RUSH: This morning in Washington, the White House, Obama met with Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office. Here’s a little of what Obama said.
OBAMA: Our commitment to the security of Israel is rock solid. And as I’ve said to the prime minister in every single one of our meetings, the United States will always have Israel’s back when it comes to Israel’s security.
RUSH: This was Netanyahu.
NETANYAHU: Israel has the right, the sovereign right to make its own decisions. I believe that’s why you appreciate, Mr. President, that Israel must reserve the right to defend itself, and after all, that’s the very purpose of the Jewish state, to restore to the Jewish people control over our destiny. And that’s why my supreme responsibility as prime minister of Israel is to ensure that Israel remains the master of its fate.
RUSH: You know, that’s an interesting back-and-forth. Obama says, (paraphrasing) “Don’t worry, Bibi, we got your back.” Bibi says, “We’ll take care of ourselves.” Netanyahu could have said, “Thank you, Mr. President, we’ve always relished our relationship with the United States. We’ve cherished it, in fact, it’s our most important ally and allied relationship in the world that we’ve ever had,” and so forth. Bibi didn’t do that. Obama says, “Our commitment to the security of Israel is rock solid, and as I’ve said to Bibi at every single one of our meetings, we’ll always have Israel’s back when it comes to their security.” And Netanyahu says, “Okay, but we reserve the right to act on our own anyway.” Because the world is telling us, don’t you do it. Don’t you dare attack Iran. Don’t you even think about it. We won’t be happy if you do. The Russians are telling Israel that. Iran is telling Israel that. I believe even the United States has told Israel that. Now, yesterday at the American-Israel Public Affairs committee conference, Obama spoke and said this to those guys.
OBAMA: Iran’s leaders should understand that I do not have a policy of containment; I have a policy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. (edited applause) And as I’ve made clear time and again during the course of my presidency, I will not hesitate to use force when it is necessary to defend the United States and its interests.
RUSH: And he continued. Let’s listen to this.
OBAMA: I would ask that we all remember the weightiness of these issues, the stakes involved for Israel, for America, and for the world. Already there’s too much loose talk of war. Over the last few weeks such talk has only benefited the Iranian government, by driving up the price of oil, which they depend on to fund their nuclear program. For the sake of Israel’s security, America’s security, and the peace and security of the world, now is not the time for bluster. Now is the time to let our increased pressure sink in and to sustain the broad international coalition we have built.
RUSH: That’s right. Too much loose talk of war going on here, Obama says. So he tells them his policy is not one of containment, and even goes so far as to almost threaten war if necessary. And then he condemns those threatening war. It’s unnecessary, we gotta stop this bluster, this loose talk. (interruption) I don’t bluff? Yeah, I don’t bluff. Well, that’s a laugher. Obama says I don’t bluff? Well, the Iranians think it’s a bluff, pure and simple. And Bibi, I go back, Bibi says, (paraphrasing) “Hey, fine, Mr. President, but we reserve the sovereign right to make our decisions.”
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