Obama – Is War With Iran to be His Final Conflict? – President cites need to retain Iran’s nuclear capabilities – The Not So Obvious Hawk in the White House

President Obama, weighs strike on Iran - image CBSLocal DC

President Obama is heading to Israel – and has noted in a recent interview “Right now, we think it would take over a year or so for Iran to actually develop a nuclear weapon, but obviously we don’t want to cut it too close,” he said. “So when I’m consulting with Bibi (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) as I have over the last several years on this issue, my message to him will be the same as before: `If we can resolve it diplomatically that is a more lasting solution. But if not I continue to keep all options on the table.” (Washington CBS News)

It is time for that “red line in the sand” to be taken more seriously – and apparently, with the statement “all solutions on the table” (should a year of diplomacy fail), conjures up images of a yet another potential U.S. engagement overseas – one which might have been avoided. First, it goes without saying that diplomacy and Iran are not usually residing the same hemisphere – and secondly – “all options on the table” is a hawkish term – generally meaning military use of force. One might then be able to add Iran to and increased incursion into Afghanistan to the Obama Presidential Legacy at some point in the future. However, it remains to be seen if Iran will be challenged by this administration, or, more to the point, in conjunction with the UN – together - with more than strongly worded memo’s telling those that would blow up the world, starting with Israel, to cease and desist.

A missed opportunity. Over the course of months in the uprising in the state of Iran over elections in 2009 – A general strike, which was peaceful, resulted in the death, imprisonment and torture, of Iranian’s who had peacefully taken to the streets – in one stunning incident (there were many) –the Iranian forces refused to fight those who were peacefully protesting, so the Ayatollah’s called in mercenaries from outside Iran, who, on motorcycles, used axes and other means chop through the crowds – it was a state of barbaric control, and throughout - there was little coming from the national media or the Whet House – one could have heard a pin drop. The screams for help from the Iran’s (Persians) being persecuted, went largely ignored. A hint from the newly minted President Obama that there was support for the uprising, apparently materialized 3 weeks into the slaughter, when the window of opportunity was long gone.

Had there been a hint early one, while nations such as Canada and Italy were doing their utmost to protect individuals by bringing them into embassies on the ground, perhaps, just perhaps, the regime might have taken notice,. Moreover, with some indirect aid – having troops on both borders of Iran (Iraq/Afghanistan) – aid in the form of weapons, electronics, etc., would have changed the course of history. Yet, there were crickets

Now, as Iran has exceeded exceptional in nuclear arms development, the crisis is upon Western Leaders, and something must be done (not to mention the son of Sam who’s running N. Korea. Should the U.S., perhaps send over a few drones to strike at known nuclear targets (they can borrow Intel from the Israeli’s, if need be), that would set off a direct conflict between Iran and the west (as they threaten the entire Western World, and it would put North Korean on notice, that there is yet another “cowboy” in the White House.

The Israeli’s believe President Obama has this intent: that he will strike Iran if diplomacy fails this year (Times of Israel)

However, the press is somewhat dismissive of the intent of the President to strike, taking a more pragmatic approach in passing the less than vied threat form President Obama (See Reuters’ article)

It is this opinion, In no uncertain terms, the President is a Hawk, one who has involved the U.S. directly and indirectly in geopolitical conflicts over the past few years (Libya, Egypt), therefore, the Iranians cannot be dismissive of President Obama – and if so, their failure to understand will be their undoing.

One might call the President a Paper Tiger, or critique his foreign policy as somewhat erratic, hwoever; he has been consistent in sending both troops and military aid (in real goods, or cash) to those nations that are seeking a chance in government.