By John R. BoltonThe Western world's media are again filled with speculation, leaks, purported leaks and flat-out disinformation about whether and when Israel will use military force against Iran's nuclear-weapons program. As America's Nov. 6 elections draw inexorably closer, pundits and commentators are assessing whether Israel can take seriously President Obama's assurances that he will not permit Iran to become a nuclear-weapons state.
Of course, Mr. Obama has created during his presidency the most antagonistic relationship ever between Israel and the White House. Nonetheless, his administration is now embarked on a systematic publicity campaign to persuade Israelis and Americans he will use military force in the long run, if only Israel will refrain from doing so in the short run.
How much confidence can Israel have in the assertions of Mr. Obama's advisers that they will, in fact, launch such an attack before Iran crosses the nuclear-weapons finish line? We hear constantly that "all options are on the table." Unfortunately, this is a statement that the Obama administration itself doesn't really believe, that Tehran finds laughable and that Jerusalem should ignore.
| Scathing. Read the whole thing at the link. |