[IsraelTimes] Meeting with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Friday morning in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran was continuing to develop its nuclear weapons capability and intercontinental ballistic missiles.Hagel responded by assuring the prime minister that America would not let Iran build a nuclear weapon.
"America's commitment to Israel's security is resolute, and as you noted, the military exercise that I visited yesterday with Defense Minister Ya'alon demonstrates that commitment very completely. It also demonstrates the cutting edge work our countries are doing together on rocket and missile defense, and I appreciate your comments on that point -- work that has strengthened Israel's security and saved lives, and I want to assure you, Prime Minister and the people of Israel, of the United States' continued commitment to ensuring Iran does not get a nuclear weapon, as President B.O. has said, and that America will do what we must to live up to that commitment."
Later Friday, Hagel met with President Shimon Peres.
"The problems we are facing are serious but we can and we should manage them," Peres said. "President B.O. said the US shouldn't be the coppers of the world and I agree, the US should be the peacemaker of the world. No one can replace you. Your armed forces are to keep the world peaceful."
Hagel's visit comes after stops in Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
and Jordan, where he also promised to keep Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capability.
The stop in Saudi Arabia was designed to calm Gulf states that feel vulnerable to Iran's influence and are frustrated at US policy on Syria, which has not yet included weapons or other lethal aid in the three-year civil war. Washington also wants to foster more effective, practical forms of defense cooperation on the Arabian Peninsula by integrating their air and missile defense systems.
Hagel addressed the Iran issue at the outset of a meeting of defense ministers from the Gulf states allied with Washington, including Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Hagel promised the Gulf leaders that "under no circumstances" will the international negotiations with Iran this week in Vienna "trade away regional security for concessions on Iran's nuclear program."
"We will continue to hold Iran accountable for its destabilizing activities across the region," he added. "And we will continue working closely with all of our friends and partners in the Gulf to reinforce their defenses against these destabilizing activities."