Netanyahu Says The Problem Is Iran, Not Iraq


Benjamin Netanyahu doesn’t shy away from strong opinions. He believes unions and government spending constrain Israel’s prosperity. He nevertheless boasts the nation’s economy can double in size in 12 years.

When it comes to the political landscape of today’s Middle East, this former conservative prime minister doesn’t flinch before recommending military action to keep Islamic states from getting nuclear weapons.

What may surprise many is his claim that Iraq is not the top problem facing the region.

Iraq is the wrong issue, Netanyahu told a Silicon Valley crowd Sunday at an event sponsored by the angel investment group, Silicom Ventures. The real danger is Iran.

Sooner or later, the U.S. will leave Iraq. Besides, what happens in Iraq will matter little if Iran gets nuclear weapons, he says.

It is not the first time this well known hawk has suggested a military strike to derail Iran’s nuclear program. No one knows whether such a course of action would solve the problem.

But Netanyahu is convinced it is a problem that needs solving. “It’s 1938 and Iran is Germany but with nuclear arms,” he said.

Netanyahu said he is convinced militant Islam has goals of conquest. "If Iran acquires nuclear weapons it will use them...first on us," Netanyahu says. But already its missles can reach European cities, he claims. In 10 to 15 years, it will have missles to reach the East Coast of the U.S.

How urgent is military action? “I’m suggesting any action that is appropriate for this task,” he says.

Iran's goal is to create 25 bombs a year, and it doesn't just hate the West because of Israel, it "hates Israel because of the West," he adds.