Netanyahu calls Obama's bluff -Bomb Iran? No. Bomb Gaza? Yes!

Frustrated with Obama's re-election and his pledges to pursue diplomacy with Iran, Netanyahu engineered an offensive on the last place Israeli Defense Forces can wreak havoc with total impunity. Don't expect condemnation of the Gazan assault from Gulf Arabs or Western "Friends of Syria", but Egypt could draw new battlelines.

[link to www.atimes.com]

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu marshals troops toward Gaza, Barack Obama is making a grievous error by being seen as walking in step. Post-election optimism over direct talks with Iran will be shattered should Israel invade, and the Arab world will view the US president as full of empty promises. In one swipe, Netanyahu has made Gaza the litmus test of Obama's statesmanship.

[link to www.atimes.com]