article_snippet: (CNN)As expected, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a rousing speech to Congress, rich in historic imagery and replete with literary references.
article_snippet: At the top of the list of questions the Prime Minister failed to address is how such a scenario in the wake of "no deal" would actually make Israel safer?
article_snippet: It is understandable that a foreign leader speaking in U.S. Congress would shy away from openly asking Washington to attack another country, especially after the experience of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which Netanyahu also lobbied for.
article_snippet: We should recall Netanyahu's September 2002 testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, six months before the U.S. assault on Baghdad began, when Netanyahu said: "It's not a question of whether Iraq's regime should be taken out but when should Iraq's regime be taken out; Iraq's regime's not a question of whether you'd like to see a regime change in Iran but how to achieve a regime change in Iran.
article_snippet: Netanyahu may have learned from that experience.
article_snippet: Netanyahu knows that the U.S. public is weary of war and has no appetite for another military adventure in the Middle East.
article_snippet: This Israeli leader, who faces a tough election back home in two weeks, has mastered the art of policy vagueness.
article_snippet: Netanyahu applied the same strategy to the failed negotiations with the Palestinians last year, declaring Netanyahu was in favor of a two-state solution but never putting forward a detailed proposal for where the border should be drawn -- or on any other substantive issue for that matter.
article_snippet: Netanyahu biggest demand once again was rhetorical -- that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
article_snippet: This is an Israeli leader who believes in the power of words -- especially Netanyahu words.
article_snippet: But words are no substitute for a strategy -- and that's where Netanyahu once again failed Netanyahu, Netanyahu country and Netanyahu audience.
highlights_snippet: Netanyahu also lobbied for Iraq invasion in 2002, Ben-Ami says .