Netanyahu: Time for Obama to Draw the Line on Iran - East Idaho News
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Netanyahu: Time for Obama to Draw the Line on Iran

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Getty 072012 BenjaminNetanyahu?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1347899876420GALI TIBBON/AFP/GettyImages(WASHINGTON) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday made his strongest case yet for disabling Iran’s nuclear program by insisting that Tehran is within six months from reaching the point of developing an atomic weapon that threatens his country’s survival and the stability of the Middle East.

Netanyahu, who has clashed repeatedly with President Obama over the best strategy to take, said it was time for his U.S. counterpart to take a harder line toward Iran because he says diplomacy has failed to stop his enemy from moving ahead with its nuclear program.

The Israeli leader told NBC’s Meet the Press, “Obama has said that he is determined to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons. If you’re determined to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons, it means you’ll act before they get nuclear weapons.”

It was another thinly veiled suggestion that Israel is prepared to act unilaterally by launching preemptive military strikes that most analysts say would cripple Iran’s nuclear facilities although not entirely wiping them out.

In any case, Netanyahu expressed his frustration with the White House for refusing to draw a line that if crossed by Iran, would result in the military option.

He said, “I just think that it’s important to communicate to Iran that there’s a line that they won’t cross, I think a red line in this case works to reduce the chances of the need for military action because once the Iranians understand that there’s no, a line they can’t cross, they’re not likely to cross it. “

Using a football analogy to state where Iran is at this point of developing nuclear weapons, Netanyahu said, “they’re in the red zone. You know, they’re in the last 20 yards.  And you can’t let them cross that goal line. You can’t let them score a touchdown. Because that would have unbelievable consequences, grievous consequences, for the peace and security of us all, of the world, really.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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