Ahmadinejad Congratulate, Livni Sends Out Warning

Today Iranian President Ahmadinejad congratulated Obama on his election win, (the first time Iran has congratulated a US President since the 1979 Revolution) and went on to say that "nations of the world" expect changes from Obama -- mostly that he will change current U.S. foreign policy.

Ahmadinejad is clearly banking on Obama's willingness to hold direct diplomacy with Iranian leaders as a way to break the impasse between the two countries. How successful this approach will be remains to be seen.

In response to Ahmadinejad's message, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, a contender for prime minister in her country's elections, warned against any dialogue with Iran, the first sign of Israeli disagreement with the incoming U.S. administration.

"Dialogue at this time is liable to broadcast weakness," cautioned Livni. "I think early dialogue at a time when it appears to Iran that the world has given up on sanctions could be problematic."

Israeli officials describe Iran as the biggest threat to the Jewish state's existence, citing Ahmadinejad's frequent calls for Israel's destruction and its development of long-range missiles capable of striking the Jewish state.

While diplomacy is desired it is not absolute in Israeli eyes. Livni doesn't rule out force if U.N. sanctions don't pressure Iran to scale back its nuclear aims. Livni has said Iran "needs to understand the military threat exists and is not being taken off the table."

THERE IS NO DOUBT THE INCOMING U.S. ADMINISTRATION HAS THEIR PLATE FULL.