Bibi Brings Down The House. (And Obama Too?)................by Dan Friedman

Last night at AIPAC Netanyahu gave a great performance. Even a Netanyahu skeptic like me can now envision him unloading on Iran. The crowd gave him a number of standing ovations and was clearly more enthusiastic and connected than they were when Obama spoke to them the day before. In his calculations going forward, the Israeli PM has to assume Obama will win a second term. Therefore, from now until November 6, 2012, Netanyahu has Obama stymied. From a political standpoint, the president simply won’t be able to overtly turn on Israel or stand in its way without risking it all. But on that date Bibi’s window of opportunity slams shut and, win or lose, Obama gains the upper hand – for about two months if he loses and four years if he wins. Of course, we’re going to witness a lot of history in the next eight months or so, making prognostication a perilous undertaking. But my bones say that one morning this year we’re going to wake up in a new world without an atomic Iran. At least that’s what I’m praying for.



Dan Friedman
NYC