Will Israel Strike First?

02-12.-2005, 04:22 AM	#1
Carrera Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Staffordshire Posts: 4,816	Will Israel Strike First? Quote: "Israel will not, I repeat, will not, allow Iran to go nuclear," said a top IDF official who talked on condition his name be withheld. 'Right now, we are giving diplomacy a try, but if it becomes clear that Iran is going nuclear and will not be deterred, even by sanctions, we will not sit by and do nothing. The question though is whether we act, or America acts.'" The big issue is this: Will Israel decide to take its own action against Iran in view of the fact the Iranians are determined to acquire nuclear weapons? Iranian officials have repeatedly warned they would use nuclear missiles and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has even stated he would "vaporize the Zionist entity" if Iran obtained a nuclear bomb. In response to the growing Iranian threat, a panel of foreign policy and military experts delivered to Sharon last year a series of recommendations entitled "Project Daniel: Israel's Strategic Future," regarding Israeli pre-emptive action. The group suggests strongly and unequivocally that conventional Israeli pre-emption against selected enemy nuclear infrastructures now in development be executed as early as possible and – wherever possible – in collaboration with the United States. Where America may be unable or unwilling to act proactively against these infrastructures, it is essential that Israel be able and willing to act alone," says the report. Project Daniel urges Israel to strike Iran's nuclear facilities using covert operations, conventional weaponry and, if it can be reasonably assured of success, by targeting Iran's regime leadership. "Pre-emption may be overt or covert, and range from 'decapitation' to full-scale military operations," says the report. Comments: "I think Israel may have a right to prepare to defend itself. Iran has threatened them. And they are a serious threat to America. Their government preaches "Death to America" to its people virtually every day." "That's code for 'if you even think they're gonna move, hit 'em first,' isn't it?" "Well, why not?/ They are one of our strongest allies. As long as they are defending themselves."

02-12.-2005, 04:35 AM	#2
Carrera Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Staffordshire Posts: 4,816	Re: Will Israel Strike First? "The Israeli Air Force has completed military preparations for a pre-emptive strike at Iran's Bushehr nuclear facility and will attack if Russia supplies Iran with rods for enriching uranium, Israeli officials said, according to a report in the London Sunday Times. Military sources said the raid would be carried out by long-range F-15I jets, overflying Turkey, with simultaneous operations by commandos on the ground. Israel may also choose to launch submarine-based cruise missiles from the Persian Gulf at key Iranian targets, NewsMax.com reported. The rods, currently stored at a Russian port, are expected to be delivered late next year after a dispute over financial terms is resolved, the paper reported. An Israeli defense source in Tel Aviv, who confirmed that the military rehearsals had taken place, told the paper: "Israel will on no account permit Iranian reactors - especially the one being built in Bushehr with Russian help -to go critical." "If the worst comes to the worst and international efforts fail," the source was quoted as saying, "we are very confident we'll be able to demolish the ayatollahs' nuclear aspirations in one go." An attack on Iran's nuclear facilities would be much more complicated, Israeli media sources reported, because the country's nuclear program is dispersed at several sites and the distance from Israel is much greater. Iran also has the possibility to retaliate with its Shihab ballistic missiles, the reports said. Military sources believe the IDF has the capabilities to defend Israel against a possible Iranian missile attack. Officially, due to Israel's reliance on the newly developed Arrow anti-missile defense system, the country is giving priority to diplomatic pressure to combat the Iranian nuclear threat."

02-12.-2005, 10:54 AM

FredC

Registered User