In response to VP Biden's remarks quoted in today's New York Times:
"WASHINGTON — Plunging squarely into one of the most sensitive issues in the Middle East, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. suggested on Sunday that the United States would not stand in the way of Israeli military action aimed at the Iranian nuclear program."
The United States has to avoid making Israel a scapegoat. If Biden believes that military action is needed against Iran, he should say so and have that debate. The United States should take responsibility for its position. But for the US (and Europe) to believe that it is necessary and then leave the dirty work to the Israelis is unconscionable. Historical anti-Semitism has always placed the Jews in the role of a scapegoat, and this time it should be understood and avoided. If, on the other hand, Pres. Obama and VP Biden believe that attacking Iran is a bad idea, they should just say so outright to Israel. They should not be engaging in passive aggressiveness setting up Israel for censure and disapproval.
Personally, I don't see any reason to attack Iran. Attacking Iran would only unite the divided factions against whoever attacks, such as Israel. There is an opposition movement to support. It makes no sense to make an entire country suffer the consequences of war. Many of the people there are our friends and also are not the enemy of Israel. I think that the Obama administration is better off aligning itself with the Israeli peace movement.
Also, I am suspicious of the silencing of Hillary Clinton. US missiles hit Packistan a few days ago (according to the NY Times / AP report which was posted over night one night and then disappeared). Napolitano was in Pakistan at the time for meetings with the government. Why is the Homeland Security office meeting with the Pakistan government without the Secretary of State? Then Biden makes this announcement about Israel, isn;t he also going over Hillary Clinton's head? Is Hillary too pacifist, influenced by her friend Albright? Let's have one voice in foreign policy, the result of careful diplomacy.