With Israeli Prime Minister Olmert a political eunich, a triumvirate of Israeli leaders crisscrossed the American and international political landscape. Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz met with Vice President Dick Cheney on the Iranian threat. He's the latest in a long line of Israeli defense officials to spend time with Shooter.
The Philadelphia Bulletin reported on other high level visits:
Two high-ranking Israeli government ministers met with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in New York over the past two days to discuss Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.
Israeli Minister of Defense Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni spoke with Mr. Ban separately on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
The Israeli defense minister emphasized all possible means under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, including sanctions, should be taken to ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.
Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter allows the Security Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace and security."
The Kuwaiti daily al-Seyassah recently reported Iranian authorities had begun construction of a secret nuclear reactor in the Al-Zarqan region close to the city of Ahwaz in southwestern Iran. Its existence remains unknown to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, which has focused on other nuclear locations instead.
The case for an attack continues to be made. For it to be a true surprise assault, only the basic foundation can be laid. No United Nations permission or approval can come in advance. It must be rubber stamped in hindsight. Was that the aim of Barak and Livni's meeting with Mr. Ban?
The Philadelphia Bulletin reported on other high level visits:
Two high-ranking Israeli government ministers met with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in New York over the past two days to discuss Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.
Israeli Minister of Defense Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni spoke with Mr. Ban separately on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
The Israeli defense minister emphasized all possible means under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, including sanctions, should be taken to ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.
Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter allows the Security Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace and security."
The Kuwaiti daily al-Seyassah recently reported Iranian authorities had begun construction of a secret nuclear reactor in the Al-Zarqan region close to the city of Ahwaz in southwestern Iran. Its existence remains unknown to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, which has focused on other nuclear locations instead.
The case for an attack continues to be made. For it to be a true surprise assault, only the basic foundation can be laid. No United Nations permission or approval can come in advance. It must be rubber stamped in hindsight. Was that the aim of Barak and Livni's meeting with Mr. Ban?
