Obama Placates Israel

As the threat of an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities looms, the Obama administration is moving forward with a plan it hopes will preclude a nuclear disaster. The strategy, to be rolled out over the next few weeks, consists of naval exercises and new antimissile systems in the Persian Gulf, as well as a tighter grip on Iranian oil revenue. But for many of Obama’s top advisers, the plan isn’t strong enough. In a pivotal election year, none of the moves Obama has made with Israel address the biggest—and most important—concern internationally: slowing Iran’s nuclear progress.