A strike against Iranian nuclear-related targets could be carried out before the next US administration enters office.
Israeli military intelligence (AMAN) may estimate that Barack Obama has more than a fair chance of winning in upcoming elections. However, they may wait for the results before deciding to strike.
Ironically, an Obama victory will probably be the tipping point. Israeli MI is no doubt cognizant of the fact that Obama’s Middle East policy-makers will favor “diplomacy” and try to avert a strike at all costs.
However, the Israeli government may attempt to utilize the frightening specter of a strike to expedite the sale of advanced military equipment to the Jewish state.
A Likud government led by Benjamin Netanyahu (with support from Shas and other rightist parties) would be more likely to strike Iranian nuclear targets, much like Menachem Begin (against Osirak) in 1981.
There would be intense consultations with the outgoing Bush administration over the timing and scope of the strike, specifically regarding how it would affect the burgeoning price of oil.
{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
Is it just me or is the tail wagging the dog here?
To the poster “Joe”:
You wrote: “Is it just me or is the tail wagging the dog here?”
Naah, it’s just “Israel” rattling at the U.S.A.’s chains again…
The Moor isn’t working hard enough.
The Osirak attack was a FAILURE which backfired:
“The destruction of Osirak did not stop an Iraqi nuclear bomb program but probably started it.”
http://www.accuracy.org/newsrelease.php?articleId=1242 .
Hopefully the Israeli attack will be a complete failure. Iran should have launched a pre-emptive strike on Israel by now.
I’ve just read on the internet that the incident of a policeman who “committed” suicide at the Israeli airport where French president Nicolas Sarkozy was leaving,was actually an assassination attempt against Sarkozy.The consensus is that this was a “false flag” attempt on Sarkozy’s life in order to blame Iran for the assassination or assassination attempt to justify the bombing of Iran.
http://www.rense.com/general82/sarz.htm
My favorite “conspiracy theorist” web site,whatdoesitmean.com(which is the mother lode for the ultimate conspiracy theories available & in a universe all its own.Just reading it make you wonder out loud,”whose ass did they pull THAT out of?”).In addition to the “assassination attempt”,this website is saying that the U.S. & Israel actually did attempt to bomb Iran,with Iranian Air Defense Sites engages armed UAVs & Russia threatening to launch a nuclear strike if the U.S. & Israel didn’t turn their “manned” aircraft following behind the “UCAVs”,which the U.S. & Israel did do(turn back).
http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index1111.htm
http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/index1112.htm
Man,this stuff is better than the National Enquirer or any of the other supermarket tabloids out there.
The family of “suicide cop” in Israel refutes the claim that he killed himself.This makes as much sense as the lawyer who said that Entwistle’s wife committed suicide(& dying) AND THEN murdered their baby.
It does make sense that this was an assassination attempt,but it defies common sense,reason,& logic that an Iranian agent would get into a tightly guarded Israeli airport.Theories are that it was Shin Bet behind this attempt(just like they were behind the assassination of Rabin).
Won’t Bush be hamstrung between November and the inauguration (in January?)no matter who wins? Would not the U.S.’s ability to act decisively be reduced in this interim period? In which case won’t Israel choose to strike before November?
Iran could choose to be like Syria and do nothing in response to Israeli air strikes. More likely is that Iran will retaliate by attacking oil tankers and oil infrastructure to punish the West. Israel will want the US to respond quickly and forcefully, ideally targeting any nuclear facilities that the Israelis haven’t sufficiently destroyed. That sort of reaction is surely much more likely pre November?
In fact Bush may figure that as the US would get embroiled anyway it may as well participate right from the start and conduct a joint series of strikes with Israel.
Sam your logic is completely absurd and 100% laughable. If Iran launched a preemptive strike on Israel that would basically be the catalyst to WWIII.
Not only would that be a fire cracker to the hornets nest, but unleash the wrath of 3 carrier strike groups, an all might hail of cruise missiles, and if they are lucky a few 30,000lbs bunker busters compliments of Uncle “Sam”. =)
The fact Iran is about to switch all their oil exports to the Euro means the US Dollar will no doubt lose it’s high ground as the all mighty world oil currency. Every other oil producing nation will soon follow. Do some research, Saddam switched to the Euro right before we invaded a 2nd time. Once we had control, good ole Bush switched it back to the Dollar. Hrmmmmm interesting…
This isn’t a war on Terrorism, this is a war on the Petro Dollar…
Here’s a taste: The Petro-Dollar War
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/349.html
To the poster “Sam”:
You wrote: “Hopefully the Israeli attack will be a complete failure. Iran should have launched a pre-emptive strike on Israel by now.”
One smoke signal from Teheran to Southern Lebanon and the shadows of Hezbollah’s 11.000 missiles will turn the day into the night in “Israel”, and afterwards the night into the day.
I’m already dancing in trance…
Roy, you have to make up your mind: Did the shooter, a Druze, aim at Sark
As much as Israel would like to strike at Iran, its options are few and there outcomes would likely be less than desirable. Israel has few ballistic missiles with the range needed to strike at Iran
Anyone who thinks Iran is similar to Iraq and Syria is wrong. There is reason the Pentagon is opposed to such actions.
A one night, limited air strike on Iran would not do anything to stop Iran. A sustained, massive air and naval strike, in which only the US is capable of, would do serious damage to Iran.
Unless, it was sanctioned by the UN and world body, similar to Desert Storm, it would be politically and economically disastrous for the US, not to mention retaliation inside Iraq. International support for a Iranian strike is unlikely.
A successful US strike may set Iran back on their nuclear ambitions for a few years, but would justify hem developing a nuclear deterrent even more, and make the moderates and most of the population rally in support of the currently unpopular Government.
Ahmenijhad has no real power, and no one should listen to his rhetoric. He is not popular, and will be voted out of office in 2009. But Iran’s nuclear ambitions will continue for national pride and deterrence.
Iran is rational and MAD still applies, but a new Mid East cold war is the most likely outcome, similar to India and Pakistan. A few close calls between nuclear nations puts the fear in all parties, even the suicidal, and they tone down. US, Russia, India, Pakistan, all had some hairy situations, and I expect Israel and Iran to have a few as well.
As long as the US does not back Israel’s defense, and Russia, India, and China don’t back Iran’s defense it is not a big deal. The US must avoid that East-West strategic stand off on Iran at all costs. That means new thinking in DC.
Why is Israel allowed to have nuclear weapons but Iran is not?
So, props to Iran. But the third pillar is very clear, ‘peaceful use of nuclear energy.’
Which part of the treaty are they violating? Not that the bombing of Iran will have one thing to do with it.
Iran,like North Korea,is totally mountainous.They have had decades to dig underground complexes into their mountainsides.You most likely have underground city complexes,like Iraq & the Viet Cong had,& occupied caves like in Tora Bora.Unless you could get a high level Iranian to defect or commit espionage against his own countrymen,you’ll have a hell of a time finding their underground nuclear sites.It doesn’t take a high level of technology for them to create these things.Just like Serbia did in the 90′s,they could also put up dummy targets to fool our bombers.Everything works in Iran’s favor defensively.Even Tehran is practically untouchable from our forces.
When Iran get’s nuclear weapons, they will use them directly or hand them over to other terror regimes to use them. Iran’s president has stated that he intends to remove Israel from the map. Militant Islamics will use nukes, it is not a matter of if, but when.
Cudos to Israel for having the strength to stand, many times alone, against these maniacs. As for America, it seems that Iran is a loose, loose situation.
If we do nothing, they will use their weapons on the USA and Israel. If the US does attack them, we will have to listen to the liberal press’s daily reminding of yet another “unjust” war…
We can’t negotiate with these people. Action must be taken soon.
Peace through superior firepower,
You had better be willing to kiss Afghanistan goodbye & expect a return to power of the Taliban there,because…..as soon as we &/or Israel bombs Iran,Russia,Pakistan,& the Central Asian States that completely surround Afghanistan will shut us down there completely(at the very least,they’ll shut down the airspace over their respective countries & shut down the air bases we are using in their countries).Remember,Putin(who is STILL in power) has said that ANY attack on Iran is an attack on Russia(& the “Shanghai Pact” member & observer states that also includes China).An attack on Iran = World War III,period.
@Peace through superior firepower
It’s truly amazing to read your argument. Iran wants nuclear weapons, sure, who wouldn’t want to defend themselves from the aggressive lunatics in the west. Iran has every right to defend itself, not to mention develop alternative energy. This nonsense that Iran is a terrorist state is ridiculous. It is the intervention from the west that drives these terrorist forces. The fight in revenge of senseless attacks on their people. It’s the crony capitalists who strive for war. If there were no war, they would have no means for profit.
What kind of peace are you expecting from killing and killing and killing? Your mind is warped and you have been completely brainwashed.
“What luck for leaders that free men do not think.” – Adolf H.
Iran deserve to be bombed just for the way they brutally violate human rights.
Josh, I double-dog dare you to give me a coherent definition of empire. Heck, I’ll even look it up for you in the dictionary.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/empire
We don’t have an emperor (not even imperial law within out contiguous states, less the world). We do not make laws for any other country. We do not tax other countries. We do not have levies.
We rule no other nation in the world. We have no empire.
Go ahead; I bet you can not cram and stuff America into the dictionary definition of Empire. I need a decent chuckle to see you try.
@DarthAmerica
Everyone has a bias. I just have a broader understanding and can therefore make a more educated decision. You’re getting confused with nuclear weapons and nuclear energy. I’m sure you can wrap you head around the 3rd pillar of the treaty.
Why do you feel Iran will use them if they get them. You have this notion that they are a bunch of morons who want to start a nuclear war.
Glad you bring up the topic of oil. What oil crisis? You mean this artificial scarcity? There is so much oil buried beneath this earth its unfathomable to even wrap ones mind around it. If we’re so worried about our oil supply then why isn’t this country drilling on its own soil? After all there is more oil buried in Alaska than Saudi Arabia. But there’s no profits to be made in cheap oil. Don’t you get that? It’s about profits.
Iran will be attacked and ultimately invaded. Under the guise that we are there to spread democracy and freedom. In fact, its the foreign policy of the US that has Iran selling oil in euros. They know that’s the only way to cripple this nation. Sell oil in euros and the dollar collapses. Which is why we took out Saddam. He sold oil for gold. But you’ve been told over and over again that Saddam was a threat to our national security and he needed to removed.
I’m far from Anti-American. I’m anti-imperialism because I understand it is unsustainable along side of a republic. We will lose one or the other and I prefer it be the notion America must police the world.
Ok, I think we can all agree that Josh is an idiot with little intelligent input on this subject. Just stop replying to his knuckleheaded opinions and stunted views on world history.
Now, will we open up Iraqi airspace for the attack thereby becoming willing accomplicies? Or do we pull a France and make them go around the long way?
“I just have a broader understanding and can therefore make a more educated decision.”
Oh my God. The proud inventor of the DVD rewinder just beclowned himself like there’s no tomorrow.
You might be 4 miles wide, Tex, but you’re a quarter inch deep.
To the poster “Josh”:
Maybe you’re new here, in this case you still have to get to know the lows of the posters of this peculiar Web-site better. Your personal principles are ethical and humanistic, but until then you’re just completely wasting your energies on them.
They’re zombies (will-less, mindless, acritical, immoral, shameless, supremacist subjects of their simian U.S. American F
Better strike soon, have some carrier/s in Indian Ocean near Pakistan in Intl waters for Air strikes or for Recovery & use bases in Turkey or Egypt.
or central Iraq.
Must do soon.
Iran doesn’t WANT nuclear weapons. Their nuclear program started under the Shah, with the full support and participation of the US and Europe, because it makes economic sense (for US too – they need to export oil rather than use it at home)
They’ve offered to place additional limits on their nuclear program, beyond the requirements of the NPT, to further ensure that they won’t make nukes.
The whole “Iranian nukes” thing is a pretext by Bush for another policy of subjugating Iran for the benefit of Israel’s regional ambitions. The real “threat” Iran poses to israel is that the US and Iran may start to get along — and then who needs ISrael anymore? That’s why AIPAC does its best to cause a war between Iran and the US
DA, I’m not sure the Executive possesses the legal authority to strike Iran in much of any capacity. I do not think the AUMF will cover Iran, even with the Revolutionary Guards designated as a terrorist organization.
I think the best we can hope for from our military is material aide to Israel, and not direct action.
The only way to “go after the regime” is a full-fledged ground invasion and occupation of each of Iran’s major cities.
“Iran doesn’t WANT nuclear weapons.”
Oh, riiiight, so those long range missiles, nuclear warhead designs, and couple thousand centrifuges to enrich uranium are, what, masonic Jewish conspiracies of the Trilateral Commission as part of their 9/11 Bilderberger master plan?
Why do some people see a Jew behind every closed curtain? Why don’t they realize it instantly flashes their conspiracy nut membership card and discredits them every time they push it?
Wonderful. Here we going once again….
Israel and the US know’s what best for the rest of the world.
What gives Israel the right to bomb Iran when Israel itself has nuclear weapons ?
It is the duty of the leaders of the Arab countries to defend themselves and since Israel has nucs they must have them too to defend themselves.
It’s Israeli’s own fault that their neighbors want nucs. They started it all decades ago with the help of the US gov’t. If I was a leader of one of their neighbors I would also be trying to get nucs to level the playing field.
Jack
This may be off topic,but when we ran the Taliban & al Qaeda out of Afghanistan & especially out of the Tora Bora cave complexes,we should have taken possession of those caves & occupied them instead of just blowing them up & walking away for al Qaeda to just reoccupy them.After all,the inhabitants of Coober Pedy,Australia have totally proven that “cave livin’” doesn’t have to be so primative.
I say this because we’d have troops permanently stationed at the Afghan-Pakistani border & guarding against Pakistan “coming to the rescue” of Iran,along with Russia,Kazahkstan,Uzbekistan,Tajikistan,Kyrgystan,& Turkmenistan.Add Georgia & Azerbaijan to the list,& I keep adding Turkey to this list too.
It’s not about Iran,it’s about all of the nations that will “come to her rescue” if Israel &/or the U.S. attacks her.look,if we are going to attack Iran,we better keep moving & attack the other members of the Shanghai Pact,because they are going to attack us.
To know what’s really going on regarding Iran, read this:
“[I]t wasn
Again it comes back to the militant Islamist core beliefs. They are taught that US and Israel are Infidels from childhood. They believe that Israel must be removed and they must occupy Jerusalem.
They also believe that they can be forgiven of their sins by killing infidels. 9/11 has shown us that they will use any weapon available to try to destroy America and Israel. It has nothing to do with political policy, but twisted religious beliefs.
You can not negotiate with these people.
Dear Soldiers_Was sent this article this morning. There IS being provision made for such a move as you are discussing here.
“US Builds 4 bases on Iraq-Iran Border”
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=61437§ionid=351020201
LOVE NEVER FAILS!
The Iranians held a candlelight vigil for the victims of 9/11, Mathidla. They don’t go around “killing infidels”
Stop attributing your own hatred bigotry to others. And stop with the funny moronic stereotypes. We are responsible for filling far more Iranians — we helped Saddams chemical warfare against iran, which resulted in 20 times more deaths than 9/11.
There is no evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.
There is no evidence that Iran is attempting to acquire nuclear weapons.
Israel has 150+ illegal nuclear weapons, and constantly threatens/attacks/occupies its neighbors.
It is plain to see who the immanent threat is in the region, and it ain’t Iran.
The interests of the Israeli extremist leaders, such as the Likudnicks, are certainly not in the interests of the People of the United States.
It is time to cut the chord with Israel.
Even Iran don’t have any nukes yet they will continue to push for it .Trust me I feel the mossad has the best INTEL on the Planet and if ISREAL finds out before the rest of the world what iran is doing, I Support them Completely!!!Cut off ISRAEL and AMERICA will be cut off!! IT IS WRITTEN!! (WORD)
Darth,
Then the Iranians who are not supporting the terror regime should stand up and do something about it.
It is time the moderate Arabs publicly denouce terrorism and take a stand against it.
If Iran is going to change leadership, it will come from within…
Or the US will do it…
Iranians are “Arab” and the terrorists are the Israelis. Go look up Deir Yassin, Sabra & Shatilla, and Qana to see Israeli terrorism at work. When will you terrorists stop terrorising the Mideast?
Iranians are not “Arab” and the terrorists are the Israelis. Go look up Deir Yassin, Sabra & Shatilla, and Qana to see Israeli terrorism at work. When will you terrorists stop terrorising the Mideast?
DarthAmerica,
Re: “Israel is not a part to the NPT.”
True. And Iran IS a signatory of the NPT, and IS acting in accordance with that treaty, so there is no issue here as far as Iran goes.
Obviously Iran has a greater commitment to and respect for, the rule of law, as compared to Israel, in this instance.
It is time to cut the chord with Israel.
We’re still going to have to deal with the problem of how they’re going to make the Middle-East hell for us by halting shipping routes of oil in turn raising the price of oil to $500 a barrel, attacking our homeland directly with their own splinter terrorist cells, us managing the funding for this new war since we’re already streched too thin by two other wars, and dealing with suicide bombings every hour or half hour since Persians are more proud than Arabs. So let’s see how we deal with that if the comes.
I am just glad that the US is on Israel’s side. I have read the Book and in the end, they win.
It comes down to Israel having nukes and now all their neighbors have to have nukes. The Israelis did it to themselves. Did they think that their neighbors would just sit by and let Israel threaten them with nukes? Russia did the same with when the US got nukes. Same with China. When your enemy gets a weapon you can either do nothing and put your country at risk or get your hands on that same weapon. I don’t blame the Arabs or the Persians from wanting to obtain nukes.
sandy
Peace through superior firepower,
What book are you talking about?
Peace through superior firepower,
I saw all of the weapons of mankind(EVERY weapon you can imagine & those you can’t because they are top secret),& they all looked like mere toys(pretty much were as dangerous & deadly as children’s toys are also.Although the cynic can talk about how dangerous children’s toys are today,they still pale against the real thing[except when the "real thing" is]) compared to God.
New to this website, and thus these posts, but I think, aside from the obvious delusions and vitriol spouting forth from the mentally impotent minds of Hass, FreeFour et al it is worth recalling that the relationship between israel and Iran has not always been thus. Prior to the Islamic Coup of ’79 relations between Israel and the Shah were, if not at the level of Smokey & The Bandit buddie-dom, certainly cordial, with direct flights from Jerusalem to Tehran. The Islamic regime that came in immediately cut off those relations and declared itself an enemy of Israel. It is telling that the quote, “[I]t wasn
“Islam, Iran and the Arabs have no claim, no historical connection nor any religious connection to the sliver of land that is now Israel”
Chronicles, obviously the Iranians don’t have a claim to Palestine. Perhaps you can tell us why the Arabs have no claim to Palestine.
Allow me to remind you that Sabra and Shatilla was carried out with Israeli knowledge and full support. They illuminated the camps and blocked the exits. That makes them just as guilty.
Do you know what the word “dhimmi” means? What is the source of your understanding of Islam?
Sam, nobody cares about Sabra and Shatilla because Israelis never pulled the trigger. Period.
You sound like a guy that would blame the LAPD for the Blood and Crips, or the US Army for Al Qaeda. In other words, a moron.
What a depressing display of violent prejudice.
We all have the internet, it’s shame people can’t be bothered to do a couple of google searches and find out a little more about Israeland Iran rather than just coming up with the usual kneejerk reactions.
Any new war in the Middle East will be a disaster for everyone, not just the participants. Though I suppose Venezuela will be laughing…