There is an interesting article in the neoconservative Weekly Standard online magazine this week that is well worth a read. The writer, neoconservative Uri Sadot, a research associate with the Council on Foreign Relations, argues that Israel, based on its historical record of successes in pulling off seemingly impossible military operations, might very well consider a pre-emptive unilateral strike against Iran.
Netanyahu has already stated that, because Israel was not part of the deal struck between Iran and the so-called P5+1, the US, UK, France, Russia and China being the 5 and Germany being the +1, Israel reserves the right to defend itself unilaterally if and when it deems necessary.
Since the deal was signed on 24 November 2013, the US Congress has been debating means by which sanctions against Iran can be increased despite the deal saying that there would be no more sanctions for at least six months. If such a bill is passed, Obama has threatened to veto it.
Veto or not – and Obama’s power to veto is limited – the stand-off clearly shows how much support Israel has in Congress amongst both Republicans and Democrats, much of it as a result of intensive lobbying by the Israelis and their US lobby groups. Such support would quickly translate into supporting Israel fully in the event of Israel deciding to make a pre-emptive strike against Iran. Any hesitation that Congress has had about weather or not to support sanctions would instantly evaporate and be quickly replaced with an all but unanimous call for the US military to go all out to support Israel and approve war against Iran.
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