August 22, 2012 | 2:06 am

August 22, 2012

Posted by Shmuel Rosner

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressing the UN, September 2011. (Photo: Reuters)

‎In-depth‎

Time to Authorize Use of Force Against Iran

Obama must make it very clear to Tehran that the US is prepared to use military force to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, writes Elliott Abrams in the Weekly Standard.

At the moment, no one is persuaded that the United States will use force to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. That situation worries Israelis and emboldens Iranians, not the outcome we want. A clear statement now that is backed by the nominees of both parties and elicits widespread support in Congress would demonstrate that, whatever the election results, American policy is set.

Kaboom

Writing in Foreign Policy, Aaron David Miller explains why he believes there will be no Israeli strike on Iran in the immediate future.

If you’re betting on a war with Iran, think year’s end or early next. Netanyahu will probably split the difference: delay his strike until after November to placate Obama and give the Americans one last chance to persuade him they will do it themselves. But the prime minister could be waiting for a long time. Obama’s heart just isn’t in this one.

Wait Out the War in Syria

Western intervention in the violence in Syria will not further its own interests, writes Daniel Pipes in Algemeiner.

[T]he argument that Western intervention would reduce the Islamist thrust of the rebellion by replacing materiel pouring in from Sunni countries is risible. Syria’s rebels do not need Western help to bring down the regime (and wouldn’t be grateful for it if they did receive it, if Iraq is any guide). The Syrian conflict at base pits the country’s disenfranchised Sunni Arab 70-percent majority against Assad’s privileged Alawi 12-percent minority. Add the assistance of foreign Islamist volunteers as well as several Sunni states (Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar) and the Assad regime is doomed.

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