The former US defense secretary has strong words for the Obama administration and its treatment of Israel in relation to the nuclear Iran issue.

Former US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld criticized the Obama administration’s negative focus on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to the US, saying it was an “unfortunate distraction” from the important issue – the Iranian nuclear threat.

“I find it stunning to see the comments out of the White House on this issue,” he said in an interview with the Israel Hayom. “It is more than a distraction, it is unfortunate. It plays into the hands of those people who are not in favor of the relationship [between Israel and the US], who are not in favor of Israel or who are in favor of Iran, and the idea that people are saying what they are saying I find most unfortunate.”

Critical of the Obama administration’s recent treatment of Israel concerning the Iranian nuclear issue, Rumsfeld told the Israeli daily: “If the White House or the administration has a problem on an issue with a friend, normally they would work it out privately. They would sit down and say, ‘gee, what about this, what about that, let’s work this out.’ In this case it’s all public diplomacy.”

Rice’s ‘Imperfect Understanding’ of Government

Remarking on National Security Adviser Susan Rice’s comments Tuesday that Netanyahu’s acceptance of House Speaker John Boehner’s invitation to address Congress “injected a degree of partisanship” that is “destructive to the fabric of the relationship” between the US and Israel, Rumsfeld noted that “the comments by Susan Rice reflect an imperfect understanding of our system of government and our constitution.”

Runsfeld defended Boehner’s invitation to Netanyahu to address a special session of Congress on the Iranian nuclear threat next week. “Certainly there’s a role for the Congress in foreign policy and national security affairs,” he told Israel Hayom. “Iran is a critical issue and Israel is an important ally, and there is nothing inappropriate at all for the speaker to invite the prime minister or for the prime minister to come over. Historically he is a good friend of the US, he is a supporter of the relationship between our two countries, and I find it stunning to see the comments out of the White House on this issue.”

The former defense secretary does not share the State Department’s opinion that Netanyahu is mistaken regarding the potential deal between the P5+1 and Iran, nor does he find Netanyahu’s upcoming address damaging to the Israel-US relationship. “I think the administration is making a statement that they don’t want anything to intervene in their negotiations with Iran, and they are probably understandably apprehensive that Prime Minister Netanyahu will come and talk about this subject in a way that is not consistent with what their aspirations are for a deal with Iran. Therefore, they have said things that are undiplomatic and inconsistent with the relationship between our two countries and its importance, and I can’t imagine that, among the American people, it will affect our relationship adversely in any way. I’m really amazed at the rudeness, at the undiplomatic way this administration is handling this issue.”

White House’s Conduct ‘Unfortunate’

Decrying the White House’s conduct, Rumsfeld told Israel Hayom: “It is unfortunate because it damages, or appears to damage, the relationship with an important ally for the United States. I think it is exactly what the Iranians are happy to hear – it has to be encouraging for them. But it is also unprofessional. I think the rest of the nations of the world look at the administration’s behavior in this matter and see the damage that has been done to one of our important relationships. It is not in any sense permanent damage because this administration is in its waning years, but I think that other countries will inevitably wonder how reliable an ally this administration is.”

In an interview earlier this week with Newsmax, Rumsfeld said that the administration was making a “big mistake” in treating Netanyahu so poorly. “It is not in our interest and it’s not in Israel’s interest and I would add it’s not in the region’s interest.”

“The relationship between the United States and Israel today is probably as bad as ever in my adult lifetime,” Rumsfeld underscored. “It is a shame because it is a country that is small, it’s embattled, it’s got neighbors that wish it weren’t there and it faces a growing threat from Iran, a nuclear Iran.”

By: United with Israel Staff
(With files from Israel Hayom)

Sign the Petition to Stop a Nuclear Iran

The US Congress must ensure that sanctions against Iran remain in force until the nuclear threat is completely eliminated.

I strongly oppose easing sanctions before the nuclear threat from Iran has been eliminated. Allowing Iran to enrich uranium without being subject to 'anytime, anywhere' inspections is extremely dangerous and unacceptable. Iran's nuclear program must be stopped.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION TO STOP IRAN