It seems to me that the only question is the time of the attack. No sanctions will stop the Iranians from going forward with their efforts to obtain the bomb. This is something that the current conservative government in Israel will NOT allow. The recent more liberal government had indicated basically the same thing. Time is winding down and moving toward that moment when the planes will be launched and the world will hold its breath as the bombs fall on Iranian targets. Wondering not what the damage was to those nuclear sites, but instead worrying about the the Iranian response to the attack. The response has always been in the forefront of the debate for most nations are NOT concerned with an Iranian bomb (that is most nations with the obvious exception of Israel and conservatives here in this country), for most nations, the fear of the unknown (the Iranian response) is far greater than the fear of the known(an Iranian bomb). This clearly shows a fatal weakness of our allies. A weakness that Iran has exploited up to this point with great success. But the clock is ticking and I suspect the plans have been finalized and their targets pinpointed.
Israel will attack Iran's nuclear facilities before the end of the year if the West has not launched an attempt to destroy the regime with crippling sanctions, a former senior defence official has claimed.
By Damien McElroy
Ephraim Sneh, Israel's deputy defence minister until 2007, said a nuclear-armed Iran was an unacceptable threat to Israel. No Israeli government could put its faith in President Barack Obama's efforts to bring Tehran to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme, he said.
"The Israeli government is the only entity that is responsible for the existence of the Jewish people," he said. "Iran has been explicit in its hostility to Israel time and again. They would use these weapons.
Israel pledges to protect itself from 'new Holocaust' threat posed by Iran's nuclear programme"We believe that Iran has the capacity and the delivery capability for nuclear weapons. They can proceed to production. We have got two months to act - before the end of 2009."
Iran and the major world power are to start talks on the stand off over its nuclear programme, which stands in violation of United Nations resolutions, on Oct 1. Mr Obama's offer to talk to Iran without pre-conditions has made Israel nervous that Tehran will use detente as a cover to complete its drive for an atom bomb.
"If Iran gained the bomb it would trigger a regional arms race with Saudi and Egypt quickly obtaining weapons," he said. "We would be living next to three Pakistans."
Mr Sneh believes Iran's regime has been weakened by the pro-democracy uprising in the aftermath of the disputed presidential election. It could be brought to its knees by sanctions curtailing imports of petrol, the sale of spare parts for energy production, freezing its banks out of the global monetary system and banning cross-border investment.
But Israeli society would change irrevocably if the cleric-led government acquired the bomb. "We are not looking for adventures but we cannot take the risk," said Mr Sneh. Read full story at The Telegraph
By Damien McElroy
Ephraim Sneh, Israel's deputy defence minister until 2007, said a nuclear-armed Iran was an unacceptable threat to Israel. No Israeli government could put its faith in President Barack Obama's efforts to bring Tehran to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme, he said.
"The Israeli government is the only entity that is responsible for the existence of the Jewish people," he said. "Iran has been explicit in its hostility to Israel time and again. They would use these weapons.
Israel pledges to protect itself from 'new Holocaust' threat posed by Iran's nuclear programme"We believe that Iran has the capacity and the delivery capability for nuclear weapons. They can proceed to production. We have got two months to act - before the end of 2009."
Iran and the major world power are to start talks on the stand off over its nuclear programme, which stands in violation of United Nations resolutions, on Oct 1. Mr Obama's offer to talk to Iran without pre-conditions has made Israel nervous that Tehran will use detente as a cover to complete its drive for an atom bomb.
"If Iran gained the bomb it would trigger a regional arms race with Saudi and Egypt quickly obtaining weapons," he said. "We would be living next to three Pakistans."
Mr Sneh believes Iran's regime has been weakened by the pro-democracy uprising in the aftermath of the disputed presidential election. It could be brought to its knees by sanctions curtailing imports of petrol, the sale of spare parts for energy production, freezing its banks out of the global monetary system and banning cross-border investment.
But Israeli society would change irrevocably if the cleric-led government acquired the bomb. "We are not looking for adventures but we cannot take the risk," said Mr Sneh. Read full story at The Telegraph
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