Don't believe Fox News hype on Israel

In a recent letter, despite what foxnews.com reported, Israel is not planning to launch a pre-emptive strike against Iran without notifying the U.S.

In their recent (March 5) meeting, President Obama and Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu declared unity. Obama made it clear that U.S. policy is to prevent a nuclear Iran, not contain one. U.S. and Israel leaders agree that continued diplomatic sanctions (Obama persuaded the European Union last January to stop buying oil from Iran, and its currency has lost 75 percent of its value) backed by the threat of “all options on the table” can prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon.

Even if Israel were to launch a pre-emptive strike, military experts believe at most it would set back Iran’s nuclear program by a year. It is the threat of a U.S. strike that they fear. And while some GOP candidates claim we don’t “have Israel’s back,” by providing our first- line jet fighters) (F-15s and F-16s ) we have helped Israel build a strong striking arm. Obama’s recent actions in vetoing a U.N. Security Council Resolution that would have found Israel guilty of apartheid, and our helping trapped Israelis escape from their Cairo embassy, have demonstrated our support.

If anyone questions our President’s resolve in dealing with threats to our own security, remember the finding and killing of Osama Bin Laden.

JAMES W. RAMSEY

Kootenai