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Daybreak: U.S. Has Drawn Up Iran Plans

Plus Bibi and IAEA remain skeptical of negotiations, and more in the news

by
Marc Tracy
May 18, 2012
Defense Minister Barak and Defense Secretary Panetta yesterday in Virginia.(Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Defense Minister Barak and Defense Secretary Panetta yesterday in Virginia.(Alex Wong/Getty Images)

• U.S. ambassador Dan Shapiro insisted that the United States would attack Iran to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons, and that plans have already been drawn up just in case. [NYT]

• Prime Minister Netanyahu said he had “no reason” to believe Iran would halt its nuclear program diplomatically (which is probably true, but the issue is a weapons program and enrichment levels). [AP/Vos Iz Neias?]

• Iran is nearing a deal that would grant international inspectors greater access to facilities, though some fear it’s just Iranian stalling. [Reuters/Haaretz]

• The Egyptian presidential election is ending up turning on bread-and-butter issues rather than ideological ones (in this case, Islam), just like every other election in history. [LAT]

• Why isn’t Netanyahu on the cover of an Israeli magazine with a six-page profile inside? Because he doesn’t give local media the time of day. [Haaretz]

• David Landau argues that William Kristol revealed in his debate earlier this week that the right—including, likely, Bibi—is far too willing to live with the status quo. [Haaretz]

Marc Tracy is a staff writer at The New Republic, and was previously a staff writer at Tablet. He tweets @marcatracy.