Posted on 07/07/2009 5:44:52 AM PDT by SJackson
US President Barack Obama strongly denied that the United States had given Israel an approval to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, in an interview given to CNN television on Tuesday.
Asked by the network whether Washington had given Israel a green light to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, Obama answered: "Absolutely not."
In the interview, which was broadcast from Russia, where Obama is on an official visit, he added: "We can't dictate to other countries what their security interests are.
"What is also true is, it is the policy of the United States to try to resolve the issue of Iran's nuclear capabilities," Obama said.
RELATED Analysis: Is the PM shifting Obama's attention to Iran? Editorial: Biden's signal This would be achieved "through diplomatic channels," he added.
On Sunday, US Vice President Joe Biden was asked on ABC's This Week whether the US would stand in the way militarily if the Israelis decided they needed to take out Iran's nuclear program.
The US "cannot dictate to another sovereign nation what they can and cannot do," he said.
"Israel can determine for itself - it's a sovereign nation - what's in their interest and what they decide to do relative to Iran and anyone else," he said.
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly, however, denied that the vice president was giving Israel American approval for an attack on Iran.
"I certainly would not want to give a green light to any kind of military action," Kelly said, while at the same time reiterating Israel's right to determine its security needs as a sovereign state.
"We're not going to dictate its actions," Kelly added. "We're also committed to Israel's security. And we share Israel's deep concerns about Iran's nuclear program."
Earlier Tuesday, The Washington Times reported that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his top deputies have not formally asked for US aid or permission for a possible military strike on Iran's nuclear program, since they fear the White House would not approve.
The report quotes two unnamed Israeli officials.
An anonymous senior Israeli official was cited by the Times as saying that Netanyahu determined that "it made no sense" to press the matter after the negative response former US president George Bush gave the Israeli prime minister's predecessor, Ehud Olmert, when he asked early last year for US aid for possible military strikes on Iran.
"There was a decision not to press this because it was probably inadequate for the engagement policy and what we know about [US President Barack] Obama's approach to Iran," he said.
Israel is unlikely to attack Iran without at least tacit US approval, in part because that would require cooperation from the United States. At the very least, Israel would most likely have to fly over Iraqi airspace, which is still effectively controlled by the US Air Force.
However, a Sunday Times report claimed that talks conducted by Mossad head Meir Dagan resulted in Saudi Arabia agreeing to let IAF jets fly over the kingdom during any future raid on Iran's nuclear facilities.
White House officials have declined to comment on the substance of discussions between US and Israeli officials on Iran.
So which is it? Greenlight or no greenlight? Our esteemed VP’s credibility hangs on it.
Barry, just vote PRESENT, go on TV and tell the world how you saved an invasion on Iran. You don’t have the courage to lead America, much less make any decisions.
LMAO so he has to cover for Biden’s mouth in Russia?
What a failure of an administration!
I think Obama the self appointed king of the radical marxist liberal world needs to appoint a new czar.
1. Herb Allison-TARP Czar
2. Alan Bersin-Border Czar
3. Dennis Blair-Intelligence Czar
4. John Brennan-Terrorism Czar
5. Carol Browner-Energy Czar
6. Adolfo Carrion, Jr-Urban Affairs Czar
7. Ashton Carter-Weapons Czar
8. Aneesh Chopra-Technology Czar
9. Jeffrey Crowley-AIDS Czar
10. Cameron Davis-Great Lakes Czar
11. Nancy-Ann DeParle-Health Czar
12. Earl Devaney-Stimulus Accountability Czar
13. Joshua DuBois-Faith-based Czar
14. Kenneth Feinberg-Pay Czar
15. Danny Fried-Guantanamo Closure Czar
16. J. Scott Gration-Sudan Czar
17. Richard Holbrooke-Afghanistan Czar
18. John Holdren-Science Czar
19. Van Jones Green-Jobs Czar
20. Gil Kerlikowske-Drug Czar
21. Vivek Kundra-Information Czar
22. George Mitchell-Mideast Peace Czar
23. Ed Montgomery-Car Czar
24. Dennis Ross-Mideast Policy Czar
25. Gary Samore-WMD Czar
26. Todd Stern-Climate Czar
27. Cass Sunstein-Regulatory Czar
28. Paul Volcker-Economic Czar
29. Lynn Rosenthal—fighting domestic violence
30. Joe Blow to put masking tape on Biden’s mouth-The Biden Gaffe czar.
Translation: "green-lit, but I'm not happy about it."
With the USA's #2 saying "go ahead", and #1 saying "you do what you have to and we'll do what we have to", at best it's a go-ahead, and at worst it's there's so much incoherent squabbling at the highest ranks that there's no point in asking for support.
I guess the administration only believes it has the right to dictate the actions of its own citizens.
Verbosely, he did.
I’m so glad we have the White House to interpret whatever Slow Joe says.
And the libtards think Sarah Palin has communication problems?
At least she has a functioning brain, something Slow Joe has already determied is completely unnecessary for his appointed duties.
Up to 29 czars now? The man needs to leave the U.S. and stay in Russia where his dictatorship can be appreciated.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
..................
29 people NOT accountable to the voters.
Unconstitutional.
But Obama has given the greenlight for other countries to fire missles at Israel.
I heard he was up to 32 Czars. We all know how transparent Obama’s kingdom is but no where on whitehouse dot gov is a list a czars. But HEY Michelle Obama is a fashion icon!
Flashing red is really a green.
Is Zer0 meddling again?
Yet ANOTHER Biden gaffe! Covered up by the Media Monolith again.
He’s nothing but a coward.
It’s not 0’s role to give a green light to anything that Israel might do.
Look, the entire BO administration are idiots and liars.
He has no interest in running GM, but he runs GM.
He will lower 95% of everyone’s taxes, but he raises taxes.
He treasures the relationship with Israel, but he sides with Israel’s enemies.
They are buffoons. Clowns. Dunces. Jokes.
We see it. Foreign leaders see it. Slllllowly, the majority of the public will see it.
Will it be too late?
In what has to be a serious contender for the irony of ironies, if the US walks off on Israel over this, Saudi Arabia will step up to the plate. They dread Iran enough now to make friends with Israel.
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