Obama to Israel: We've Got Your Back

I didn't get a chance to save the image of this headline on Drudge.

No matter. In summary, Obama has not ruled out a democratic solution to a nuclear Iran, but has pledged to back Israel and allow Israel the freedom to make its own decisions.

I have no disagreement on any particular point. But I'm still quite disappointed, given that no one is addressing the larger issue - namely, that the US needs to have some kind of consistent policy for all nations, or at least Mideast nations. Because denying Iranians a right we allow Israel is not going to go over well, especially in light of the overall paranoia that is now so deeply embedded in any Iranians old enough to remember a time when the US was, in fact, the Great Satan. Even if only briefly.

The contrary argument is, of course, that Iran wants nukes for the sole purpose of wiping Israel off the map. For my part, I make the same argument to both sides of the fence - assuming a uniformity of motive, whether benign or malicious, is never a good idea.

And now, the poem. It's depressing:

I wish that Eisenhower had the back
Of Mossadegh, some 60 years ago,
Before the coup d’etat, before the blow
That placed the innocent upon the rack
Of one Mohammed Reza Shah. Iran,
Humiliated, kept producing oil,
Britons keeping peasants to the toil,
Claiming, “democratic to a man,”
To help allay all Eisenhower’s fears
Of Communism rising. Give it time,
And all the gains arisen from the climb
To quick supremacy will come to tears
As Persia rises, thinking it is best
To fear the cultivation of the West.