If Israel attacks Iran, what effect on election 2012?

self published, exclusive to FR | September 21, 2012 | Peter O'Donnell

[NoGrayZone]

I don't think so. Nothing short of a hard damned strike will accomplish anything.

Think about it. Israel and the US completely annihilate Iran...turn their ass into glass.

What other countries, in that aftermath, would consider striking Israel or the US, seeing such consequences first hand?

[only1percent]

The Israeli strike will benefit Obama.

First, he will back Netanyahu almost all the way. Probably won’t put US aircraft or ordnance over or into Iranian territory, but everything else. Obama may not personally like Israel, but the permanent establishment of the United States does, and Obama didn’t get where he is by risking unpopularity with the people who call the shots election results notwithstanding.

Second, wars and war-fighting are extremely popular as long as the public knows what the heck you are trying to accomplish, and thinks it’s worthwhile. Eliminating Iranian nuclear threat is an understandable and (at least theoretically) unobjectionable goal. Keeping the Gulf free for crude shipment, same thing. Bush was able to get re-elected in November 2004 even though it was already clear that his people had no friggin’ clue what they were trying to do over there. It took until 2006, with two more years of body-bags and nothing improved (and Afghanistan starting to go pear-shaped) before the electorate actually was willing to go against the “war party.”