"US defense secretaries don’t meet their Israeli counterparts twice in two weeks to discuss sanctions!"

"... This is no ordinary meeting.  As Harel’s story notes, it’s the second meeting between Panetta and Barak in two weeks.  His first was in Washington DC, during which he also met with the new CIA director, David Petraeus.  Tomorrow’s meeting threatens to be a make or break one, during which Israel will argue for an attack and Panetta will (hopefully) attempt to dissuade them:

... Barak and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are believed to favor an Israeli strike on Iran, while the Obama administration has gone out of its way to voice its objection to such a move. Panetta’s predecessor at the Defense Department, Robert Gates, has repeatedly reiterated his objection to an Israeli strike, claiming that such a move would have severe consequences.Admiral Michael Mullen, who last month stepped down from his role as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, has passed numerous messages to Netanyahu, clarifying that Israel does not have a “green light” to attack Iran.Lately the administration has refrained from direct remarks about a possible Israeli strike.

Gee, why do you think that is?  Because Obama, with falling popularity ratings especially within the Jewish community, doesn’t feel strong enough to step in front of this oncoming train (wreck).  And possibly because he doesn’t oppose it nearly as strongly as he should...

 Yaakov Katz, who is a veteran hawkish military correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, also reports today:

... One of the last times Leon Panetta came to Israel was to stop the country from attacking Iran.  It was May 2009 and the then-CIA chief was reportedly sent to Israel to ensure the new government in Jerusalem was not planning unilateral action against the Islamic Republic.

…On Monday, Panetta will again arrive in Israel, although this time as secretary of defense…When he sits down for talks with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Iran will again feature prominently on the agenda.  What he will find, though, might not be to his liking.

According to some estimations, the chances of an Israeli strike against Iran might be growing…Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan’s recent warning that with him, former IDF chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi and former Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Yuval Diskin no longer in office there is no one left capable of standing up to Barak and Netanyahu if they should decide to take action.

…Panetta will likely use this visit to try and [sic] ease Israeli concerns and tensions…He will also look for assurances that Israel will not surprise America.

Katz claims that Israel hasn’t yet given up on the efficacy of sanctions.  But U.S. defense secretaries don’t meet their Israeli counterparts twice in two weeks and fly half way around the world in order to discuss sanctions.  I smell war in the air..."