Exclusive: Netanyahu Canceled Intel Briefing for U.S. Senators on Iran Dangers

[deminks]

http://time.com/3744265/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-iran-nuclear-talks-obama/?xid=tcoshare

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to cancel a January briefing for U.S. Senators by his nation’s intelligence service that warned Congress could damage talks aimed at constraining Iran’s nuclear program, according to sources familiar with the events.

Tennessee Republican Bob Corker, the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had requested the Jan. 19 briefing for six of his colleagues traveling to Israel so that the intelligence agency, Mossad, could warn them that a Senate proposal might inadvertently collapse the talks. After Netanyahu’s office stripped the meeting from the trip schedule, Corker threatened to cut his own Israel trip short in protest.

Netanyahu relented after the personal intervention of Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, and allowed the briefing to go forward, sources say. Attending were Corker, Republican Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham and John Barrasso, Democratic Senators Tim Kaine and Joe Donnelly, and Independent Senator Angus King.

(snip)

During the Mossad briefing, the agency’s chief, Tamir Pardo, warned that the Kirk-Menendez bill would be like “throwing a grenade” into the U.S.-Iran diplomatic process. After some of the contents of the briefing were first reported by Bloomberg View, Pardo released a statement saying he had used the phrase not to oppose new sanctions, but “as a metaphor” to describe the effect derailing current talks might have.

(end snip)

[misterhighwasted]

1. Damn they are treading into some dangerous waters.

I don't trust the combined mentality of that bunch to keep from screwing this up

[geek tragedy]

2. Corker is the one Republican who has emerged from this looking semi-respectable.

The others are part of a single transnational party that includes the rightwing parties in Israel as well.

[Scootaloo]

3. What a shame that it's the reactionary hate parties that actually reached international solidarity

[LiberalFighter]

6. He still can't be trusted.

[Fred Sanders]

4. Republicans are apparently still going ahead with the bill, now maybe not even making cloture.

Republicans are apparently willing to believe Bibi firmly held but fact-free beliefs over Mossad facts based on Israeli intelligence services.

Republicans have pledged allegiance to Likud as Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to ISIS.

[ChiciB1]

5. I've NEVER Liked Netanyahu From Way Back... So Want To See

him GONE, but I don't have a good record when it comes to getting my wishes! I honestly think he's a very dangerous, stubborn and hateful man! He really needs to be stopped before he whips up another war!

[Unknown Beatle]

7. A question that I ask myself

over and over again is, why is it that psychopaths are always elected into political office, oftentimes into positions of high power?

My answer is psychopaths lie, cheat, and steal the elections with the help of other psychopaths in power. Example: Bush and Scalia plus a cabal of other psychopaths with money and power, a la Koch brothers.

[They_Live]

8. Not just pychopaths

but narcissistic sociopaths.

[ChiciB1]

9. I Agree With You, But Today I Think You Should Add

the fact that "if you tell a lie over and over enough, it gets believed!" The Koch Brothers have been behind the scenes for a very, very long time, but not until AFTER WWII! Seems to me that the lies started gaining steam faster and faster around the time of Reagan, AND Lee Atwater!

I've read Howard Zinn's 2nd Edition that was updated from the first and politics have always been a dirty business. But today the "snake oil" seems much more powerful! Or only the uber rich can buy it and use it Liberally, excuse the pun!

I can't even get people to listen to or really read about factual information anymore. I'm just put on "ignore" because too many people tell me I'm stressing myself and I need to get away from stuff and enjoy life!

It's just crazy, but sticking your head in the sand is crazy too.

[deminks]

10. kick for the morning light. nt