Biden: Israel can decide for itself on Iran

Wouldn't you love to hear the conversations going on at the White House now? This had to be a shock to the Obamas. Where did they get this guy and why does he sound like George Bush?

This shouldn't be so shocking to anyone. Biden is simply stating a reality: the U.S. can't dictate what Israel can or cannot do.

I'm more inclined to think that the reality of the Middle East is becoming more apparent to the young President of the United States and he is willing to let Biden be the foil for saying things that would appear to contradict his [Obama's] earlier positions and preconceptions.

Biden: Israel can decide for itself on Iran

July 5, 2009

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel is "entitled" to decide for itself how to respond to Iran's nuclear program, Joe Biden said.

"Israel can determine for itself -- it's a sovereign nation -- what's in their interest and what they decide to do relative to Iran and anyone else," the U.S. vice president told host George Stephanopoulos Sunday morning on ABC's "This Week."

Biden said Israel could decide to attack Iran whether the United States agrees or not.

"They're entitled to do that. Any sovereign nation is entitled to do that. But there is no pressure from any nation that's going to alter our behavior as to how to proceed," Biden said, adding: "What we believe is in the national interest of the United States, which we, coincidentally, believe is also in the interest of Israel and the whole world."

When pressed by Stephanopoulos, Biden said he was "not going to speculate" on whether or not the United States would grant Israel over-flight rights in Iraq to get to Iran.