Intel Committee Chair Describes Explosive Confrontation Between Netanyahu and American Ambassador

The Atlantic ^ | September 6 2012 | Jeffrey Goldberg

[SE Mom]

Rogers told a Michigan radio interviewer earlier this week that he had not previously witnessed such a high-level confrontation, and he described Israeli leaders as being at "wits' end" over what they see as President Obama's unwillingness to provide them with his "red lines" in the effort to stop Iran's nuclear program. He also said that neither the Israelis nor the Iranians believe that Obama would use force to stop the nuclear program. (UPDATE: Rogers said as well he believes the Israelis will "probably" bomb Iran if they don't get clearer red lines from the U.S.)

Rogers description of the meeting directly contradicts repeated Administration assertions that there is "no daylight" on the Iran issue with the Israeli government. Shortly after the meeting took place, Israeli press reports appeared suggesting that Netanyahu and Shapiro had engaged in an argument, but Shapiro soon dismissed those reports, calling them "silly" and saying, "The published account of that meeting did not reflect what actually occurred in the meeting. The conversations were entirely friendly and professional."

Rogers, speaking to WJR radio host Frank Beckmann, painted a very different picture. He said the meeting, originally scheduled to be a discussion of intelligence and technical issues between himself and the prime minister, spun out of control when Netanyahu began lambasting Shapiro over the Administration's Iran policy. When Beckmann asked Rogers to describe the tenor of the meeting, he said: "Very tense. Some very sharp... exchanges and it was very, very clear the Israelis had lost their patience with the (Obama) Administration." He went on, "There was no doubt. You could not walk out of that meeting and think that they had not lost their patience with this Administration."

[momf]

Bumper sticker suggestion:

Vote for the Mormon, not the Muslim!

[stephenjohnbanker]

I like it.

[Domestic Church]

Obama wants to see the US taken down - in an anticolonial retribution and to set the stage for a communist take over.

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

Did you create that memorable image with “Mister Netanyahu....”? If not, what is the source?

[uncommonsense]

Wow, that is a frighteningly accurate, perhaps prophetic political cartoon (?) critique.

All of the signs for Christ's return are in place. I can't think of a single element that is missing before the seals can begin to be opened...

[musicman]

It’s getting close!

[musicman]

It’s “borrowed”. The person left his mark in the lower right hand corner.

[uncommonsense]

One of my favorite reader comment from the article:

"Debating with a Liberal is like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon just knocks over the pieces, craps on the board, and struts around like its victorious."