Biden: Israel Shouldn’t Rely on the U.S. for Its Security
Latest update: May 9th, 2012
print
tell a friend
US Vice President Joe Biden says Israel must rely on its own military power when facing Iran.
Photo Credit: Gili Ya'ari / Flash 90
Speaking at the annual convention of the Conservative movement’s Rabbinical Assembly in Atlanta on Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden made the case that Obama’s strategies regarding the Iranian nuclear program have worked, but said the decision to strike must be Israel’s.
“I would not contract out my security to anybody, even a loyal, loyal, loyal friend like the United States,” Biden said.
The Vice President also stressed the effectiveness of the Obama Administration’s diplomatic campaign against Iran, saying that “by going the extra diplomatic mile, presenting Iran with a clear choice, we demonstrated to the region and the world that Iran is the problem, not the United States.”
In Biden’s view, the Obama Administration had to regain the international clout that had been lost by the GW Bush administration, in order to be effective against Iran.
“When we took office, let me remind you, there was virtually no international pressure on Iran,” Biden continued. “We were the problem, we were diplomatically isolated in the world, in the region, in Europe. We were neither fully respected by our friends nor feared by our opponents. Today it is starkly, starkly different.”
GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s campaign on Tuesday attacked Biden, calling his comments “reckless” and criticizing the Obama administration for “all too often” blaming America first, making the case that Biden’s criticisms of Bush were an insult to the country.
“Biden’s reckless statement today blaming America for – of all things – the progress of Iran’s nuclear weapons program, has reached a new low,” said Romney policy director Lanhee Chen. “The problem is not America. It is the ayatollahs who oppress their people.”
Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, told Fox News that “Iran was the problem then and it is the problem now. It’s foolishly misguided for the vice president to blame anyone or any country other than Iran.”
Vice President Biden said that Israel still has time to strike Iran and it must decide for herself whether to do so.
He added: “The window has not closed in terms of the Israelis if they choose to act on their own militarily.”
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has suggested that Israel has until the fall to strike; the Obama Administration has been pressing Israel to give time for sanctions and diplomacy to work.
Biden also said that Israel’s perception of Iran as an existential threat was “justifiable.” He warned Iran that its window was closing for a diplomatic way out of its isolation because of its suspected nuclear weapons program.
The vice president also called efforts to delegitimize Israel “the most significant assault” on Israel since its independence.
On Tuesday, the Iranian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency said that talk of Iran’s intention to develop nuclear weapons is based on “unreliable” and “fake” evidence.
Content from a JTA report was used in this article.
tell a friendAbout the Author:
You might also be interested in:
You must log in to post a comment.
One Response to “Biden: Israel Shouldn’t Rely on the U.S. for Its Security”
4
Loading ...
I wonder if this was part of a prepared statement or if it was an answer to a question? It might help to determine if this is a change in the US policy or if it is Biden running his mouth.
Biden failed to mention the fact that Obama blocked the sanctions congress wanted two years ago . He supported the ouster of Mubarak and now we have the Muslim brotherhood in Egypt . .When the Iranian people were in the streets he did nothing .The efforts to delegitmize Israel have come from the academic left . Obama is a creature of the academic left and shares their values.
Jeff Kletman I agree… I would just like to know if this was a scripted comment, which means a speechwriter wrote it and it was approved through multiple layers of the WH and State Department… or if it was an off-the-cuff remark. Makes a difference in how seriously you take it. —- Not that I believe Obama's attitude toward Israel has changed, but it is an indicator of how likely the US feels an Iran strike by Israel is.
Chelm ,lol I did everything but answer your question .And it was a good one . Since Biden has no parking brake I would conclude that he was running his mouth . I don't think this is major policy shift . I think it is a continuation of policy that is already in place .
clearly a change in US policy, though Biden is not runnign his mouth, OBAMbam doesn't have the kahones to tell am Yisroel this, why… B/C to strike Iran t is clearly a suicidal action for the current WH administration, it would mire the US in another entanglement in the Arabia and possibly cause an even larger world conflict with Russia China or India. so for now the BAM will try not o get in valved in such courageous political action until after November,
You think Obama would strike Iran after the election? I don't think he would do this under any circumstances, the personal risk for him is too high…
Any comments?
The headline is misleading
The headline is very misleading
The headline focuses on one theme the VP touched. This is not academia, this is journalism. You can access many different reports of the same event, and each would stress a different angle. Our choice was to hit on a crucial piece of advice Biden offered Israel, which I believe he meant very honestly.
Incidentally, in 2008 Biden was my candidate for the Democratic nomination because of his realistic position on Iraq (break it up) and because he understands the Middle East. Alas, by the time the circus came to New York, Joe had already dropped out.