CNN

Vice Pres. Biden poses for a photo with U.S. soldiers at Camp Victory on the outskirts of Baghdad on the Fourth of July. (PHOTO CREDIT: KHALID MOHAMMED/AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

There is some question whether Vice President Joe Biden did it again. Over the weekend, Biden said that the U.S. would not stand in the way if Israel attacks Iran's nuclear facilities. Some say this signals a change in U.S. policy - drawing a harder line against Iran.

But the White House said the statement simply maintains what they've always said: That Israel has the right to defend itself.

The Vice President also said that the U.S. remains willing to negotiate with Iran, in spite of the recent violence that erupted in the wake of the contested re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

In May, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Obama and said he'd wait it out for the rest of this year to see if Iran is willing to talk. When asked if this was the right approach, Vice President Biden did not say whether or not the U.S. agrees with the position, but did say: "Israel can determine for itself - it's a sovereign nation; what's in their interest and what they decide to do relative to Iran and anyone else."

Here’s my question to you: Vice President Biden said Israel is free to set its own course on Iran. What does this mean?

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Pres. Obama makes his key Middle East speech at Cairo University in Egypt. In his speech, Obama called for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims," declaring that "this cycle of suspicion and discord must end." (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

In reaching out to the world's one and a half billion Muslims with today's historic speech, it's unclear if President Obama is also pushing away America's long-time ally Israel.

Speaking in Cairo - the president recognized the U.S.'s unbreakable bond with the Jewish state and the horror of the Holocaust, but also talked about the suffering of the Palestinian people. He described their situation as intolerable and stressed the need for a two-state solution.

President Obama called on Palestinians to abandon violence - pointing to America's own civil rights history and saying it was a "peaceful and determined insistence" that brought about equal rights.

And, he once again called on Israel to stop building settlements; and to allow Palestinians to live and work and develop their society. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already rejected President Obama's call for a settlement freeze.

But experts suggest that this demand from Mr. Obama will make Arab leaders listen. They say although the U.S. has been opposed to Israeli settlements for decades, past American presidents have allowed Israel to keep building them. And some believe that if "no" really means "no" this time around, it may be easier to form a regional coalition against Iran.

Speaking of Iran - Mr. Obama repeated his belief today that the Islamic Republic has the right to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes - another statement that is probably not sitting too well with the Israelis.

Finally, for the first time in a long time, a visit to the Middle East by a sitting U.S. president did not include a stop in Israel.

Here’s my question to you: Is Pres. Obama reaching out to Muslims at the expense of America's relationship with Israel?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

Iran is warning Israel not to attack its nuclear facilities - with one top official saying if Israel attacks, "Iran will respond in a way that they will not be able to sleep easy anymore." This warning comes a day after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad raised tensions between the two countries, calling Israel the "most cruel and repressive racist regime" at a UN conference in Geneva.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is pictured at the UN review conference on racism in Geneva. EU delegates walked out of the conference after Ahmadinejad launched a verbal onslaught against 'cruel' Israel.

Israel, which is now being led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline government, says Iran is developing nuclear weapons that could threaten its very existence. Last week Israeli President Shimon Peres dismissed the idea that Israel is planning any kind of attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

But The London Times reports the Israeli military is getting ready to do just that. They say Israeli forces have acquired special aircraft that would be required for the strikes, and are practicing missions to simulate an attack. The newspaper also reports there will be two nationwide drills to help the public prepare for any potential retaliation.

One senior defense official tells the Times that Israel wants to know they could strike Iran within a matter of days or "even hours" if given the green light. It's believed Israel would need to hit more than a dozen targets, including moving convoys.

The same official adds that it's unlikely Israel would bomb Iran's facilities without getting at least tacit approval from the U.S. Vice President Joe Biden recently told CNN that Israel would be "ill-advised" to attack Iran.

Here’s my question to you: Israel is reportedly getting ready to attack Iran's nuclear sites. Should they?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

There's a growing sense that Iran is getting closer and closer to making a nuclear weapon - and someone may soon have to stop them.

An Iranian flag flutters next to a ground-to-ground Sajil missile. Iran has boasted in the past of developing new weapons systems only to be met with skepticism from Western defense analysts.

Israel is now saying that Tehran has mastered the nuclear technology to make a nuclear bomb, with Israel's military intelligence chief saying "Iran has crossed the technological threshold," adding that the country continues to amass low enriched uranium. He says the Islamic republic is using expected talks with the U.S. and the West to buy time to get enough uranium to build a bomb.

The spy chief also says that even though Iran has mastered the technology, it still hasn't made a nuclear bomb and is probably still a couple years away from doing so. This would suggest they could be stopped before getting their hands on a nuclear weapon.

And Israel just might be the ones to stop them. A recent report by U.S. experts suggest Israel is seriously considering taking unilateral action to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons. The report says Israel's time frame for action is getting shorter due to Iranian advances and the possibility that they will upgrade their air defenses to give their nuclear program a further reach. The report argues international sanctions as well as financial pressure be increased.

Meanwhile Iran has just announced that it successfully tested a new air-to-surface missile. Nonetheless, they continue to deny they're seeking nuclear weapons.

Here’s my question to you: If Iran is now close to obtaining a nuclear weapon, what should Israel do?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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From CNN's Jack Cafferty:

President Obama proclaimed that the U.S. will actively and aggressively seek lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

An Israeli soldier fires tear gas at Palestinian stone-throwers during a demonstration by Hamas supporters to celebrate what they called the 'Gaza war victory' following the weekly Friday prayers in the West Bank city of Hebron on January 23, 2009.

Last month Israel launched an attack on Gaza that lasted three weeks destroying buildings and claiming lives. A unilateral cease fire was reached last week, and President Obama has urged Israel to open its borders with Gaza.

The new President also announced that George Mitchell will serve as special envoy for Middle East peace under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Mitchell's credentials include negotiating the cease fire in Northern Ireland in 1998.

This is yet another break from the Bush administration that avoided appointing someone to the post.

Now former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice negotiated a deal for open border crossings to Gaza back in 2005 but Israel often shut them down because of security concerns.

Israeli officials say they will not open the border if it, in any way, strengthens or legitimizes Hamas.

Here’s my question to you: How should the Obama administration approach achieving peace in the Middle East?

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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

It's been ten days since Israel launched attacks on Gaza. Since then, President-elect Barack Obama has remained silent on the conflict.

As an excuse, Obama is sticking to what he said right after the election, that there's only one President at a time and therefore it's up to President Bush to comment. He was even asked about it today and continues to say that he won't say anything.

Two of Obama's closest lieutenants, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton have also managed to remain silent. Meanwhile many U.S. politicians have backed Israel.

Obama's critics are saying he isn't doing himself any favors with his silence. The Guardian newspaper says that as each day passes hopes are diminishing that Obama will make a fresh start in U.S. relations with the Muslim world and that he is losing ground with Muslims and Arabs. Al-Jazeera television showed video of the President-elect vacationing in Hawaii juxtaposed with video from Gaza.

Here’s my question to you: Is President-elect Obama making a mistake by remaining largely silent on the situation in Gaza?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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Should Israel attack Iran's nuclear facilities without coordination with the US?

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

Israel is apparently considering a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities without our help.

The Jerusalem Post reports Israel is drawing up options to attack Iran WITHOUT coordination with the U.S.

Coordination would be helpful because the U.S. controls Iraqi airspace and the U.S. Air Force could give the codes to the Israeli Air Force.

A top official with the Israeli Defense Ministry told the newspaper that while it's better to coordinate an attack, they are considering options that do not include our help.

Various news reports have said President Bush has refused to give Israel the green light.

But that won't necessarily stop an attack.

Officials in Teheran are reportedly skeptical that Israel will strike.

There's apparently still some time left to decide on making a move...Israeli officials say while Iran is making progress, they don't expect them to have enough enriched uranium for a nuclear bomb until the end of next year.

Here’s my question to you: Should Israel attack Iran's nuclear facilities without coordination with the United States?

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Balloons in the colors of the Iranian flag read anti-US and anti-Israel slogans as Iranians take part in a rally to mark the 28th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Tehran. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

Time is apparently running out to do something about Iran's nuclear program.

In the latest issue of New Yorker, Sy Hersh reports the U.S. has stepped up covert operations inside that country–everything from spying on Iran's nuclear program to supporting rebel groups opposed to the country's ruling clerics.

Meanwhile, a former head of the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, tells London's Sunday Telegraph that Iran may have a nuclear weapon within a year. And he says there's no doubt Iran intends to use it once it gets it. He says the time is getting shorter for Israel to act.

Unlike the U.S., which has spent more than 5 years looking for Osama bin Laden and invading Iraq and not succeeding at either, the Israelis tend not to mess around.

Ask Syria. Last year an Israeli airstrike reportedly targeted a partially built Syrian nuclear reactor. Ask Iraq. In 1981, Israel bombed a nuclear reactor in Baghdad, saying they thought it was making nuclear weapons to destroy Israel.

While the international community, led by President Bush, continues to bluster and sanction and threaten, Iran continues its relentless march toward nuclear weapons.

There's a lot of stuff the civilized world doesn't want to deal with. Iran having nuclear weapons would be somewhere near the very top of the list. Unless they have a change of heart – a la North Korea – it looks more and more like Iran is going all in. And it's going to be up to somebody in the west to decide whether or not to call.

Here’s my question to you: If Iran is attacked, who should do it: the United States or Israel?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

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