The inability for them to compete in aircraft and shipbuilding isn't a surprise, given that their entire country is something the size of a decent-sized county in the US.

Under previous Popes, maybe. Under the current one? I'm not so sure. He's pretty brazenly socialist in several aspects...

Yes, the platform started out as that, but the Israelis re-wrote the software and made a few tweaks of their own. The original Patriots were horribly inaccurate - just look at the first Iraq War: Patriot batteries were horrible at shooting down even the fairly pathetic Scuds.

Israel - of necessity it may be argued - is a viable weapons manufacturer in its own right. The UZI submachine gun is of Israeli design, as are several other very reliable firearms. Israel also sports its own tank designs that are every bit as good as the German or American ones. The only area they have to rely on the US for really is in aircraft - it's just too big an industry for Israel to economically support. And the Navy for the same reason.

Radio_Randy: Right you are!

Point taken, but the issue is whether Iran would seriously take a crack at destroying Israel. As hostilities increased, the Pope would be involved (as he always is), and the Iranians would have to make a decision if they really want to pick a fight with a population and superpower vastly superior to anything they can dream of economically and militarily. Couple with that, the fact that the Iranian populace for the most part is very willing to embrace the west, their regime is the problem. Toppling the regime would at best result in something like Cuba is now, at worst, another Iraq, but a disorganized failed state is much less threatening than a bunch of fanatics with governmental support.

70% of the Vaticans budget comes from donations from US parishes, and there isn't a Sunday I'm in church that they are not pushing political agenda. on core issues of faith and holy sites, it would happen. So much so that between the Catholic, Mormon, and Evangelical churches, the Dems would have no choice but to comply with the call to arms. As I said, all politicians check their philosophy at the door when it comes to votes. I even question whether many Dems believe that crap themselves or if they are towing the line to keep the gays / atheists / etc.

If I ask myself, if the Vatican asked me to support a new holy army (basically expanding the Swiss Guard), I and everyone I know would aid the cause. Realize, there is historical precedent for that, be it the Vatican providing intelligence from behind the Iron Curtain after Ronald Reagan requested it from John Paul II, or the armies of the Pope during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, or the fact that the Swiss Guard has a rather substantial armory at the Vatican and its own secret service and intelligence apparatus, its not like the ragtag Lutheran stuff... its a sovereign nation with its own embassies and its own treaties and the financial support of a billion followers and a heck of a lot of industry (ever heard of Mercy Healthcare?). I don't see the Vatican standing by silently after the destruction of Israel. I think religious leaders would interpret it as the beginning of Revelation and would mass armies if the west did not.

Technocracy: well stated. I fully agree. We would be witnessing a full blown disaster from which, in all likely hood, there would be no return.

Herb7734: you got that right... it's the contrast that shows just how deep a hole this administration had dug themselves into. Until you have a side-by-side comparison you forget what the truth looks like.

That's kind of easy to do.

I Don't know which made him more angry:
(1) that he would disapprove of inviting a world leader to speak, and congress went ahead and did it anyway...
(2) that it was the group best known as opposing the socialist designs that were there,
(3) that he was so well received by not only those present, but by the public at large, or
(4) that his alleged reason for not being present not only fell flat, but was pretty much proven to be a piss-poor excuse rather than a legitimate reason for snubbing a world leader.

Susanne: god your good...
Yes, 3 strikes and you're out!!'

And of a certain unleader we all know of...

Ungracious... Strike one.

Lack of humility... Steeeerike two.

Refusal to stand up for what's right, and in fact, promoting what's wrong? Steeeeerike Three, Yeeeeeeere Outtathere.

(If only it were *that* easy...)

Yeah, but I don't think that there are many Torquemadas out there to get a band of fanatical mass murdering psychopaths to replay the inquisition, or instigate such things as witch burnings and confessions/conversions on pain of death. The Catholics have, at least, changed with both the times and with societal norms - I have serious misgivings that certain followers of Islam have, shall we say, not...

I noticed how Obooboo wore the expression of an angry child while issuing a statement after the speech.
I did not hear much of what he said.
Once again, I changed the channel because I saw his lips were moving.
I did laugh at his face, though.

I have to agree with this sentiment...the U.S. assisted, but did not stop, SCUD missile attacks on Israel. We even went out of our way to convince Israel not to counterattack.

Imagine an nuclear warhead in one of these...I'm afraid even our Patriot system would be useless. The ONLY way to stop Iran is to stop their weapons program.

I hope you are correct.

DNC pressure would be after the feces hit the rotary impeller however, which would not do the smoking remains much good.

Obama and his acolytes give the impression that they are living in a fantasy world, where saying so will make it so. Whether they actually believe what they are saying is another issue. If they have any intelligence at all, they cannot believe their own propaganda. Why Netanyahu's statements seem so powerful is that when they are contrasted with the words of the Obama regime, they are clearly pure truth. The contrast between Bibi and Barack illustrates the disdain BHO and his people have for Americans. He is sure that they are too stupid to see the lies, so long as they are put in a storied context. Maybe we are, after all, he's still the president.

Over a billion Catholics. That's all we need to say.

I think you underestimate the stress the DNC would put on the administration- they would lose every election nationally for generations.

Our support of Israel isn't only Jewish support, it's Christian / Catholic as well.

Imagine watching someone like ISIS desecrating the holy lands like they are in ancient Assyria.

Where is Andre the Giant when we need him? RIP.

Yes, I understood your message.

Haha! I have always likened the Democrat vs Republican farce to the WWF. Oooh, he took a body slam there folks, but he is back on his feet and Oh my God, he is really pummeling his opponent now.........

Scojohnson: "..,flattened by the US". Are you sure? I am not. I do not think that the current administration would move to attack Iran on the behalf of Israel.
They would "act out" and show their disbelief but "flatten" Iran.... not do sure.
Maybe this would be an American wake up call!

You are effectively positing a smaller MAD doctrine as being the shield keeping Israel safe. But there are two big problems with that. In order for MAD to work both sides have to believe the other one can or will destroy them. I seriously doubt that Iran seriously believes the US has Israel's back in that manner, especially given the current administration. That is problem one.

Problem two is, that if Iran gets nuclear weapons and strikes first, Israel is a small enough target that a double handful of weapons will effectively destroy them. They might not kill everyone, but will make the place uninhabitable for those remaining. In that circumstance they will have achieved their stated goal of "destroying Israel'.

Yes the fallout would go east from Israel, but I don't see Iran caring about that either. After all they are not adjacent. Before Iran gets any fallout, it hits Syria, Jordan, Iraq, & Saudi Arabia, depending on wind direction.

I don't believe the US would destroy Iran in retaliation after something like that either. Not given current Washington sentiment, especially the White House.

Exactly right. These folks think all political activity as team sport, not as dealing with real lives.

Bob44: you absolutely hit the nail on the head. An impassioned response to an unfortunate and sad situation.

Flootus5: could not have said it better! Bravo!