Israel, UK, United States Considering Attack on Iran

Washington – When asked Wednesday about rumors that Israel is seeking support for an attack against Iran press secretary Jay Carney said “I’m not going to respond to that kind of speculation.”

Carney was asked after a report in Haaretz earlier in the day cited an Israeli official who said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was trying to gain support for attacking Iran's nuclear facilities.

England is also preparing itself to attack, with British officials saying according to The Guardian "that if Washington presses ahead it will seek, and receive, UK military help for any mission, despite some deep reservations within the coalition government."

However there is opposition to the idea within the Israeli government.  Some of them include Interior Minister Eli Yishai of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, Intelligence Minister Dan Meridor, Strategic Affairs Minister and Netanyahu confidant Moshe Yaalon, and Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz.  Others are army chief Benny Gantz, head of Israel's intelligence agency Tamir Pardo, the chief of military intelligence Aviv Kochavi, and the head of Israel's domestic intelligence agency Yoram Cohen.  Recently-retired head of Mossad Meir Dagan publicly advised against attacking Iran, saying it would be stupid and risks causing a region-wide war.

The Israeli people are nearly split on the issue. In a poll, which asked Jews and Arabs where they stand on the issue, 41% say they're opposed to an attack against Iran while 39% support it. 20% are undecided.

Commentary: Obama and the Keystone Pipeline

President Obama's game of football when it comes to the Keystone XL Pipeline seems to have finally ended with the ball in his hands. Monday Jay Carney, his press secretary, said the decision on what happens with the pipeline will be in the State Department's hands. However the State Department really has nothing to do it. Tuesday he turned that around and said he himself will make the decision.

Obama said on KETV “We need to encourage domestic natural gas and oil production. We need to make sure that we have energy security and aren’t just relying on Middle East sources. But there’s a way of doing that and still making sure that the health and safety of the American people and folks in Nebraska are protected, and that’s how I’ll be measuring these recommendations when they come to me,” he said.

Note the emboldened words. These buzzwords need to be addressed. Instead of actually investing in alternative energy sources, probably because he's afraid of the conservative media backlash, President Obama is promoting dirty nonrenewable energy. As far as “energy security” goes what's more secure than harnessing natural and renewable sources? Is he afraid Iran will turn off the Sun (I admit I'd be fascinated if it happened)?

The fact several strong lobbyists, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Petroleum Industry, and several more are backing this idea also should make one pause before they think this is a good idea. These are powerful groups which stand to make a huge profit if he decides to go forward with the pipeline. As usual they also hit their oft-repeated mantra of “This will create jobs and improve energy security.” I'd like to know how many jobs and lives would be destroyed if this pipeline – and it will if the oil lobbyists get this done – polluted the water, air, or ground. I'd also like to know who is going to be held accountable when people start getting incredibly sick. I promise you it won't be the companies. The BP oil spilled proved it.

Originally Obama's decision was supposed to come near the end of the year but now it seems it will be next year at the earliest.  Now, according to Reuters says an anonymous official said last week the deadline is likely to slide.