Time's Joe Klein: Netanyahu's Behavior Is 'Absolutely Outrageous and Disgusting'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came down strong on the Obama adminstration Tuesday for its failure to implement a foreign policy that would prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

On MSNBC's Morning Joe Wednesday, Time magazine's Joe Klein called Netanyahu's actions "absolutely outrageous and disgusting" (video follows with transcript and commentary):

WILLIE GEIST: It’s a terrible morning. Four Americans are dead in Benghazi, and also we have an escalation, frankly, we have Bibi Netanyahu chiding the White House for not being strong enough on Iran. And this morning we had the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset here on this set effectively in no uncertain times saying it's time for military action.

JOE KLEIN, TIME MAGAZINE: First of all, let me just say I'm the father of an American diplomat who has served in difficult places and embassies that were under attack. And, you know, we should always be mindful. We talk a lot about our troops, but our diplomats are under attack as well. And they serve courageously and well unarmed.

GEIST: Amen.

KLEIN: So this, you know, this hits really close to home for me. As for Israel and the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset and the Prime Minister, I don't think I've ever in the 40 years I've been doing this, and I'm trying to search my mind through history, have heard of another example of an American ally trying to push us into war as blatantly, and trying to influence an American election as blatantly as Bibi Netanyahu and the Likud Party in Israel is doing right now. I think it's absolutely outrageous and disgusting. It's not a way, it’s not a way that friends treat each other. And it is cynical and it is brazen.

Does anyone think Klein would be making these comments if Obama were a Republican up for reelection in less than two months?

Yes, that's a rhetorical question.

(HT NB reader David Holtz)