'Just World News' with Helena Cobban: Barak: Iran not existential threat

'Just World News' with Helena Cobban Info, analysis, discussion-- to build a more just world
« Garlasco, suspended with full pay \| JWN front page \| Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, "benchmarks" » Barak: Iran not existential threat Posted by Helena Cobban September 17, 2009 7:58 PM EST \| Link Filed in Iran , Israel-2009 Ehud Barak to Yediot Aharonoth: "I am not among those who believe Iran is an existential issue for Israel." Barak said "Israel is strong, I don't see anyone who could pose an existential threat," although he did add that he viewed Iran as a challenge to the whole world. (HT: Stephen Walt.) The Reuters report linked to above takes care to note-- as few US media would-- that, Israel is assumed to possess the only atomic arsenal in the Middle East. I would modify that a bit. Israel's is the only ground-based nuclear arsenal in the region that we know of. However, a portion of the US Navy vessels plying the region's waters can also be assumed to have them. Still, it is excellent that Barak is on the record with this statement. --- Update: But MJ Rosenberg noted this in his very informative post on the topic at TPM Cafe. « Garlasco, suspended with full pay \| JWN front page \| Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, "benchmarks" » Comments Please add your own comments that are courteous, fresh, helpful, and to the point. Be aware that comments might take a minute or two to post because of the extensive filtering we need to use. Comments that contain a number of links may be delayed so that I or my tech advisor can give approval for their publication. Generally this should not take too long. ~HC Name: Email Address: URL: Remember personal info? YesNo Comments: Please enter the verification code seen above to post your comment	Recent Posts on JWN • My IPS piece on dimming peace prospects (1) • Rahm Emanuel's disturbing view of US role (26) • Obama's peacemaking pledge-- to the world (35) • Obama: Peace in US interest (5) • Discussing Palestine, Israel, Iraq on Bloggingheads (0) • Long knives, Washington, Afghanistan, part 2 (7) • Long knives out in Washington over Afghanistan (3) • Amal Saad-Ghorayeb responds (10) • NATO and Lebanon (16) • IPS piece on Obama-Netanyahu tussle over priorities (0) • Gaza police and noncombatant immunity (46) • Gaza, the Obama administration, and the present (4) • Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, "benchmarks" (2) • Barak: Iran not existential threat (0) • Garlasco, suspended with full pay (15) • Me, speaking Sept 24 at Middle East Institute (3) • Goldstone Commission reports on Gaza-war war-crimes (23) • Another blunt No from Netanyahu (30) • Ramadan t.v. offerings, 2009 (2) • I-P: Borders first-- and fast? (4) • A testimony the world needs to hear (2) • Garlasco, part 3 (32) • Malley on refugees, settlers, etc (7) • In 2009, as 2001: US needs Iran, Russia (3) • IPS piece on the rights war over Gaza (3) • Garlasco, part 2 (20) • Continuing bad news for US/NATO in Afghanistan (4) • Marc Garlasco's little "hobby" (71) • Trashing one-staters with Hussein Ibish (12) • 500 new settlement homes in Jerusalem... (12) • When election results are disputed: Afghanistan, etc (6) • B'tselem's figures on Gaza assault toll (8) • American power has limits? Who knew? (13) • Israel's assault on Gaza: The final toll (1) • Hamas-related negotiations moving forward? (1) • Sweden, and the Israel-linked organs story (18) • Qtube-- what a resource! (2) • Cook and Elam on Israel's organ-removal problems (48) • "The White House regrets... " (48) • Lessons from the Soviet experience in Afghanistan (9) • IPS analysis of Iraq and related regional tensions (1) • Visser goes 2.0 (8) • More on Norway's targeted divestment (14) • Pat Lang on the dangerous, continued rise of 'COIN'-mania (8) • Bravo, Norway! (6) • An exiled Palestinian visits "home" (20) • Israel releases nine of 32 Hamas legislators (2) • Why Blair wants Dahlan to retake Gaza? (0) • Afghanistan debate: The missing international ingredient (9) • State-building: Palestine (3)

Barak: Iran not existential threat

Posted by Helena Cobban
September 17, 2009 7:58 PM EST | Link
Filed in Iran , Israel-2009

Barak said "Israel is strong, I don't see anyone who could pose an existential threat," although he did add that he viewed Iran as a challenge to the whole world.

(HT: Stephen Walt.)

The Reuters report linked to above takes care to note-- as few US media would*-- that,

I would modify that a bit. Israel's is the only ground-based nuclear arsenal in the region that we know of. However, a portion of the US Navy vessels plying the region's waters can also be assumed to have them.

Still, it is excellent that Barak is on the record with this statement.
---

* Update: But MJ Rosenberg noted this in his very informative post on the topic at TPM Cafe.

Comments

Please add your own comments that are courteous, fresh, helpful, and to the point. Be aware that comments might take a minute or two to post because of the extensive filtering we need to use. Comments that contain a number of links may be delayed so that I or my tech advisor can give approval for their publication. Generally this should not take too long. ~HC

Recent Posts on JWN

• My IPS piece on dimming peace prospects (1)
• Rahm Emanuel's disturbing view of US role (26)
• Obama's peacemaking pledge-- to the world (35)
• Obama: Peace in US interest (5)
• Discussing Palestine, Israel, Iraq on Bloggingheads (0)
• Long knives, Washington, Afghanistan, part 2 (7)
• Long knives out in Washington over Afghanistan (3)
• Amal Saad-Ghorayeb responds (10)
• NATO and Lebanon (16)
• IPS piece on Obama-Netanyahu tussle over priorities (0)
• Gaza police and noncombatant immunity (46)
• Gaza, the Obama administration, and the present (4)
• Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, "benchmarks" (2)
• Barak: Iran not existential threat (0)
• Garlasco, suspended with full pay (15)
• Me, speaking Sept 24 at Middle East Institute (3)
• Goldstone Commission reports on Gaza-war war-crimes (23)
• Another blunt No from Netanyahu (30)
• Ramadan t.v. offerings, 2009 (2)
• I-P: Borders first-- and fast? (4)
• A testimony the world needs to hear (2)
• Garlasco, part 3 (32)
• Malley on refugees, settlers, etc (7)
• In 2009, as 2001: US needs Iran, Russia (3)
• IPS piece on the rights war over Gaza (3)
• Garlasco, part 2 (20)
• Continuing bad news for US/NATO in Afghanistan (4)
• Marc Garlasco's little "hobby" (71)
• Trashing one-staters with Hussein Ibish (12)
• 500 new settlement homes in Jerusalem... (12)
• When election results are disputed: Afghanistan, etc (6)
• B'tselem's figures on Gaza assault toll (8)
• American power has limits? Who knew? (13)
• Israel's assault on Gaza: The final toll (1)
• Hamas-related negotiations moving forward? (1)
• Sweden, and the Israel-linked organs story (18)
• Qtube-- what a resource! (2)
• Cook and Elam on Israel's organ-removal problems (48)
• "The White House regrets... " (48)
• Lessons from the Soviet experience in Afghanistan (9)
• IPS analysis of Iraq and related regional tensions (1)
• Visser goes 2.0 (8)
• More on Norway's targeted divestment (14)
• Pat Lang on the dangerous, continued rise of 'COIN'-mania (8)
• Bravo, Norway! (6)
• An exiled Palestinian visits "home" (20)
• Israel releases nine of 32 Hamas legislators (2)
• Why Blair wants Dahlan to retake Gaza? (0)
• Afghanistan debate: The missing international ingredient (9)
• State-building: Palestine (3)