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The U.S.-Israeli Trust Gap on Iran

(Washington Post) Editorial - While the Obama administration suggests that only a clear Iranian attempt to produce a nuclear weapon would justify military intervention, Israel believes that Iran's acquisition of the capacity to do so would also be intolerable. That's understandable for a country within missile range of a regime that has called for the extinction of the Jewish state. Israeli commanders judge that in a few months, once Iran has fully prepared a new nuclear facility located under a mountain, Israel's capacity to disable the program with air strikes will be greatly reduced. The U.S. would retain a military window of opportunity for longer. But can the Netanyahu government count on the Obama administration to act if a moment of truth arrives? For now, several top Israeli officials are skeptical. That is where Mr. Panetta and Mr. Obama should be making an effort. Rather than publicly arguing with Israel, they should be more clearly spelling out U.S. willingness to take military action if Iran is discovered taking steps toward bomb-making, such as enriching its uranium beyond present levels or expelling UN inspectors. Saying "all options are on the table" is not enough; the Obama administration should be explicit about Iranian actions that will violate its red lines - and what the consequences will be.
2012-02-15 00:00:00
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