politics

Abe, Netanyahu compare notes on nuclear neighbors

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Did they also discuss Israel's nuclear weapons?

Oh, I forgot!

Israel doesn't have them.

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

Did they also discuss Israel's nuclear weapons? Oh, I forgot! Israel doesn't have them.

I was going to ask exactly the same thing... I guess that means Israel's neighbours should be nervous about it's illicit weapons... can they also have a chat with Mr Abe??

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Netanyahu wants to compare notes on nuclear neighbors? There isn't a single fact that proves Iran has nuclear weapons. It's funny that the only countries in the world who refuse to sign the NPT are , Israel, North Korea, Pakistan & India.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

If Israel is NOT attacked by the likes of Hamas Hezbollah and other radical Islamic regimes like Syria or Iran and Iraq, they don't have to worry about Israel using it's (unconfirmed) nukes. They would never do a preemptive, unless they were absolutely certain that THEY would the ones that would be bombed. It's just that simple.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

To be clear, Israel has never denied having nukes, but has never acknowledged them either. It's a policy of "nuclear ambiguity" or "nuclear opacity". The difference with Iran building/acquiring nuclear weapons is that its former president and mullahs have publicly called for the destruction of Israel and have said that it "should be wiped off the map". Israel, on the other hand, has been assumed to have nukes for decades but has never once threatened to use them.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Equality

To my knowledge Iran never declared that they were purssuing nuclear armaments either. The Official story was that they wanted to obtain nuclear enrichment domestically for the purpose of nuclear power and radiation treatment. This is approved by the non-proliferation treaty under the supervison of IAEA.

Now before trashing oil export country not needing nuclear energy, you'll have to acknowlege that Iran doesn't have oil refinement facilities domestically so they need to import gasoline from outside which becomes an very expensive endevor considerning the amount they have to import on an anual basis from abroad. For them it is cheaper for them to import Uranium since it has more bang for a buck.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

its former president and mullahs have publicly called for the destruction of Israel and have said that it "should be wiped off the map

Only on FOX, CNN, MSNBC, The Washington Post etc.

Everyone else knows what the Iranians (Ahmadinejad) really said was that it would collapse.

You win the Pinocchio award for the day.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Behind the charming smiles of these two leaders, both Netanyahu and Abe are facing strikingly similar uncertainties at this juncture.

For beginners, both Israel and Japan are surrounded by increasiingly hostile neighbors. Although both admins are enjoying high supporting rates from their nationalistic voting bases at home, the fast changing geopolitical dynamics have eroded both countries’ political and diplopic influences on the international theater as the Russians and Chinese are pushing their clouts into the areas that traditionally are the American turfs. On the top of that, the American governing foreign doctrines in both Mideast and Asia have undergone some changes that have left doubts on Netanyahu and Abe’s minds on how much commitments Obama admin would give to the long-term allies if push comes to shove. In addition, it’s evident that American public is losing the appetite for any wars. For instance, during Syria crisis, one of the most influential lobby groups on the hill - the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) failed unprecedentedly to get the congress members to support a war on Syria.

In next few decades down on the road, the fates of Israel and Japan will be further tested since many serious issues are looming large on the horizon right now may take center stage later.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Samurai Blue

You're right in that the Iranian government / theocracy has denied that they are seeking to develop nuclear weapons. That being said, after agreeing to provide access to their nuclear facilities as part of negotiations with the U.S, Iran also then denied IAEA inspectors entrance to those facilities on more than one occasion, (and as recently as this month at their Parchin nuclear facility, prompting IAEA inspectors to suspect that activities at Parchin, including explosive tests, are “strong indicators of possible nuclear weapon development").

While several Western governments are highly suspicious of Iran's motives for developing highly enriched (weapons grade) nuclear material, nobody other than the Iranian government can say with certainty whether or not they are working towards building atomic bombs. All I said was that Israel has every right to be worried about Iran's nuclear program given the past existential threats made against it by their government.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Equality

So in other words you are denying Iran her energy autonomy and Iran must be held captive of other nation to provide an energy source.

Sounds too western ethnocentric to me which by the way started the Pacific war. Remember there had been various shady incidents in the recent past trying to undermined Iran's effort to become independent from the oil majors moving away from US dollar as the transaction currency that strongly suggests/ traced back US involvement and I only see this as just another chapter.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Benjamin Netanyahu is planning a preemptive strike against Iran that will take place soon. The strike will probably be based on conventional weapons at first, but things are likely to escalate into a disastrous war. It will be a catastrophe for both countries. Israel might use its more potent weapons, while Iran, on the other hand, may rely on the fact that Israel has a small population concentrated in a very small area.

More information and a plea for help can be found in

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Benjamin_Netanyahu_Israeli_prime_minister_Refrain_from_a_war_against_Iran

or by searching for "Benjamin refrain".

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Benjamin Netanyahu is planning a preemptive strike against Iran that will take place soon. The strike will probably be based on conventional weapons at first, but things are likely to escalate into a disastrous war. It will be a catastrophe for both countries. Israel might use its more potent weapons, while Iran, on the other hand, may rely on the fact that Israel has a small population concentrated in a very small area.

So what do you expect Israel to do, just stand there and be sitting ducks and wait for Iran to blow them out of existence? They are NOT the only ones that share this fear. The Saudis and the Egyptians as well and when the Saudis allow the Israelis to use their airbase as an alternate route position to attack Iran, you the ****just hit the fan. No one trust the Iranians and as part of their prophecy, they will act on that. So they need to do what they need to do, they don't need to worry about the fallout or what any other country thinks because they are not the ones that are in danger.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Bass4funk: Prophecy? Lol, please explain. It's true that Israel's fear campaign has found traction but I am more concerned about Israel's actions, by far! Israel holds the world record for broken UN resolutions, they haven't allowed a single inspection of their nuclear or Chemical weapons programs. Plus they continuously DO preemptive attacks on many of their neighbors, six times, they have attack Syria (in the last year) without Syria attacking them once. I fear any country that thumbs their nose at international law and possess nuclear & CWs. I don't defend the actions of any of Israel's neighbors either, but Israel track record is far worse.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

when the Saudis allow the Israelis to use their airbase as an alternate route position to attack Iran, you the ****just hit the fan

I don't think that the Saudis allow to use their airbases. Probably they just allow to use their airspace. The Saudis are clever and cautious. So who will pay the cost of this adventure? Will it be the Saudis? Will it be the American hawkish friends of Netanyahu who sit safely at their homes?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Copy spelling? Both soon to be neglected step children of father America.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Israel has announced they have nukes I though? Not like they hide the militaries experimental nuclear power plant. You can see it from the road, it’s just fenced off.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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