Brzezinski: We are not impotent
Carter advisor: Prevent Israeli strike on Iran
Advisor to former president says US should confront IAF planes if they fly over Iraq to strike in Iran
WASHINGTON – Zbigniew Brzezinski, who served as former US President Jimmy Carter's national security advisor, said in an interview that the US should deny Israeli jets the right to fly over US airspace in Iraq if Israel decided to attack Iran.
"We are not exactly impotent little babies. They have to fly over our airspace in Iraq. Are we just going to sit there and watch?" he told the news site 'The Beast'.
Brzezinski said the US should prevent any Israeli attempt to attack Iran. "We have to be serious about denying them that right. That means a denial where you aren’t just saying it. If they fly over, you go up and confront them. They have the choice of turning back or not. No one wishes for this but it could be a Liberty in reverse."
The former official was referring to an incident during the 1967 Six Day War, during which Israeli warplanes attacked the USS Liberty near Sinai. Israel says the attack was an incident of friendly fire.
He warned against a preemptive attack on Iran, as it would not accomplish anything. "The Iranians can’t do much to the Israelis, despite all their bluster. The only thing they can do is unify themselves, especially nationalistically, to rally against us, and the mullahs might even think of it as a blessing," he said.
Brzezinski also criticized US President Barack Obama for his foreign policy, and especially his manner of involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said Obama's actions were uncoordinated with his speeches.
"By now we should have been able to formulate a clearer posture on what we are prepared to do to promote a Palestinian-Israeli peace. Simply giving a frequent-traveler ticket to (US special envoy to the Mideast) George Mitchell is not the same thing as policy," he said.
