Don't wait to tell truth about Israel

"Mr. President, do you know of any country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons?" "With respect to nuclear weapons, I don't want to speculate." Helen Thomas, the 88-year-old legendary reporter who asked the question, knew full well the answer was "yes" and that the caretaker of those 150 or so WMD is Israel. Barack Obama, the 47 year old charismatic President who responded, also knew full well the answer. What the President did was lie in accordance with U.S. policy with respect to Israel's nuclear arsenal. This governmental policy lie is needed to circumvent the Symington Amendment (1976) to the Arms Export Control Act, which forbids most military and economic assistance to countries trafficking in nuclear enrichment equipment or technology outside of international safeguards. Israel was able to develop nuclear weapons because it has never signed or cooperated with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Israel is the largest recipient of American aid, some of which was used against 1.5 million Palestinians packed into the Gaza Strip, a frightful bombardment that killed and wounded thousands of the folks the world has forgot. While the rest of the world views our self-serving denial of Israel's nuclear weapons with puzzlement, it took another octogenarian, 84-year-old former President Jimmy Carter, to be the highest profile American to openly admit knowledge of Israel's nuclear arsenal at a public policy conference nine months ago. The current Oval Office occupant has also made a pact with the devil when it comes to our needless and self-destructive Middle East wars. He is considering two options to extend the Iraq occupation beyond the 16 months he promised during the campaign. He is nearly ferocious in this desire to funnel tens of thousands more cannon fodder to Afghanistan. Hopefully, Obama won't wait till he's in his 80s to begin telling the truth about what really ails America.

Walt Zlotow

Glen Ellyn