nor is Iran the "hostile" nation -- we're the overtly hostile nation here ... but this "show" is just for the American sheeple .. the rest of the world isn't buying it.

Iran has many friends ... like Russia, France and China .. they also have lots of oil ... oh, and lots of money ... they have been a MAJOR player in the middle east, literally, FOREVER ... like the Saudis, they are part of the power bedrock of the region.

Most likely "it's about the oil" -- though as with Iraq, it's not necessarily about "real oil" in barrels and tankers -- more likely it's about future oil and other futures ... and international currency exchanges and favored nation status ... and future "joint ventures" (which is an area we seem to have destroyed our potential).

IOW, it's not because of anything having to do with the Iranian people, Islam or the government -- given the effect of BushWorld on nuclear proliferation, it's even doubtful it's about that nuclear reactor -- ULTIMATELY, IT'S PROLLY ABOUT MONEY AND POWER -- the American sheeple like to believe it's because they hate our freedom, our wealth and our freedom and ....

which was, of course, what led to our supporting the military coup that destroyed Iran's democratically elected government and installed the shah (hated despot), whose subsequent ouster led to the crisis that led to the hostages and the Ayatollah Komeni (and others) declaring DEATH TO AMERICA (as the shaw spent his remaining years under our protection in the United States)... gosh, the more things change ...

or there abouts ... being allies does not mean that one country always acts in accordance to the other's wishes ... but more with "consideration" of the other's policies, wishes, interests.

I am unaware of vast Israeli calls for an attack on Iran -- though I gather the usual extreme hawk right-wingers want to decimate while the decimating is good....

Israel does not control our mideast policy ... but as our ally their concerns and interests do matter, but not nearly as much as it has become popular to suggest.

We also act in concert "usually" with the interests of the Saudis. In my opinion, their influence is much greater. Iran is the Saudi's major rival.

Personally, I think the "blame Israel" crowd is naive and simplistic and rather insulting to "my" intelligence -- but god knows, ymmv.

Israel probably would like it very much if Iran's nuclear ambitions were thwarted as long as possible.

Saudi Arabia would definitely like Iran's sphere of influence in Iraq curtailed as much as possible (Iraqis probably would not accept annexation by Iran (and I've seen no evidence that is their goal, intent, wish). However, Iran, in turn, also would prefer to keep Sunni/Saudi influence and power in check...

Both Iran and the Saudis have vested interests in Iraq's future and both countries have reasons to have some genuine concern about alqaeda/wahabbi/salfi types and EACH OTHER. They are the "old guard" wanting to control the low-class ruffian upstarts who will exploit any and all conflicts at this point.

Cheney is the wild card.

something of a rebuttal to "The Israel Lobby" by a man named Ron Rosenbaum, titled, "The Israel Lobby and the Second Holocaust Debate."

To me, the real problem is not whether The Israel Lobby pleases this Grand Kleagle or that, or the one-sidedness of its depiction of Israel and its supporters, so much as the profound failure of the moral imagination that the book reflects. A failure to connect with the historical experience of Jews that motivates their support of Israel. A failure to empathize with the real danger the 6 million Jews of Israel face: the threat of a second Holocaust.

Now, I had never considered a "second holocaust" ... mostly because I had trouble imagining the "who" and the "why" ... I have no idea how prevalent this concern is among American Jews, but it was "news to me" and I wondered if I was hearing it's echo in David's posts.

http://www.slate.com/id/2173908/

Israel has stolen an entire country. I often wonder how the British would have reacted if the founders of Israel had turned up in Surrey and said 'We're taking Surrey because we need a Jewish state and by the way we might need to take other places as well. It depends how things go. Oh and also by the way, if you try to stop us, we'll kill you.'

Gee, if that bore any relationship to how Israel came into being in 1948, the 1948-1967 period, the 1967 war, and all that has come after, it might be relevant ... but, gee, it doesn't and isn't ...

it's an absurdly simplistic fairy tale ... too bad too many americans, having no interest in history or tolerance for complexities, seem to have bought it hook, line and sinker ...