Or, The Real Story. DEBKAfile Exclusive Analysis January 15, 2012 US-Israeli discord over action against Iran went into overdrive Sunday, Jan. 15 when the White House called off Austere Challenge 12, the biggest joint war game the US and Israel have every staged, ready to go in spring, in reprisal for a comment by Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon in an early morning radio interview. He said the United States was hesitant over sanctions against Iran's central bank and oil for fear of a spike in oil prices. The row between Washington and Jerusalem is now in the open, undoubtedly causing celebration in Tehran. [Snip] The exercise was officially postponed from spring 2012 to the last quarter of the year over "budgetary constraints" â an obvous diplomatic locution for cancellation. It was issued urgently at an unusually early hour Washington time, say debkafile's sources, to underscore the Obama administration's total disassociation from any preparations to strike Iran and to stress its position that if an attack took place, Israel alone would be accountable. [Snip] The friction was already fueled last week by the deep resentment aroused in Israel by Washington's harsh condemnation of the assassination last Wednesday, Jan. 11, of the nuclear scientist Prof. Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, and absolute denial of any US involvement. Although Tehran has since accused the United States of the attack, the White House treated it as the defiant sign of an approaching unilateral Israeli military operation against Iran to which the administration is adamantly opposed. Friday, Jan. 13, the Pentagon announced the substantial buildup of combat power around Iran, stationing nearly 15,000 troops in Kuwait - two Army infantry brigades and a helicopter unit â and keeping two aircraft carriers the region: The USS Carl Vinson, the USS John Stennis and their strike groups. Debkafile's military sources report that a third aircraft carrier and strike group, the USS Abraham Lincoln, is also on its way to the Persian Gulf. This massive military buildup indicates that either President Obama rates the odds of an Israel attack as high and is bolstering the defenses of US military assets against Iranian reprisals - or, alternatively, that the United States intends to beat Israel to the draw and attack Iran itself. The official purpose of Gen. Dempsey's visit next Thursday was supposed to be coordination between the US armed forces and the IDF. But his main object was another try to dissuade Israel's government and military leaders from plans to strike Iran without Washington's prior consent. [Snip] President Obama insists on the US acting alone in attacking Iran with no Israeli military involvement. This would leave him free to decide exclusively when and how to stage an operation. He is counting on the tightened military and intelligence cooperation he has instituted between the two armed forces and agencies to safeguard Washington against the surprise of a lone Israeli action. But Israel has declined to make this commitment - even in the face of US officials' efforts at persuasion. [Snip] Neither Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, nor Defense Minister Ehud Barak or Deputy Prime Minster Yaalon, who are responsible for all decisions on Iran, are willing to put all their trust for defending Israel in American hands or relinquish unilateral military options against Iran. They believe US officials when they assert that the administration is prepared to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon, but they want to see proof of the pudding and actions to back up the rhetoric. In the light of credible intelligence that Iran is very close to achieving its nuclear goal, Israel is holding on to its military option over American objections. http://www.debka.com/article/21652/
The funny thing (or sad, depending on your side) is that Obama probably decided (through advisement) that rising oil prices would essentially guarantee him a loss in the election in November. However, this will essentially erode his Jewish base and that will all but ensure it as well. And then when his boy Benny does the next round of QE, he'll get higher gas prices anyway. What's a teleprompter to do?
I think you are right. If Iran gets The Bomb in 2012 it's Obama's fault. If Iran is attacked, oil and gasoline prices will skyrocket, again, it's Obama's fault. If he were smart he would have delt with Iran last year. But, he's not.
If Iran gets the bomb in 2012, I don't personally think it's Obama's fault. But gas prices rising would be his either directly (through Iran) or indirectly (through his Fed chairman).
Your conspiracy is lacking one level. Obama knows that rising oil prices will increase energy company profits, and he and they know the people are aware of that, so he's presenting instead the opposite idea, that he would want to keep oil prices down.
So you think that Obama isn't concerned at all for high oil prices? I'd just like to hear where the conspiracy is in what I wrote - you know, from one so economically savvy as yourself.
Ah, the ol' Ricter tactic in debate - answer a question with a question and ignore what was asked of you. Ok, I'll bite. Of course he is concerned with hostilities in Iran. That's part of the catch 22. But true to Obama, he's not thinking or acting in the best interest of the world, world peace or even the US. He's doing what he thinks will cause the least amount of damage to his re-election chance, and ultimately that will be what turns out being the worst possible decision. Please show me where I said he wasn't concerned. Also, please answer my question - where is the conspiracy?