| Author |
Message |
    
SO Refugee
Citizen
Username: So_refugee
Post Number: 72
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 9:07 pm: | 
|
As if Afghanistan and Iraq aren't enough, here is the latest twist.
Israel has drawn up plans for a combined air and ground attack on Iranian nuclear installations if diplomacy fails to halt Tehran’s atomic program, London’s Sunday Times said.
The newspaper said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his inner cabinet had given “initial authorization” for a unilateral attack on Iran at a private meeting last month.
U.S. officials have indicated they would not stand in Israel’s way if international diplomatic efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear projects fail, the paper said.
“If all efforts to persuade Iran to drop its plans to produce nuclear weapons should fail, the U.S. administration will authorize Israel to attack,” the paper quoted an Israeli security source as saying.
Tehran says its nuclear activities are aimed only at electricity generation but Washington and the European Union suspect Iran could use its program to make atomic bombs.
Iran has frozen nuclear enrichment while it tries to reach a negotiated settlement on its nuclear program with Britain, France and Germany.
The entire story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7174566/
First "US officials" won't stand in the way of the Israelis, then "the U.S. administration will authorize Israel to attack" - not trying to sound naive, but who's running Israel? If they want to attack, by all means, that's their choice; but, don't put us in a spot where we have to deal with the mess in Iraq and defend Israel - because that is what is ultimately going to happen. |
Straw & manure
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 4646
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 9:13 pm: |
|
"not trying to sound naive"
could have fooled us. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7902
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 4:24 am: |
|
I am sure that Israel has some contingency plans. So does the US.
I think the issue for the Israelis is that Iran, learning from Iraq's blunders have made sure that their main nuclear research facilities are outside the range of Istrael's strike aircraft and are hardened, underground sites. To the best of my knowledge Israel doesn't have air to air refueling capability or "bunker buster" bombs.
To be honest, the more Israel and the United States rattles the sabres during negotiations with Iran the better. |
Debby
Citizen
Username: Debby
Post Number: 1725
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 8:43 am: |
|
Iran is oil rich and sits on the Caspian - this isn't about energy production. |
L'Angelo Misterioso
Citizen
Username: Misterioso
Post Number: 39
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 9:03 am: |
|
the more Israel and the United States rattles the sabres during negotiations with Iran the better.
Why is that? We spent decades rattling sabres at North Korea, and all it got us was a North Korea which assiduously, and successfully, worked at developing a nuclear weapon capability to use as a counter to our threats. And it's working for them.
Iran is not Iraq. Iraq was a defeated country of 25 million, with a decimated economy (a paltry GDP $60 Billion) and (post UNSCOM) no military worthy of the name. Iran, on the other hand, is a country of 69 million with a GDP of $460 Billion - an economy that is fully an order of magnitude larger than North Korea's. They have a large military that they have shown themselves willing to use when pressed. And we certainly are pressing them. They are smack-dab in the middle of two large US interventions, as they have long borders with both Iraq and Afghanistan. Conversely, Iran has millions of men at arms, well armed and conveniently placed right in the center of 200,000 US troops, many of whom are minimally trained, poorly equipped, National Guardsmen.
Messing with Iraq, a county with no military capability to speak of even before our assault began, has shown itself to be more than problematic enough already. We mess with Iran at our own peril. They just may rattle some sabres of their own. With nukes in their back pocket, who do YOU think will hold the regional upper hand?
|
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7903
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 9:12 am: |
|
L'Angelo, your points are well taken. Iran as a country and a military is much more of a going concern than Iraq, which was basically a failed state.
However, with the European Union negotiating with Iran, being able to use the US and Israel as the bad cop adds some negotiating muscle to the festivities.
There are limits to this. We are pushing Iran and Syria pretty hard and I think extending the middle east war to include those countries would be very difficult for us.
|
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page