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Was Gaza conflict a test for confrontation with Iran?

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    Reaction from former Assistant Secretary of Defense Bing West

  • Duration 6:43
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Yeah.

Yeah.

Israeli troops shoot dead a Palestinian man they wounded nineteen other -- people.

And crowds surged towards Gaza's border fence with Israel.

It's the first significant violence since a truce between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers to cool.

Meanwhile Israel's brinkmanship with Hamas fueling speculation is.

Using the conflict as a test run.

For an attack on Iran and as a way to gauge the location.

And reach of Hamas battery of rockets those rockets supplied by Iran.

Bing west former assistant secretary of defense he's the co author of into the fire a firsthand accounts.

Of the most extraordinary battle in the Afghan war get to see you.

So is it fair to say -- and that if this is not at all about Gaza but indeed about Iran and that this is a test to see.

What sort of nuclear and arms that Iran has and if it is a test what have we learned.

-- to the extent that it's a test of missiles and what you can shoot them down.

The advantage goes to Israel -- shown they have an anti missile system.

On the political grounds clearly prime minister Morrissey of Egypt has come out.

As being the most powerful local figure in the Arab Middle East.

-- and the third thing that's really puzzling.

About three weeks ago the United States held an exercise with the Israel.

Where we had American troops on the ground at our anti missile batteries inside Israel.

So that leaves open the question whether president all bombers thinking.

That we'd have Americans.

In Israel involved.

If there were war between Israel and Iran.

OK let's break this down because you said a lot of key things there of course let's go back to Morsi.

And the fact that you're saying that did because he brokered this cease fire.

Deal here.

However tenuous it might be but if he brokered this we're we're talking about that he is -- powerful you see his own people now.

A small group at the moment they're protesting at this grand sweeping power that he is anointed himself with.

So.

We we I wanna go to in terms of testing political testing which I think is the key word there.

What do you think is the test on the part of President Obama as well as prime minister that Netanyahu.

In terms of testing -- and Muslim Brotherhood in terms -- hobby proceed from here.

There's not much Netanyahu can do President Obama -- Israeli stock now.

That is he wants to court.

Morrissey.

But now the -- he's acting extra illegally.

He's almost forcing.

President Obama to have to rebuke them publicly.

And the question is whether present or Obama will do so why wouldn't -- president do that.

-- call because if he says you're to do something different and Morrissey says there then the president looks weak.

OK so then of course the President Obama has to end in so far is working in lockstep with prime minister Netanyahu.

So what can they do together as -- combined force because I think also this last.

This this incursion here ways a way to sort of show the power.

-- the -- Middle East that in fact America is still lock -- with Israel and that there is power in the two of them working in concert.

More -- I don't know about the word lock step when you talk about President Obama and Netanyahu.

I think the first thing that -- during lock -- to stop yelling at each other.

Afraid that they have to -- that they have put forth a united front at the very least we understand what got through fully and where Powell tenuous that relationship bits.

But they -- were able to come together on some sort of agreement however layered it is we're not sure at this point what that remains to be seen.

But in terms of posing a force.

It in front of more season they've got to be in concert together do you agree.

Well like I.

I thought it was interesting that Morrissey had actually.

Manufactured.

The cease fire before secretaries state Clinton arrived.

But out of just deference to the United States -- Morrissey and Netanyahu -- Until secretary of state Clinton was there before they announce that right which really in balance Matt.

We didn't have as much power -- we've had in the past.

We as Americans.

Yes yeah.

-- well why do you think with so much gonna talk about -- short time let me get this -- here why do you think they waited until secretary of state Clinton arrived and not.

-- to have the president President Obama be the one to sort of forged that cease fire.

With -- alone.

Awhile because -- first both both.

Countries take money from us that the show it the golden rule -- we we have a little bit of power aware that each of them.

And so they don't want to be rude to us.

On the other hand they don't want to be saying we can dictate to them right so only the most interesting thing -- are out of this entire little brouhaha was number one.

The anti missiles work.

And number true.

It seemed like we're getting the signal that if it gets really serious our our American soldiers would be on the ground with the anti missile systems.

In Israel and that would really be something dramatically new.

-- and that's something dramatically new and as we know that you can't really trust the players involved here so I ask you final question.

-- mr.

west wind it could we expect that other shoe to drop.

While only -- it seems to me.

Well that's an interesting question -- let's look at it this way Netanyahu is going to run for reelection in January.

If he receives a solid majority then he's going to be in a position to say there -- ran.

If you continue I'm going to strike you sometime say in March.

Just before he does that.

He's -- to cost can we have American ships.

And may -- even American.

Batteries assure.

That can shoot down missiles.

This is so we're talking about something about.

Next march.

And that's what I'm understanding that that spring of 2013 will be an interesting time we'll keep our eyes on.

That time -- period as well as every step along the way mr.

bing west thank you very much for your analysis.

Thank you.

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