Ahmadinejad calls for "annihilation" of Israel; Netanyahu warns U.S. timeis running out to stop IranJoel C. Rosenberg (Washington, D.C., August 2, 2012) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta yesterday that time is running out for the international community to neutralize the Iranian nuclear threat. Yes, economic sanctions are seriously harming Iran's economy, but Netanyahu is making clear that he doesn't see the sanctions actually having any effect on changing Tehran's feverish bid to build nuclear weapons."However forceful our statements, they have not convinced Iran that we are serious about stopping them," Netanyahu told reporters. "Right now the Iranian regime believes that the international community does not have the will to stop its nuclear programme." What's more, Netanyahu said, sanctions have "yet to move its nuclear programme even a millimetre backwards." One sobering scenario to consider: Netanyahu may decide to strike Iran in September and/or October, prior to the national elections here in the U.S. Israel is awash with rumors of this possibility. Indeed, former Mossad chief Ephraim Halevy is telling reporters, "If I were an Iranian, I would be very fearful of the next 12 weeks." Why? Here's the logic of an autumn strike: * If Mr. Netanyahu believes Israel has to hit Iran before Iran hides their nuclear program in impenetrable underground tunnels (possibly by the end of this year) then he may choose to launch the attack at a time when it's most politically difficult for President Obama to oppose or undermine Israeli military action. * Support for Israeli security is becoming a key issue in the 2012 campaign between President Obama and Governor Romney, and Netanyahu may calculate that the President would feel compelled to do everything he could to help Israel this fall in order to win votes for November. * If Netanyahu does not strike this fall, and Mr. Obama wins re-election, Netanyahu has to consider the possibility that the White House would be even less inclined to support an Israeli strike next year. Indeed, Mr. Obama would not be facing another election and thus could, potentially, really turn the screws on Israel and take actions designed to block preemptive action. * If Netanyahu concludes that Governor Romney is going to win in November, and if |