Israel plans strike on Iran

[Pcola04/30]

So much for a 'thaw' in the middle east.....

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,150293,00.html

Israel Plans Strike on Iran Nuke Plant
Sunday, March 13, 2005



TEHRAN, Iran — Israel has drawn up secret plans for a combined air and ground attack on targets in Iran if diplomacy fails to halt the Iranian nuclear program.

The inner cabinet of Ariel Sharon (search ), the Israeli prime minister, gave "initial authorization" for an attack at a private meeting last month on his ranch in the Negev desert.

Israeli forces have used a mock-up of Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment plant in the desert to practice destroying it. Their tactics include raids by Israel's elite Shaldag (Kingfisher) commando unit and airstrikes by F-15 jets from 69 Squadron, using bunker-busting bombs to penetrate underground facilities.

The plans have been discussed with American officials who are said to have indicated provisionally that they would not stand in Israel's way if all international efforts to halt Iranian nuclear projects failed.

Tehran claims that its program is designed for peaceful purposes but Israeli and American intelligence officials — who have met to share information in recent weeks — are convinced that it is intended to produce nuclear weapons.

The Israeli government responded cautiously yesterday to an announcement by Condoleezza Rice (search), the U.S. secretary of state, that America would support Britain, France and Germany in offering economic incentives for Tehran to abandon its program.

 

[Fly Navy]

You didn't see this coming? You know what they did to Iraq in the 80's with the Osiraq strike, right? Absolutely brilliant.

 

[handjive]

While I believe they are 100% capable of pulling off such an attack, don't you think if Israel had drawn up "secret plans", then it wouldn't be all over Fox News?

This is the kind of dribble that Arab countries like to use to say that Israel is the agressor in the middle east (as laughable as that is).

I would highly recommend the book, "Raid on The Sun". It details the Osiraq mission. It is a kick ass book, and it really focuses on the pilots.

 

[Pcola04/30]

Yeah it's obivous that this is a more forceful form of diplomacy attempting to prod Iran along to take the carrots the EU and the US want them so desperately to take. I would actually be very surprised if Israel performed the strike, would be much more complicated than the strike in Iraq (IMO), and would just further inflame Arab hatred.

This seems to be policy makers using the MSM to signal they mean business. Just thought some would find it an interesting read

 

[Fly Navy]

It would be more complicated than the Iraq strike, but further Arab hatred? Shoot, they hate them enough already.

 

[skidkid]

Let them Hate so long as they Fear.
-Some Roman General

 

[Fly Navy]

Nice quote

 

[zippy]

Eh, it wouldnt further Arab hatred all that much... The Iranians aren't Arabs, even though they are primarily shiite muslims. I could see the rest of the middle east speaking out against it publicly, but quietly appreciating it... after all, a lot of the time, the shi'ites and sunnis view each other with a good amount of hatred. I could see an Israeli bombing of Iran having worse consequences for us in Iraq, because the population there is predominately shi'ite muslim and Iran has a lot of influence there...

 

[nittany03]

Speaking of Osirak, one of the pilots on that mission was Ilan Ramon, the Israeli astronaut killed in the Columbia crash. I do find it interesting that this is plastered all over the news. I wonder if this was intentional from the Israelis, or just the usual case of a reporter who ran across some info and couldn't keep their trap shut.

 

[Ryoukai]

So, Israel isn't unpopular enough yet so now they've gotta make sure that they piss EVERYBODY off that lives next to them and in turn get everybody who lives around them more pissed off at us...GREAT.

 

[Fly Navy]

If the baddest boy on the block finally got the baddest weapon, and you knew he wanted oh so desperately to use it on you, would you not kick his ass before he got it?

Israel is thinking about survival. Something we haven't had to think about for... what, 15 years? Even then, we knew the Soviets weren't stupid.

They did it in the 80s. Didn't end the world then, did it? Crap, we probably have battle plans against England, just in case.

 

[HueyCobra8151]

So, Israel isn't unpopular enough yet so now they've gotta make sure that they piss EVERYBODY off that lives next to them and in turn get everybody who lives around them more pissed off at us...GREAT.

Yes, I am sure the Israeli's are much more interested in being "popular," than not being attacked with nuclear weapons.

It's not like if Israel DOESN'T attack Iran, they will get invited to the Prom and voted Prom Queen, and if they DO attack Iran, they will get their lunch money stolen and have a bunch of bad words written on their locker...

Israel is going to be unpopular no matter what they do. It's just that one option leaves them disliked by the Arab world, the other option leaves them disliked and eradicated...

Also who are the people "who live around them [that will be] more pissed off at us...?"

Lets see, we have
Palestine - Hezbollah = One of the biggest killers of Americans...don't think this will change that.
Syria = Too worried about Lebanon
Jordan = huh?
Egypt = Already moving towards Democracy...

And, even though it isn't a neighbor, they would have to fly over Iraq...again, I don't think Iraq would really give a damn...

 

[zippy]

Lets face it folks, the chance that the israels unintentionally leaked this story is pretty far out there. Either they did it as fair warning, or we did it because the shelf life of the average secret in the US is the time it takes for someone to tell their closest friend (and they planned on us doing it anyways).
If they didn't need the silent nod to overfly Iraq they probably would not have told us this early (maybe they just felt in an open mood)- and im sure we noticed the mockups somehow. The israelis will use anyone and everyone they can if they percieve it to be in their own interests at that point in time. being popular isnt an issue for them, and our popularity certainly isnt. They could care less.

As for its neighbors.
Egypt- second largest foreign aide, after israel (yes, we pay them to play nice)
Syria- Afraid that we are going to take them out, or give Israel the green light (not that they'd ask if they really wanted to... they havent in the past)
Jordan- they are looking to get rid of their palestinian infestation and a good way thats going to happen is israel returning settlemets (thus allowing the palestinians to leave Jordan and return to their own stomping ground). That, and they have pretty good relations to us, so you'll see minimal qualms from the government itself.
Palestinians- Other then being finacially backed by Iran for terrorism, they arent going to care all that much as long as they get some more land back and the israelis dont decide to clean house on them. The Iranians are going to ratchet up the payments on their suicide bombers immediately after any attack happens though.
Lebanon- interesting developements there recently. needless to say, they see writing on the wall when it comes to syria (see above)

 

[Fly Navy]

Good post, Jack.