Obama: 'Understandable' for U.S. and Israel to Have Different 'Perspectives' on Iran
by Matt Wilstein
President Barack Obama sat down with Democratic donor and staunch Israel supporter Haim Saban Saturday at the 10th annual Saban Forum and spent most the nearly one-hour conversation defending the recent nuclear deal the U.S. and allies struck with Iran.
The president answered a question from Saban regarding a recent column from The New York Times’ Thomas Friedman that said the U.S. needs some “crazy” on our side if we are going to negotiate with Iran. Specifically, Friedman was talking about the type of “crazy” found in Netanyahu.
Obama tactfully dismissed the notion that his Israeli counterpart is “crazy” before affirming the “constant consultation” and “strong” military and intelligence “cooperation” between the two countries since he took office. “Across the board, our coordination on the concrete issues facing Israel’s security has never been stronger,” he said. The president then laid out the reasons why the two leaders may not always agree on every aspect of what it takes to keep each country secure.
“There are times where I as president of the United States am going to have different tactical perspectives than the prime minister of Israel and that is understandable, because Israel cannot contract out its security. In light of the history that the people of Israel understand all too well, they have to make sure they’re making their own assessments about what they need to do to protect themselves and we respect that and I have said that consistently to the prime minister.”
The president went on to say that it is his view “from a tactical perspective” that the U.S. must pursue the recent deal with Iran. “It will make us stronger internationally, and it may possibly lead to a deal that we’ll have to show to the world,” he said.
more:
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/obama-understandable-for-u-s-and-israel-to-have-different-perspectives-on-iran/
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