The same “experts who once sought to sell us a “kind and gentle” Bashar Assad, are now working overtime to lionize and sanitize the new Iranian poster boy, President Hassan Rouhani.

Just like Israel, the Saudis smell that Obama is preparing a seismic shift in US alliances in the region, and cooking-up a “grand bargain” with the Iranians.

Beware Obama’s emerging understandings with Iran. Heed his long-term goals of resetting America’s relations with the Muslim world, and don’t underestimate his willingness to undercut current allies (including Israel and Saudi Arabia) in the process.

It is not “blind mistrust” of Iran or “militarism” or niggardly Israeli nay-saying that leads Israel to insist on complete dismantlement of the nuclear facilities in Iran, but rather hard-nosed realism and years of unfortunate experience with false and failed peace agreements.

The soft signals and acquiescent music coming from prominent US think-tanks are increasingly hard to miss. Washington wags are paving the way for a climb-down from Obama’s declared policy of halting Iran’s nuclear drive.

Thomas R. Pickering and colleagues are paving the way in Washington for a climb-down from Obama’s declared policy of preventing (and not merely containing) Iran’s obtainment of a nuclear weapon.

Obama’s reelection means that Olmert is going to run against Netanyahu with Obama’s backing, that Palestinian statehood is bearing down on us, and that an American “grand bargain” with Iran at Israel’s expense is possible.

The centrifuges continue to spin in Qom and the Obama White House doors continue to revolve – with Islamic radicals and apologists coming and going. It’s no wonder that many Israelis hope for a different president, soon.

Canada’s bold words and actions, such as the decision to cut diplomatic ties with Iran, give Israelis hope that there are indeed many decent people who will stand in defense of Israel.

As the debate intensifies regarding unilateral Israeli action against Iran, everybody seems to be playing kick the can down the road. Blame the other. A very dangerous game.