President Obama: Why No "Red Lines" For Iran

Obama On Iran 'Red Lines': No Leader Wants To Tie His Hands -- Haaretz

In a conference call to 1,200 U.S. rabbis for Rosh Hashanah, the U.S. President said there was 'no daylight' between U.S. and Israel policy on Iran; meanwhile, Romney slams Obama's comment that Egypt is neither 'enemy or ally.'

In a conference call for Rosh Hashanah organized by a number of U.S. Rabbinical associations, U.S. President Barack Obama referred to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comment about the lack of U.S. "red lines" on Iran, saying that "no leader wants to tie his hands" and set conditions.

Coming in the wake of his video message for the Jewish New Year, Obama spent about 40 minutes in the conference call with 1,200 U.S. rabbis.

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My Comment: From a certain perspective I can understand President Obama's position on "no red lines". You cannot tie and/or limit yourself to a "red line" position that may limit your actions or force you to act when you are not ready to. Having said that .... it must also be noted that by not imposing timelines and "red lines" you then run the chance of having the other side take you for granted and/or not seriously listening to your proposals or actions.

In the end .... I guess it always comes down to credibility. Agree or disagree .... I always knew that when President George Bush made a commitment to a red line and/or laid out a list of actions that the U.S. would pursue if their demands were not met .... I knew that he was going to do it. No ifs or buts. I can say the same about President Clinton in the last years of his Presidency, President Bush Sr., President Reagan, etc... . But for some reason President Obama does not carry that presence as much as his predecessors did .... and I guess that is where the doubts and question from our foreign allies come in .... and this debate to have "red lines".

Are these doubts justified .... probably not. President Obama has unleashed the drones and special forces against Al Qaeda that President George Bush could only dream about. He has also involved the U.S. in numerous wars and conflicts .... a number that even shocks me when I tally it all up .... a tally that is in fact unprecedented in modern American history. Hell .... he has even issued orders for assassinating U.S. citizens living abroad who are supporting terror actions .... this is not a weak-kneed President.

But it is also true that Iran is a different story. Because of Iran's size, I have doubts that President Obama will use military force to limit their nuclear program .... such a conflict will be too messy with no sure outcome. I do not even know what the exit strategy for such a conflict would look like .... and I strongly suspect neither does anyone else. Hence .... one good reason on why this war of choice should give us pause.

Instead .... if Iran is on the march to develop nuclear weapons ..... I believe that real sanctions (blockade, cutting off Iran's central bank from global financial clearing houses, etc.) will come into play .... and I have confidence that President Obama will be the one leading this charge. Is this enough .... I hope that we will not need to find out.