Earlier today, I was in on a teleconference with former Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu. Here my notes (not quotes) from the teleconference.

Opening Statement

It's 1938, Iran is Germany, and it's racing to get nuclear weapons. Iran could be the first non-deterrable nuclear power. They are an apocalyptic cult that may be willing to sacrifice millions of their own people to kill with nukes. They are gaining control of Hamas, trying to takeover Lebanon and Iraq, and if they get nukes, they may be able to gain control of oil in the region. They also want to destroy Israel -- and they won't stop there.

How do you stop Iran? The UN has tried some mild sanctions, but they're not effective. Some say we shouldn't go to a military option right away. Well, OK, then what else can be done. Go ahead. They're vulnerable. They have high unemployment and they're corrupt and they could be pressured that way to stop their program. The best way to do it would be to get large financial institutions in the West to divest from Iran. People need to divest from genocide. Hopefully conservatives and liberals can support this.

Q&A Session

Q: Tell us about the dig that Hamas is complaining about?

A: It's over work done at the Temple Mount and Iran is behind the complaints. Iran is moving missiles to the Palestinian territories for the next fight.

Q: To what extent do you think Ahmadinejad's apocolypic vision is shared by the mullahs and if a military response is required, what do you think Iran would do in retaliation to an attack?

A: Ahmadinejad represents a cult within a cult. So, he's a little nuttier than the mullahs. But, neither side should be trusted with nuclear weapons.

What would they do? It depends on the action that is taken but nothing they can do measures up to the certain horror that will follow if Iran gets nuclear weapons.

Q: Do you support the Iranian opposition to overturn its government and what more can bloggers do?

A: Any sane person would like to see more responsible government in Iran. What can be done? Talk to the people. Tell them the truth about what their government is doing. The government is killing the opposition as well. Just as Germany was at terrible risk when Hitler took over, the Iranians will be at terrible risk if they acquire nukes.

Q: Ideologically, you were great, but you didn't stick to your principles when you became PM. The Palestinians are our enemy and how do we know you will stick it to them?

A: Well, I was saddled with Oslo, which was a bad agreement and under severe international pressure, and I made the Palestinians give things up to get things. We only gave up 2% of our territory to the Palestinians. If we wouldn't have, the other party would have got in and given away even more.

Q: What do you think about the upcoming talks between Olmert and Abbas?

A: As long as Hamas runs the show, there's not much we can do with them. When we fled from Lebanon, we allowed it to become an Iranian enclave and it allows the missiles to move closer to us. We shouldn't give any more territory away for that same reason.

Q: How do you form a wedge between Iran and the rest of the Muslim world?

A: There's a huge wedge between Iran and the rest of the Iranian world. Other than Syria, they're all begging Washington behind the scenes to do something about Iran's nuclear program.

About a quarter of the Iranian people are behind the Mullahs, about a quarter are pro-Western, and half are in the middle and getting increasingly impatient with the regime. There could be a wedge driven between the Iranian people and the regime. If that happens, everything else will fall into place.

Solving the Palestinians' problem isn't going to solve the Iranian problem, it's the other way around. You get Iran out of there and Hamas would collapse. If the extremists are not gotten rid of, there is no possibility of moderates coming into power.