Biden: Bomb Iran, see if we care

When a politician speaks, is everything single word important? Well, when the message is intricately crafted and calibrated by teams of PR handlers, probably.

Thus, the New York Times today takes a sentence from Vice President Joe Biden's Sunday talk show appearance and turns it into a potentially momentous proclamation: The U.S. won't stand between Israel and Iran if Israel wants to attack their nuclear facilities.

"Look, we cannot dictate to another sovereign nation what they can and cannot do when they make a determination -- if they make a determination -- that they're existentially threatened and their survival is threatened by another country."

The Times notes Biden's proclivity for frank speech, but also says that Biden didn't take host George Stephanopolous' opportunity to step back from his remark. I would also point out that Biden might be throwing Israel a bone - without OKing attacks - because the Obama administration has been so tough on settlements.