metro The Jewish Community Relations Counci is pleased to invite you to jo as we present the Putting The Pinch On Iran's Plans e Sen. Carl Levin discusses the U.S. battle against the nuclearization of Israel's sworn enemy. Harry Kirsbaum Contributing Writer T he issue of a nuclear-armed Iran was front and center earlier this month as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington, D.C., where he met with President Barack Obama and addressed the AIPAC policy confer- ence. As the fear of a warlike nuclear power in the Middle East grows, the Jewish News posed questions to Michigan's longtime senior states- man, Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Tuesday, May 29, 2012 • 7:00 p.m. Adat Shalom Synagogu Farmington Hi I H on. Debb Wasserman Schu U.S. Representative, Flor Congressional District Chair, Democratic Nationa Committee Retep ton following meetin Kosher dietary laws observed To learn more about opportunitie§ o pay ibute to Michelle Passon, please contact the Jewish Community Relations Council, 248) 642-5393, ext. 5, or visit detroificrc.org Aims Honorary Co-Chairs Patillffron, Doreen Hermelin & Jewish vakv Community AIWA Relations Council rr 1'1 J ewish Federation to,I0I701' , OLiTAI•1 DglikOet Media Relations Israel Advocacy • Community Activism 1738500 18 March 29 - 2012 tightening international economic, political and diplomatic pressure. That, backed by the military options that President Obama and the Israelis have said are on the table, is the best bet to get Iran to see that abandoning the goal of having nuclear weapons is its only viable option. IN: Do you think the economic sanctions that will be imposed in the sununer will work before Iran has the capability to enrich the ura- nium in the Fordow underground facility? CL: Our intelligence community is watching that Iranian facility very closely, and I and the rest of the Senate will pay careful attention to their find- ings and analysis. IN: The president and the prime minister have different views on the situation in Iran. Obama said earlier that diplomacy should con- tinue and sanctions should be given time to work — but Netanyahu told AIPAC that time is running out. The president also said that Israel has the right to defend itself. How wor- ried should we be? CL: We should be very concerned about Iran's nuclear program and its refusal to abide by the will of the international community. But the United States and Israel are united in confronting this threat. President Obama has said as clearly as possible that he has Israel's back and that all options are on the table. I believe him, and if the Iranians doubt him, they do so at their peril. IN: If Iran is attacked, will we face terrorist attacks? CL: Many analysts believe that ter- rorist attacks are one possible Iranian response. The Iranians would have to very carefully consider the conse- quences of launching such attacks because militarily tangling with the United States would be a high-risk course of action for Iran. IN: What do you think Iran has to do to satisfy the United States and the U.N.? What do they have to do to satisfy Israel? CL: The U.N. has passed six resolutions requiring Iran to end its enrichment of uranium. It should do so immediately and demonstrate to the satisfaction of the International Atomic Energy Agency that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes. IN: Do you agree with Sen. Mitch McConnell's proposal for a U.S attack on Iran if intelligence shows that Iran has enriched uranium to weapons-grade level, or has started a weapons program? CL: Congress will act at an appro- priate time and in an appropriate manner, and in the meantime should show firm resolve with the president to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. IN: What is the next step to solve the problem and get Iran to back down? CL: We need to apply continuously 1N: How do you answer the critics who say that the Obama administration isn't supporting Israel enough in this matter? IN: How long do you think it will take for sanctions to start working? CL: They are already having signifi- cant impact on the Iranian economy, and the impact is only going to grow as the bank sanctions we just passed in my defense authorization bill kick in.