This man makes sense. Look at the closing paragraph.

[ivanm]

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Panetta to Israel, Palestinians: 'Just get to the damn table'

US defense secretary urges leaders to 'reach out and mend fences'

 By Courtney Kube
NBC News

updated 12/2/2011 8:35:06 PM ET

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta had a blunt, candid message Friday for Israeli and Palestinian leaders on the stalled peace process: "Just get to the damn table."

Only on msnbc.com

Speaking at a Brookings Institution forum on the Middle East, Panetta said that if the Israelis and Palestinians just sit at the table and work through the concerns, they could come to an agreement.
 
"First and foremost, get to the damn table," he said, eliciting applause and eventually a standing ovation.
 
Panetta warned of Israel's growing isolation, and urged the leaders to "reach out and mend fences."
 
Asked about Iran's increasingly provocative actions and when a military response would be inevitable, Panetta said that the U.S. always has military action as an option on the table, but it "must be a last resort."
 
Panetta warned of the "unintended consequences" of military action against Iran, including:
 •the isolated regime would re-establish itself in the region;
 •the US would be blamed and would become a target of retaliation, especially US military and diplomatic posts overseas;
 • the fragile economies in Europe and US would be further taxed,
 
Panetta predicted that if a military escalation took place, it would not only involve many lives, but it would consume the region.
 
He admitted that it "would be devastating" if Iran got nuclear weapon and that the international community must do everything possible to make sure that doesn't happen.
 
Panetta also acknowledged that any military strikes meant to stop Iran's nuclear weapons aspirations would only set back the program one to two years, not destroy it.
 
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45531086/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/

[lucy]

not usually a big fan of Panetta but at least he is making sense...a war with Iran is unthinkable!

[ivanm]

not usually a big fan of Panetta but at least he is making sense...a war with Iran is unthinkable!

And what good would it do us?  Isn't time the idiots in the NSA start thinking of our welfare? 

If Iran were to get an a bomb I doubt they would use it.  It is a balance of power thing, something Iran wants to hold over Israel's head.

[Hollybaere]

"Getting them to the table" is only a small fraction of the equasion.

Israel has never wanted peace with Palestine, in no way shape or form. Israel will never agree to give up anything to form a peaceful bond with Palestine.

Israel would rather see Palestine and it's people vanish from the face of the earth.

What Panetta said may make sence, but Israel will never give in till she has aquired all the land and resources in the Middle East for her very own. That has been the Zionist quest from day one.

Iran and Syria are next on her evil list.

[dustup]

UN Approves Iran's Proposed Resolution on N. Disarmament

TEHRAN (FNA)- The UN General Assembly's First Committee approved an Iran-sponsored resolution on nuclear disarmament despite the US and Israeli opposition.
   

The committee, which focuses on disarmament and international security issues, approved the resolution with 118 votes in favor, despite the negative votes by the US, the Israeli regime as well as a number of their European and western allies.

The UN General Assembly endorsed the resolution, titled "Pursuing Implementation of Pledges Undertaken by member states in the NPT Review Conferences in 1995, 2000 and 2010".

The resolution calls for accelerating adoption of the necessary measures for the implementation of the member states' pledges about full dismantlement and annihilation of nuclear arsenals transparently, irreversibly and under international supervision.

Iran, an NPT-signatory, has called for the removal of all weapons of mass destruction from across the globe.

Also in pursuit of global nuclear disarmament, Tehran has so far held two conferences on nuclear disarmament with officials from different world countries in attendance.

Foreign ministers, representatives and nuclear experts from 60 world countries participated in both events to discuss challenges on nuclear disarmament, countries' commitment to nuclear dismantlement and disarmament and aftermaths of inaction in the destruction of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs).
******************************************


......even if the entire world destroys their nuclear weapons, I doubt that the US will give up theirs.......neither will Israel.......they have the "bully pulpit"

"The presidency had been transformed from a bully pulpit on Pennsylvania Avenue to a stage the size of the world"       
   ~Hugh Sidey~

[ivanm]

UN Approves Iran's Proposed Resolution on N. Disarmament

TEHRAN (FNA)- The UN General Assembly's First Committee approved an Iran-sponsored resolution on nuclear disarmament despite the US and Israeli opposition.
   

The committee, which focuses on disarmament and international security issues, approved the resolution with 118 votes in favor, despite the negative votes by the US, the Israeli regime as well as a number of their European and western allies.

The UN General Assembly endorsed the resolution, titled "Pursuing Implementation of Pledges Undertaken by member states in the NPT Review Conferences in 1995, 2000 and 2010".

The resolution calls for accelerating adoption of the necessary measures for the implementation of the member states' pledges about full dismantlement and annihilation of nuclear arsenals transparently, irreversibly and under international supervision.

Iran, an NPT-signatory, has called for the removal of all weapons of mass destruction from across the globe.

Also in pursuit of global nuclear disarmament, Tehran has so far held two conferences on nuclear disarmament with officials from different world countries in attendance.

Foreign ministers, representatives and nuclear experts from 60 world countries participated in both events to discuss challenges on nuclear disarmament, countries' commitment to nuclear dismantlement and disarmament and aftermaths of inaction in the destruction of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs).
******************************************


......even if the entire world destroys their nuclear weapons, I doubt that the US will give up theirs.......neither will Israel.......they have the "bully pulpit"

"The presidency had been transformed from a bully pulpit on Pennsylvania Avenue to a stage the size of the world"       
   ~Hugh Sidey~

In a way that is the smart thing to do, disarm Israel (of her nukes) so Iran won't keep trying to build her own to counter the nuclear threat from Israel.

As you say, it ain't gonna happen though. The next alternative is to let Iran build the bomb so it would hold Israel at bay.  The old MADD concept.