies," Rice said, answering a question on an Iranian threat to "set fire" to Israel.

"We take very strongly our obligation to defend our allies and we intend to do that," she said at a news conference in Tbilisi.

"In the Gulf area, the United States has enhanced its security capacity, its security presence and we are working closely with all our allies... to make (sure) they are capable of defending themselves," she said.

--
Rice did not specify the steps the United States had taken to boost its security presence in the Gulf, but said its plans focused on Washington's "determination to prevent Iran from threatening our interests or the interests of our friends and allies.

"I don't think the Iranians are too confused either about the capabilities and power of the United States," Rice said on a brief visit to the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

Read more: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iD5J6ZFcPf4CmkQD38yIiPvAscFA

[liberal N proud]

1. Israel has an Army - Right? Israel has an Air Force - Right?

In fact they have mandatory inscription, do they not?

Why do we have to always defend them?


Just asking, thats all.

[TwilightGardener]

2. They have nukes. They could take out Iran any old time they wanted to.

[AtheistCrusader]

27. This is an important point.

It is in our interests to see that Israel does not. If there is a war here, it's important that it does not go nuclear. Fallout would drift in interesting ways, based on prevailing winds, not only southwest across Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman, but into Africa, so Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and probably beyond. Since many of the populated areas of Iran are near the north border, fallout from weapons used there will be caught on the northern prevailing winds, and drift across western Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and possibly into Russia itself.

Without knowing the type and yield of Israel's weapons, it's hard to guess specifics, but I think it's fair to be quite worried.

And that's just assuming a war between these two will be limited to just Israel and Iran, not involving other nations.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

39. Israel can look after herself, Ms PNAC!

[Hugabear]

3. The criminal cabal is just looking for an excuse to attack Iran

That's all this is about. Stoke tensions between Iran and Israel, encourage Israel to do your dirty work and attack Iran. Then when Iran retaliates, claim that we're simply honoring our obligation to Israel, and bomb the fuck out of Iran.

[liberal N proud]

4. BINGO!

[Prefer]

5. And then pay Opec's "unlimited" increases in oil prices

Don't think so...

[Indenturedebtor]

7. Why not? If you can make prices go way up on a whim

You can certainly put some money in oil commodities. Imagine if you could quadruple your money on a whim?

[Indenturedebtor]

6. Yep n/t

[Tesla]

8. Our military is for sale

First the Saud's
Next the Israelis
If they got money, we are there for them

[Indenturedebtor]

10. The Israelis don't really have money. Our military is a business

How do you loot 40% of the treasury year in and year out without having a "use" for all that money?

And it doesn't hurt that we maximize our profits by attacking countries that threaten our corporate hegemony. Don't blame Israel and the Saudis. Put the blame where it belongs - Our own Military Industrial Complex.

We didn't go to Iraq for the Saudi/Israeli's money... we went there for YOUR money, and for the Iraqi's money. Or do you somehow think that Israel and the Saudi's are funneling 30 billion a month in tax dollars alone to these crooks? Not to mention all of the profits that can be had by raping the Iraqi's natural resources.

[Megahurtz]

30. LOL.

No, poor widdle Israel:eyes: only has their own Nuclear-based Industrial Complex after the billions upon billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars
handed over to them by our generous U.S. Government!

Yeah they really don't have money alright. :sarcasm:

:eyes:

[Indenturedebtor]

36. You didn't read my post did you?

Please read the post and respond to more than just one sentence. Or do you just troll around looking for an opportunity to jerk your knee?

[LeftishBrit]

28. This has occurred to me long ago...

it wouldn't be the first time the Bushies have tried to play other countries like fiddles for their own ends. Hopefully, Israel will have more sense; after all, they're the ones within firing range, not the Bushies. And Iran likewise; some of their leaders may be nuts, but hopefully not nuts enough to play this game to its final end.

[underpants]

9. Yeah we pay for it

It’s bad enough that Congress passed the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008 two weeks ago, spending $165 billion more on our country’s illegal war on and occupation of Iraq well into 2009.

To add insult to injury, after closely reading the bill, we discovered that Congress snuck in a last-minute earmark for $170 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Israel!

The culprit: Representative David Obey (WI-7), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, who has received nearly $225,000 from “pro-Israel” PAC’s and more than $200,000 from the military-industrial complex since 1989, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2008/07/04/actions-needed-to-stop-us-funding-to-israel/

[liberal N proud]

11. And because of this regime we will probably die for it

Or many serving this nation will.

[underpants]

13. We've been funding the IDF for a long time

[leftynyc]

32. When was the last time

that the US sent troops to defend Israel?

[iamthebandfanman]

60. yup

we helped them get it... duh.
why we demand everyone in the region not have chemical weapons and nukes and then let isreal continue to have them is beyond me.

[daa]

12. What treaty covers that Condi?

If Isreal starts a war they can finish the war.

[snappyturtle]

14. I'd say this is not good....for Rice to be the one warning Iran because

if I remember correctly, she and Gates were against the bomb,bomb,bomb Iran scenario. I could just :puke:

[Malva Zebrina]

15. America will defend it's allies

but, will Israel? As far as I know, Israel has not lost a single young life in Iraq or Afganistan. As far as I know Israel has protected itself,stayed out of the messy business, while America's young are slaughtered in pursuit of a war based on lies. But, yeah, we have the army and the young and the money to sacrifice to defend this country, our "ally" that slinks around in the background, stirring up trouble (Israel has threatened to bomb Iran several times) while they protect THEIR young from being killed, or from losing their minds, or from losing their brains, or from losing their limbs or kidneys or any number of war induced afflictions. Yeah, AIPAC,how about helping OUR wounded and maimed insead of stirring up the pot. You are, after all,an ally.

[snappyturtle]

17. I couldn't agree more. Everytime I hear Israel and ally in the same

sentence I ask myself for examples!

[Behind the Aegis]

19. Get real.

There is a reason Israel was not involved in Iraq and Afghanistan. They were asked to stay out of it. Had they been in the "coalition of the willing" (:puke:), the situation would be much worse than it already it is. I think it is funny you declare both campaigns "based on lies," and yet, still expect Israel to be involved. Israel had nothing to do with either conflict, despite the far-right and far-left's bullshit rantings.

[Indenturedebtor]

21. Israel was told to stay out of it numerous times. Facts are your friend n/t

[LeftishBrit]

29. Why should Israel have got involved in Iraq or Afghanistan?

It's not their war, and their involvement would only have made matters worse. As even the American government realized, and therefore told them not to get involved. In Gulf War 1, America went to war with Iraq; Iraq lobbed Scuds at Israel; and I'm sure many people there would have liked to retaliate - but again they were told not to.

And the Americans have never yet fought for Israel. Provided aid perhaps; but not actually fought.

Would you have liked it any better if Israel HAD collaborated in this immoral war in Iraq - as Britain did, to our shame, and against the will of the majority of the people? If it's a war based on lies (which it is!), the fewer people that get involved, the better.

And AIPAC aren't an 'ally'; they are Americans!

[leftynyc]

33. I'm sure the Iraqi's and the Afghanis

would welcome the Israeli soldiers with open arms - I mean, they love the Jews, don't they? Or don't you remember how in the last gulf war, the US ordered Israel not to fight back while scud missles were falling in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. So spare me how our soldiers are dying for Israel. That's utter bullshit. Our soldiers are dying for oil - nothing else.

[Purveyor]

37. Has the new Iraqi gov't even 'recognized' israel as a legit country yet?

Last I knew, they hadn't.

[Canuckistanian]

34. Back during the Gulf War Israel almost had to be RESTRAINED

Remember when Saddam was dropping Scuds on them? The Israelis DESPERATELY wanted to get into the fight, but the coalition (a real one) convinced them not to get involved.

[BadgerKid]

16. Response, right on cue. n/t

[damntexdem]

18. If Israel undertakes an unprovoked attack on another country, ...

the U.S. will defend ... Israel.

Well, after all, the U.S. has already engaged in such illegal behavior, so why quibble at an ally's doing the same?

Just name it the League of War Criminals.

[Joanne98]

20. Shut up Condi!!!!!!!!!!!!

[closeupready]

22. ISRAEL should defend Israel, Condi Rice.

She is such a lackey. :eyes:

[bdamomma]

23. oh crap, Condi STFU

this is the plan along, mighty mouse US is going to save Israel, and use Israel to bomb Iran.

I didn't realize that Israel was part of the US, those AIPAC lobbyists are paying alot of money huh?

[jeff30997]

24. Canada Warns Israel:

Go fuck yourself.

[frylock]

25. did iran threaten to destroy israel's nuclear facilities again?

[KansDem]

26. Shut up, Condi, and go back to murdering Beethoven...(nt)

[Megahurtz]

31. Condi would "Defend" an attacker???

Iran would have every right to defend themselves from an attack.

Not my ally, Israel. You are way too Warmongering for me.

[martymar64]

35. What's this "we" shit, Condi?

I won't lift a finger to help them. In fact, I'll head for the hills and fight for Cascadian secession from the US.

[superconnected]

38. Iran like Iraq, is playing right into the bush juntas hands.

They're showing off to try to get us not to do the inevitable attack.

Condi has been giving us indication of an attack for nearly 3 years now. I think many here knew it was coming. I am sure it's going to be Bush's legacy - a gift to haliburton, bechtel, united defense, black water, and everyone else who benefits financially when there is a war, let alone a gift to his daddys oil cronys - whose wishes this has all been about anyway. We'll be attacking iran before November.

Many people will die over this. But the people who really need to hang - bush, poppy bush, cheney, condi, and the carlyle group, and many defense ceos including that of blackwater, will likely not get what they deserve.

[FourScore]

40. US will not hesitate to defend Israel, Rice warns Tehran

Source: The Guardian UK

The US vowed to defend Israel and its other allies in the Gulf, as Iran carried out its second ballistic missile test in two days yesterday.

As the situation worsened in the Gulf, the French oil company Total said it would pull out of a large-scale investment in an Iranian gas field - a serious blow to Tehran, which is keen to exploit its gas reserves, and a victory for the Bush administration, which has been seeking to isolate the Iranian government.

A spokeswoman for the company said it was too risky to invest in Iran at present.

Oil prices resumed climbing yesterday as Opec said it would not be able to replace any shortfalls if Iran were attacked and took its crude supplies off the market...



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/11/iran.israelandthepalestinians1

[gateley]

41. She said, salivating and rubbing her hands together in anticipation. nt

[WheelWalker]

48. You do have a dark side, don't you... n/t

[Kool Kitty]

52. Isn't there a shoe sale or something for her to go to?

[trusty elf]

54. Basically, it's instinctive.

:crazy: :hide:

[guruoo]

42. What if Israel strikes first? n/t

[Historic NY]

43. Israel can well defend itself it has the bomb........yes it does.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

45. To many countries have the bomb, one would be to many.

All nuclear weapons should be destroyed. Any thoughts on this ?

[Kool Kitty]

51. My thought is that I agree with you.

No country should have nuclear weapons. They are a crime against humanity.

[Prefer]

44. What about Opec and the price of oil

they can't up production enough to replace Iran if it goes off line.

Can the US afford to back Israel on this adventure?

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Behind the Aegis]

47. Nice anti-semitic tripe with that second piece.

:puke:

[Tesha]

57. You know, calling all opponents of Israel "anti-semites" just doesn't work like it used to.

Even though you still get sympathetic mods to
delete their posts.

Tesha

[Behind the Aegis]

58. I didn't call all opponents of Israel anti-semites, I didn't even call that poster one.

Perhaps you should know of what you speak before speaking. I called the drawing anti-Semitic and it was. Oh, and FYI, some opponents of Israel are anti-semites!

[October]

59. Andy many opponents are NOT

[Behind the Aegis]

61. Seems that is what I implied.

[Hardrada]

49. Very good. And to the point.

The drama queens of the ME deserve a theater!

:applause:

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

50. Thanks.

[Behind the Aegis]

53. So do the ones here.

:eyes:

[panzerfaust]

56. As Seen From Across the Atlantic

[Caradoc]

55. Legal parsing....

"We will defend American interests and the interests of our allies," Rice said, answering a question on an Iranian threat to "set fire" to Israel.

That should read ""We will PRE-EMPTIVELY defend American interests and the interests of our allies," Rice said...typical arch-conservative, simply writing the rules as they go and daring others to call them on it.

Reminds me of Monty Python's 'Llap Goch' bit...the secret Welsh Martial Art where you attack people at random before they even think about attacking you...or even are aware you exist.