Would it help Obama? Help Romney? Or would the effect be determined by Obama’s reaction to it (sit on the sidelines or criticize Israel vs ask American air power to pile on and finish the job)? What do you all think?
I’d say it matters greatly whether you (meaning the public) think an attack is a good idea in the first place, and/or if you believe that a simple air strike would “finish the job” (which some would vehemently disagree with).
Might as well bump this thread, considering that Netanyahu is (some say) trying to leverage the election to get the U.S. to support an attack on Iran. Will he succeed? How could this impact the election either way? Could Romney leverage this? Or is the voting populace too wary/weary of war in the Middle East? (I’m discounting for the moment the possibility that said voting populace - at least the ones who could vote for Obama - does not have a “support Israel at all costs” mentality.)
Of course, a lot depends on how the attack itself goes. If it’s repelled by Iranian AAA with massive loss of Israeli aircraft, and if Iran then goes on to play the diplomacy card wisely, Israel comes off with great shame and embarrassment, and Romney is hurt, a little, but Obama is hurt worse, for not having prevented it.
If the raid is a stunning strategic success, and Iran’s response is frothing and petulant, then both Obama and Romney will try to capitalize on it. I’d see Romney as gaining more than Obama, but, again, only a little.
Reported.
An ABC News / Washington Post poll released yesterday found that Obama has an 11 point lead over Romney in handling terrorism and a 13 point lead in handling foreign affairs. A CNN poll the day before gave him a 12 point lead on foreign affairs.
And with good reason too. Romney has ignored the issue as much as possible because he feared it would distract from what he he hoped would be his signature issue of the campaign, the economy. When he did venture outside the country or address foreign affairs he blundered through it appearing weak, ineffectual and uninformed.
So politically speaking it would drive people to Obama in droves.
Yeah… you think Mitt and Sheldon Adelson haven’t seen this huh? So… a movie that no one has ever seen gets uploaded in arabic onto youtube. So its sent out the muslim world to provoke the lunatic fringe. Our embassies are attacked and Chris Stevens is killed…
What is Sam Bacile (israel national… “filmmaker”) response? The embassies should have better security… How about this Sam… we ship you out of the country and let you defend yourself…Send you back to Tel Aviv since B Netanyahu clearly wants a conflict… let them fight it… And what’s ironic is… if you mention any sort of a Jewish conspiracy you’re a nut job…
Palin (R Facebook) has jumped in to support Romney’s attacks over the embassy and has topped her creepy scale once more (she’s clearly dumped all editorial assistance).
“Apparently President Obama can’t see Egypt and Libya from his house.”
And this gem from the depths of her grudge-atude.
“If he doesn’t have a “big stick” to carry, maybe it’s time for him to grow one.”
(She really needs to stop lusting after Obama’s big stick.)
Read more: Sarah Palin: Obama 'Can't See Libya, Egypt From His House'
I chuckled at “R-Facebook”.
He’s right, the embassies really should have had better security. Isn’t that crystal clear at this point?
The attack involved at least a dozen men armed with automatic weapons and RPGs. I’m not sure what the State Department could have done about it short of stationing a hundred Marines inside.
Maybe stationing a couple dozen well-armed Marines, and giving them RoE that allow them to defend themselves and the embassy?
The majority of Americans don’t want any attack on Iran. So it won’t hurt Obama if he doesn’t do that.
What’s that old saying about closing the barn door?
Problematic. Remember, you need the receiving country’s permission to station armed military personnel there.
There’s a separate thread about the Egypt and Libya issue, and if you want to discuss that, please post in that thread. This one is about a hypothetical attack by Israel on Iran.
So then, to be clear you think this was a result of a Jewish conspiracy and that Mitt Romney is a pawn of this conspiracy?
If not, would you mind clarifying your position?
Thanks.
I guess I just assumed we got that permission in countries where we set up an embassy. Isn’t that what these guys are for? What good are they if they’re never armed?
Sorry Marley,
I was posting my response when you issued your note.