U.A.E. diplomat mulls hit on Iran's nukes

The Washington Times ^ | July 6, 2010 | Eli Lake

[jazusamo]

ASPEN, Colo. | The United Arab Emirates ambassador to the United States said Tuesday that the benefits of bombing Iran's nuclear program outweigh the short-term costs such an attack would impose.

In unusually blunt remarks, Ambassador Yousef al-Otaiba publicly endorsed the use of the military option for countering Iran's nuclear program, if sanctions fail to stop the country's quest for nuclear weapons.

"I think it's a cost-benefit analysis," Mr. al-Otaiba said. "I think despite the large amount of trade we do with Iran, which is close to $12 billion … there will be consequences, there will be a backlash and there will be problems with people protesting and rioting and very unhappy that there is an outside force attacking a Muslim country; that is going to happen no matter what."

"If you are asking me, 'Am I willing to live with that versus living with a nuclear Iran?,' my answer is still the same: 'We cannot live with a nuclear Iran.' I am willing to absorb what takes place at the expense of the security of the U.A.E."

Mr. al-Otaiba made his comments in response to a question after a public interview session with the Atlantic magazine at the Aspen Ideas Festival here. They echo those of some Arab diplomats who have said similar things in private to their American counterparts but never this bluntly in public.

Mr. al-Otaiba made his comments in response to a question after a public interview session with the Atlantic magazine held at the Aspen Ideas Festival here.

The remarks surprised many in the audience.

[devere]

“’We cannot live with a nuclear Iran.’ I am willing to absorb what takes place at the expense of the security of the U.A.E.”

The UAE will fight to the last Israeli and/or American.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

When ambassadors are “blunt”, it is a time for concern. Their entire milieu is to *not* be blunt.

“War is a mere continuation of politics by other means,” (”Der Krieg ist eine bloße Fortsetzung der Politik mit anderen Mitteln”) — Carl von Clausewitz

[jazusamo]

When ambassadors are “blunt”, it is a time for concern.

Agreed, I was surprised and he didn't do it on his own. I would bet al-Otaiba and his higher ups know a lot more about Iran and what their intentions are than Obama does or at least what he'll admit to.

[Former Proud Canadian]

Does that mean they can live with a temporary Israeli air base from which Israel can attack Iran? And can they persuade Saudi Arabia to allow overflights to that base?

[givemELL]

The Sunnis fear Irans’ Persian Shiites will wipe them out if they do not wipe the Iranians out first, in the upcoming competition with Turkey for establishment of the potential Caliphate to be. Turkey is allied against the Arab League (Sunnis) by supporting Iran currently in that arena. THe Turks of course would like to form a neo-Ottoman Empire with the help of Iran....in the end, would Shiite Iran cooperate with Sunni Turkey? Turkey is 99.8% Muslim, and 70-80% Sunni.

[Fred Hayek]

The UAE has recently purchased a large quantity (relative to the size of their air force) of precision guided munitions, including the latest AGM-65 Mavericks. Major hints that they are intended for targets in Iran.

[ThunderSleeps]

Does that mean they can live with a temporary Israeli air base from which Israel can attack Iran? And can they persuade Saudi Arabia to allow overflights to that base?

You'd be surprised how pragmatic governments and individuals over there be. That was a blunt overtly threatening statement, something that just isn't done in serious diplomatic circles. That this kind of statement was made says as much or more than the actual content.

[Flag_This]

"...if sanctions fail..."

Have they ever worked anywhere?

[aposiopetic]

Senior Obama administration officials, including Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, have not ruled out the use of a pre-emptive military option against Iran.

However, administration officials have sought to play down that option, notably because of heavy U.S. military commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan and the danger that Iran would respond by disrupting the flow of oil through the strategic Strait of Hormuz or by encouraging more terrorist attacks in the West and in the region.

Does anybody else see this rationale as self-defeating? If they are in a position to encourage more terrorist attacks, isn't that reason enough to consider limiting the types of weapons available to them for deployment in such attacks?

[jazusamo]

Yep, the more time they have to develop more lethal weapons (of any kind) the more dangerous they are to the free world or the Arab world. It’s doubtful the Iranian people are going to overthrow the fanatics running the country without a lot of help from the outside.

[aposiopetic]

bump

[SunkenCiv]

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[dervish]

“The UAE will fight to the last Israeli and/or American.”

That’s what I was thinking. And they will give them no support, neither logistic or diplomatic in the aftermath.