Obama denies that U. S. has given Isreal green light to attack Iran

Just as I surmised, Biden was out of line, again when he was interviewed on Sunday.

The AP reports On ABC's This Week, Vice President Biden signaled that the Obama administration would not stand in the way if Israel chose to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, even as the top U.S. military officer said any attack on Iran would be destabilizing.

Now Obama is doing damage control with reports out today from the AFP:

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday strongly denied that the United States had given Israel a green light to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, in an interview on CNN television.

Asked by the cable television broadcaster whether Washington had given Israel the go-ahead to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, Obama answered: "Absolutely not."

In the interview, which was broadcast from Russia, where he is on an official visit, he added: "We can't dictate to other countries what their security interests are.

"What is also true is, it is the policy of the United States to try to resolve the issue of Iran's nuclear capabilities," Obama said.

This would be achieved "through diplomatic channels," he added.

And from Boston.com:

Obama was asked on CNN this morning, "Are you giving Israel a green light?"

"Absolutely not," the president replied. "And I think it’s very important that I’m as clear as I can be, and our administration is as consistent as we can be on this issue."

"I think Vice President Biden stated a categorical fact which is we can't dictate to other countries what their security interests are," Obama added. "What is also true is that it is the policy of the United States to try to resolve the issue of Iran’s nuclear capabilities in a peaceful way through diplomatic channels. That is our policy, I have been talking about this for the last two years, we are going to continue to pursue this, and you know we have said directly to the Israelis that it is important to try and solve this in an international setting in a way that does not create major conflict in the Middle East.

I don't dislike Biden but he does have a trigger mouth and seems always to say things before he really thinks about what he is saying.

Between Biden and Emanuel, Obama has his hands full. And I think he is regretting his choice for economic advice as well, if not yet, very soon! I am thinking Obama has many regrets on who he chose for many cabinet members and aides. He's learning fast that who stands behind you is very important.

The Economy! What can I say? It stinks!

Biden said yesterday that the Obama Admin misread the economy.

From ABC's George Stephanopoulos: "Biden acknowledged administration officials were too optimistic earlier this year when they predicted the unemployment rate would peak at 8 percent as part of their effort to sell the stimulus package. The national unemployment rate has ballooned to 9.5 percent in June -- the worst in 26 years.

"The truth is, there was a misreading of just how bad an economy we inherited," said Biden, who is leading the administration's effort to implement it's $787 billion economic stimulus plan.

snip

The vice president argued more time is needed for the stimulus to work.

"We misread how bad the economy was, but we are now only about 120 days into the recovery package," he said. "The truth of the matter was, no one anticipated, no one expected that that recovery package would in fact be in a position at this point of having to distribute the bulk of money."

Biden didn't rule out a second government stimulus package, but downplayed calls from Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman this week that a second stimulus will be needed.

There are many economists that agree with Krugman. How about Joseph Stiglitz, Robert Reich, Ravi Bahtra. The stimulus wan't enough and the TARP money went to Banks that didn't need the funds. What we should give the banks is a nice package of rules and regulations that would keep their lawyers and bean counters busy for awhile trying to find loop holes and ways around these rules and regs!

And just to throw another wrench on the pile, the New York Times has an article today about the unstable Oil Prices and how it will hurt our economy. But this article also says:

"The instability of oil and gas prices is puzzling government officials and policy analysts, who fear it could jeopardize a global recovery. It is also hobbling businesses and consumers, who are already facing the effects of a stinging recession, as they try in vain to guess where prices will be a year from now — or even next month."

This article goes on to say:

While the movements in the oil markets have been similar to swings in most asset classes, including stocks and other commodities, the recent rise in oil prices is reprising the debate from last year over the role of investors — or speculators — in the commodity markets.

Government officials around the world have become concerned about a possible replay of last year’s surge. Energy officials from the European Union and OPEC, meeting in Vienna last month, said that “the speculation issue had not been resolved yet and that the 2008 bubble could be repeated” without more oversight.

Many factors that pushed oil prices up last year have returned. Supply fears are creeping back into the market, with a new round of violence in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta crimping production. And there are increasing fears that the political instability in Iran could spill over onto the oil market, potentially hampering the country’s exports.

So in my opinion, the Foxes guarding the economic Hen House from the Obama Admin has to start broadening their outlook and accept the opinions of other economist that our stimulus package wasn't enough. The falling employment shows this with fears of a double digit jobless count on the horizon.

And G W Bush is in Texas, in his recliner, with his feet up, and his wide screen TV watching all the destruction his 8 years in office has created. Doesn't seem right!