Former CIA Director and US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Donald Trump, as president, would give Benjamin Netanyahu a “blank check” in the Middle East, paving the way for an all-out war between Israel and Iran. I expected it to be possible.
“I think he’s basically going to give Prime Minister Netanyahu a blank check when it comes to the Middle East,” Panetta said of President Trump, who won this week’s presidential election and will be re-elected in January.
“‘No matter what you do, no matter what you do, no matter who you run after, you have my blessing.’ So that’s basically what he was saying[before the election].”
The Israeli prime minister has overseen attacks on Iran and its assets as part of a growing firestorm since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 last year. He and the next US president reportedly spoke during the US election period. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on Wednesday after his victory over Kamala Harris was confirmed.
Panetta continued, “So the real question is whether Prime Minister Netanyahu will continue to try to escalate the war, attack Iran, or basically raise even greater concerns about whether the Middle East will be resolved.” ” or there will be constant conflict. ”
Read more of the Guardian’s 2024 US election coverage
On the podcast “One Decision,” which he co-hosts with Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of the British intelligence agency MI6, Panetta said that President Trump will maintain control of areas of Ukraine that Russia has occupied since the second invasion. He also said he would be in favor of allowing it. years ago.
Most observers believe Trump’s election is bad news for Ukraine, which the Biden administration is supporting with military aid. Many analysts suggest that Trump will be less constrained by his advisers during his first four years in office and will be free to do whatever he wants, even as he falls in love with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has long admired. .
But Panetta said he doubted Trump would be given a free hand.
“That’s going to require some negotiation,” Panetta said of Russia and Ukraine. “And I’m not going to hold Mr. Trump responsible for that, because he met with (North Korean dictator) Kim Jong Un three times and was unable to reach an agreement.
“So what I’m trying to do is… pick an experienced secretary of state or defense and have him do the job of actually developing what’s going to be a fair deal for Ukraine and getting Russia to agree to this. “In the same way.”
“I think that’s the way to go. But it’s going to take time. It’s going to take a lot of negotiation. It’s going to take a lot of bargaining. But that’s the only problem. Then we would focus on how to resolve the war in Ukraine.”
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Mr. Panetta, now 85, was a California congressman (1977-1993), White House budget director and Bill Clinton’s chief of staff (1993-1997), CIA director (2009-11) and secretary of defense. (2011-13) Under the Barack Obama administration.
In light of President Trump’s return, Panetta outlined a difficult foreign policy picture.
“As I’ve said many times before, we live in a very dangerous world. There are many flashpoints… Russia and Ukraine, China and Taiwan, the Middle East, Iran, North Korea, terrorism. Please.”
Panetta also took a jab only at Trump.
“During his campaign, Mr. Trump basically said, ‘Don’t worry.’ We can basically get a deal and all these issues will fall into place.”
“Well, he could have simply surrendered to tyrants, adversaries, and dictators and let them do what they wanted. But even his own party, the Republican Party, has made it easy for tyrants to do whatever they want. I’m not sure I’m willing to forgive him for that.”
Read more of the Guardian’s 2024 US election coverage
