If there's two people who've never met a war they didn't like, it's Lindsay Graham and John McCain. Now you can add a third name to that list-- Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu. He's the Israeli who's no Disraeli.
Tuesday, the Israeli Prime Minister flexed his wings, his sharpened talons and his polished beak and took to the podium to address the United Nations. What was this staunch leader's purpose? Peace? Trust? Unity?
None of the above. He came to stir the pot. He came to instigate potential war with Iran. If Netanyahu really cared about the safety of his country he would be rooting for US/Iran accords on nuclear weapons, not trying to start a war. Why are peaceful negotiations any less valid than winning by war?
Now is there reason for concern? You bet.
Benjamin Netanyahu told the U.N. General Assembly that Israel's future is threatened by a "nuclear-armed" Iran seeking its destruction. He urged the international community to keep up biting sanctions against Iran, saying the greater the pressure, the greater the chance for diplomacy to succeed.
He also accused Iran of lamenting the human tragedy in Syria, but at the same time directly participating in "Syria's murder and massacre of innocents."
"Diplomacy to succeed." Now that's the kind of talk we all should have on our minds. Not war. Not nuclear, chemical or traditional warfare. And certainly not accusing a country of aiding in murder and massacre of innocents.
Talks, sanctions and emissaries is the way to proceed. A process that's been woefully lacking with the US and Iran -- over 30 years since their respective leaders have talked, until last week.
Now that direct interaction is beginning, one of the largest recipients of successful talks, Israel, is tossing fuel on the fire, not water. Through Netanyahu, they are stoking the fires and trying to instigate a war-like posture, not a peaceful one. That's just wrong.
It's fine to share your doubts on the credibility of the process and even the partners in the discussions, but not resulting in name calling. Unsubstantiated claims and rumors. Is Iraq to be trusted? That remains to be seen. But with a new regime, don't they deserve a chance to prove that they've changed before calling them names?
Netanyahu accused Iranian President Hassan Rouhani of masterminding Iran's strategy to advance the country's nuclear weapons program and said his goal was the same as his hard-line predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"Ahmadinejad was a wolf in wolf's clothing. Rouhani is a wolf in sheep's clothing," Netanyahu said.
Bibi needs to tone down his rhetoric. There's no doubt Israel knows very well what's going on in the middle east. And they are in a very close proximity and reach of a nuclear weapon -- which, BTW, they have for themselves. So their input is valuable. But in needs to be tempered and privately discussed with the US. Not at the UN. Not unless you're going to bring names, dates and proof of verifiable complicity in war atrocities.. Rumors and innuendo aren't going to cut it. And waving a piece of paper around with dates and locations isn't enough. We learned that with Colin Powell. He had "proof" too. Show us the money.
When we were on the brink of a vote to go to war with Syria, we reached, with Russia's assistance, an accord on chemical weapons. That went to the UN and it was signed by the United Nations Security Council. Despite hawkish opposition in the US (McCain and Lindsay) the seemingly achievable and peaceful solution was reached. Will it succeed? We don't know yet. But we're not bombing and killing people just to arrive at the same solution.
If we had listened to the hawks, we'd currently not only have a government shutdown, we'd be bombing Syria and as John McCain loved to sing, bombing Iran. Lindsay Graham had already announced a military action plan in formulation by him and other warmongers.
We have to give peace a chance. That doesn't mean surrender. But it also doesn't mean going to war to win a peace. It rarely happens that way.
Netanyahu should stay vigilant. But he also should watch his mouth and the inflammatory statements he's making. Despite what he may believe, he serves at the pleasure of the United States. If we didn't back Israel as we rightfully do, he very well could be under Palestinian rule in Jerusalem, and not the other way around.
Bibi's a good head of state but perhaps lacks the discipline, nuances or patience of a great leader. He needs to tone down the disruptive rhetoric and threats, stop shouting "...Or Israel will go it alone." They're not going anywhere alone. They walk with the US and we're proud of that alliance. They don't need to be undercutting what hopefully will be a peaceful solution to the potential nuclear weapons issues in Iran.
Chill, Bibi. If you have to shoot something, try clay pigeons, not people. As always, America's got your back.
The post Bibi Netanyahu - A Hawk Among Hawks appeared first on The Political Carnival.