print“What I learned growing up in a war-torn region is that a brave nation fights because it must; a cowardly one fights because it can” (March 26, 2003).
Fully forty four percent of a militarized and manipulated American population “stated they would support bombing Iran’s nuclear installations. A total of 70% also supported increasing economic sanctions.” To Israel’s great credit, Israeli popular opinion differs from that of Americans when it comes to a strike against the Islamic Republican of Iran. Via Brookings:
…a new poll shows, even though they are not fearful of Washington’s retribution if they go against U.S. advice. [Israelis] appear less influenced by the rhetoric of U.S. politicians competing for their embrace, and contrary to conventional wisdom, the Obama administration’s reluctance to support a military strike against Iran has apparently not affected their preference for Obama as the next president. In fact, their views seem to partly reflect the White House’s assessment of the consequences of war and the problems created by military action.
Only 19 percent of Israelis polled expressed support for an attack without U.S. backing, according to a poll I conducted — fielded by Israel’s Dahaf Institute Feb. 22-26 — while 42 percent endorsed a strike only if there is at least U.S. support, and 32 percent opposed an attack regardless.
With the exception of pop culture, the ignorance of the average American defies description.
When it comes to churning out millions of unthinking graduates, the government school system has done its job all too well.
What we have now is a populace that willingly gives up its rights for the false promise of “security” against non-existent threats.
I can’t think of a group of people more richly deserving of enslavement and impoverishment than my own countrymen. What an absolute disgrace.
To me your title seems a little misleading. It seems Americans and Israelis are closer in their views about attacking Iran than you believe.
You quote figures that show 44 percent of Americans would support an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, presumably that means a US attack on such facilities.
Then you quote the polls from Israel indicating only 19% support an attack on Iran. But that is WITHOUT US backing. With US backing that number climbs to 42% which is almost the same as it is in America.
So it appears that both Israelis and Americans have similar views about attacking Iran so long as Uncle Sam is part of that attack.
I find it hard to fathom Israel’s preference for Obama. [I did not read that anywhere. Where did you get that? They might prefer his policy on Iran to that of their PM.] Even over the “neocon crazies” on the other side. My support of Israel is no secret, but I can’t and will not support Obama or any Democrat. As far as bombing any Iranian nuclear facilities is concerned, if they are getting a bomb something has got to be done. Either the Israelis or the Americans have got to step up to the plate. I don’t care about hearing how stupid Americans are and how we don’t do this right or do that right. When the Iranians get the bomb they’re going to use it no matter how much aganozing the elites and deep thinkers sit around and pontificate.
Hogan, if think Americans deserve enslavement and impoerishment maybe you need to find a new country. Try Mongolia. maybe they will measure up to your exacting standards. You won’t be missed here.
Mr. Huggins, my exacting standard is really nothing more than expecting that the people “representing” me would actually follow the Constitution. You know, the thing they took an oath to uphold? Yeah, that one. I’ve read it, and there isn’t any mention of starting wars of aggression to protect foreign nations. Can you cite the clause that I’ve missed?
And your contention that the Iranians would use a nuke if they had one really makes no sense. We’re supposed to believe that they would willingly give up their power, their lives, and the lives of millions of fellow Iranians in a devastating retaliation. Really?
Of course, you fail to mention any evidence of this nuke program, how they could build one without diverting nuclear material, or how they would deliver this non-existent device.
It must be nice for you to go through life unencumbered by the facts.
@Huggins: and get turned into a plain of radioactive glass? I’m more worried about the only country that has already used nukes to kill people by the hundred thousand. And this war isn’t going to be about “Iranian nukes” any more than Iraq was about “WMD” or Libya was about “human rights”. It’s about propping up the US debt-Ponzi economy by forcing the petro-dollar.
Just as the Arab countries (Egypt, Syria, Arabia…) would fight Israel to the last Palestinian, the John McCain – Joe Lieberman neocons are happy to fight Iran to the last Israeli. They also want us bombing Syria until that country turns into some Wahabbi version of Lebanon!
As much as I hate to say it, there is a minor bit of rationale in that type of chickenhawk ideology – most of us would not be that upset if Green Spacemen from Mars wiped out Castro or Ahmadinejad and then returned back to Mars. But the last conflict the US avoided getting involved in was Tibet vs. China! If there is a rumble, you can bet we are in it and will basically never leave once we get in (Vietnam excepted).
But it is Haifa and Tel Aviv and Ashkelon, not Seattle and Phoenix and Boston where missiles (possibly with poison gas) will be dropping! How nice of America to start another War. And do you think Israel would prefer to deal with a schmuck like Assad or have its neighbors all be a bunch of warlord atomized anarchistical Somalias??
This is a fun discussion. Miss-clues everywhere. 42% of the Israelis said they would support an attack if the US backed it. In other words, they would follow big brother. The Americans want to be big brother door kicker, that’s the difference between Israelis and Americans. Steve Hogan was paraphrasing, Franklin or Jefferson, who said “Those who would trade freedom for security, deserve neither.” I have to agree with that, I go to breakfast on Thursday with a group of Conservatives, Friday reserved for Liberals. Thursday, I get to hear how badly Obama is doing, gutting the military and letting Iran and Syria get away with murder, Friday, I get to hear about all the internal lacks. If I could clear my retirement, I would be in Mexico or the Far East and away from the whiners in a New York minute. Steve would be a welcome neighbor. James- the comment is Stephen Decatur “Our Country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong.” This has been rephrased by Carl Schurz “My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.” “Love it or leave it” as implied was never part of either one. True patriotism is Carl Schurz, not Stephen Decatur, who was right in his time; but served a very different United States, prior to 1840, that is. Bookings did state in line four of their quote that Israelis preferred Obama to a (Warmongering) Republican. But they only have to put up with Obama’s foreign policy, they might think differently if they lived inside the US.
Glad to see that you guys are paying attention. Mercer I got my conclusion about the Israeli’s preference for Obama in the next election from the comments in the post. As far as Iran not being willing to turn the Mideast into a plain of “radioactive glass” is concerned we have no idea who is pulling the strings over there. It’s not prudent to depend on the judgement of Islamic fanatics.
Mr Hogan: I am well aware of our leadership and their scrapping of the constitution. I don’t need instructions from you on that matter. I also did not mention proof of any bomb. I said “when” they get the bomb something must be done. No matter what the situation to wish disaster on Americans just because they don’t rise to the lofty levels of your intellect is snobbery in spades.
So the little madman of Iran threatens to wipe Israel off the face of the earth every other week, is a holocaust denier, attacks Israel through its proxies and Israel should not stop them from getting the bomb? [Who said that? The contention here was that the US should not go to war! Read with care! The Articles archives too.]
Then we have comments such as this:
“And your contention that the Iranians would use a nuke if they had one really makes no sense. We’re supposed to believe that they would willingly give up their power, their lives, and the lives of millions of fellow Iranians in a devastating retaliation.”
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You are rationalizing from the assumption that you are dealing with a culture of the same mindset and morals as yourself, and I dare say, you are not. [Of course, you have been to Iran and have studied “the culture.” Take it from someone who actually lived in the Middle East, who doesn’t just shout about it; things are never as the American blowhards portray them.] You are dealing with a culture of people who will strap a bomb to themselves and their children in order to take down the little satan and then the big satan.
I don’t think our military should be involved but I do believe Israel should take all steps and should have U.S. diplomatic and material support. If you don’t realize war is coming in the middle east and the main goal is to destroy Israel, you are not seeing reality. [War is coming because the US is about to start one.]