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cal04

(41,505 posts)
Sun Apr 5, 2015, 07:16 PM Apr 2015

President Obama fights back against Israeli critics of Iran nuclear deal

US president says framework is ‘once-in-lifetime’ chance to prevent Iran getting nuclear weapon and pledges to support Israel’s defences

President Barack Obama has answered continuing Israeli criticism of the framework agreement over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, telling the New York Times the deal is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see whether or not we can at least take the nuclear issue off the table”.

The president added: “There is no formula, there is no option, to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon that will be more effective than the diplomatic initiative and framework that we put forward – and that’s demonstrable.”

Two days after the announcement of the deal between Iran and the major world powers – achieved in Switzerland after 18 months of talks and which must be finalised by the end of June – Obama spoke to the New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman at the White House for an interview that was published online on Sunday.

(snip)
“There has to be the ability for me to disagree with a policy on settlements, for example, without being viewed as ... opposing Israel,” Obama said. “There has to be a way for Prime Minister Netanyahu to disagree with me on policy without being viewed as anti-Democrat.”

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/06/barack-obama-fights-back-against-israeli-critics-of-iran-nuclear-deal?CMP=edit_2221

President Obama talks to Tom Friedman
Great job Sir
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/06/opinion/thomas-friedman-the-obama-doctrine-and-iran-interview.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0
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BillZBubb

(10,650 posts)
3. I wouldn't exactly call that fighting back.
Sun Apr 5, 2015, 08:15 PM
Apr 2015

He is responding to the criticism. It might be effective but in my opinion he is being far too easy on his critics and far too fawning to Israel. He should oppose Israel on settlements and go even farther--he should punish Israel over the settlements.

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
8. I agree. Too soft. Take the offensive. But for some reason our Dem leaders no longer seem able to do
Sun Apr 5, 2015, 11:10 PM
Apr 2015

that.

'There has to be a way for me to .... '

THERE IS! When something is blatantly WRONG, such as the Settlements, just say so!

Why the kid gloves with this one country? If it was Syria eg, there would be no 'there has to be a way for me to be able to criticize them'.

So sick of being always in a position of weakness due to our leaders.

I feel like a soldier with a General who simply won't attack the enemy knowing that this will lead to defeat and not being able to do anything about it.

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)
4. The kid glove treatment accorded Netanyahu's emergency media appearances by a panicked corporate media said volumes.
Sun Apr 5, 2015, 09:04 PM
Apr 2015
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