he gave to the Israelis. It was all about achieving peace.

but at the same time selling the US public on a reduced US role in the MidEast.

"Sure we have your back. Sure we believe you have a right to self-determination. And we'll cheer you on every step of the way. From the other side of the planet."

Last edited Thu Mar 21, 2013, 02:10 PM - Edit history (2)

Unless Iran provokes a war.

If Israel, or the US and Israel attack Iran, Iran would retaliate massively. There would be hundreds of thousands civilian casualties in both Iran and Israel.

By the end of the first day, the US would lose one carrier, probably two.

Iran would shut down the Straits of Hormuz. If you think the recession is bad now, wait until the straits are shut down.

And then there's the likelihood that Russian would come in on Iran's side.

Iran ships oil to China.

Whether China would become directly involved in the conflict isn't certain, but I have not read any piece indicating that the Chinese would do nothing.

. . . I believe, not photos of him smiling and shaking hands with the primary attackers.

I was worried about the "Irans smoking gun will be a mushroom cloud" thing...
Nice to know there's nothing to worry about!

There could very well-at some point be some kind of conflict involving Iran. I don't think that we'll be the ones to start it however

We'll support you against Iran if you negotiate a two state party with the Palestinians. I may be wrong, but that's what it sounded like to me.

... and the wheels of the war machine grind on...

I hope the world can avoid a war with Iran because it might be the last war.

sometimes I wonder what the world leaders are thinking....

doesn't it?

I don't trust Israel and I think that they will start a war with Iran and then we'll get dragged into it when they start crying about how they can't finish the war they started. And they have no intention of allowing the Palestinians any human status because that is the primary driver of the Arabs against Israel self-perpetuating revolving argument (via pretzel logic). And we keep dumping taxpayer $$ in Israel (completely fungible) while they go around whacking bee hives with sticks. It keeps the need for manufacturing arms and selling them to the warring parties, both sides of nearly every dispute, and keeping we the taxpayers from gaining any ground in our own country. We HAVE to be able to fight wars at the expense of all else.

And the mindset that has proliferated among this society is now overtly evident, all disagreement is resolved with violence rather than communication, thus the current gun law arguments that make no sense to most of us.

Both leaders were recently re-elected and there was some division between them during the elections. I'd guess this is more of a solidarity and Syria/Iran/Mideast intelligence and options-exploring trip.

It's more like wandering around in a maze in the dark with no exit.