The flurry of stories about an imminent Israeli attack on Iran has turned into a blizzard. In the last week and even more so this weekend, the public a political heat has turned up considerably.
The former chief of staff to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday an Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities is “imminent.”
Naftali Bennett appeared on Fox News’ “Huckabee” and painted a dire picture of a world with a nuclear Iran, saying Israel will not hesitate to take action if necessary — and that time is of the essence.
“We’re at the very last moment. This is going to be the first time in history that a maniacal, radical Islamic regime will acquire a nuclear weapon,” he said. “The day after they have a bomb will be a different day for the entire world.”
Calling Iran “an octopus of terror,” Bennett told host Mike Huckabee in no uncertain terms: “We have to stop them, and yes, it is imminent.”
And the Obama administration must think this is legit because they are in full CYA mode developing as much distance and plausible deniability as possible.
JERUSALEM (AP) — The U.S. and Britain on Sunday urged Israel not to attack Iran’s nuclear program as the White House’s national security adviser arrived in the region, reflecting growing international jitters that the Israelis are poised to strike.
In their warnings, both the chairman of the U.S. joint chiefs of staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, and British Foreign Secretary William Hague said an Israeli attack on Iran would have grave consequences for the entire region and urged Israel to give international sanctions against Tehran more time to work. Dempsey said an Israeli attack is “not prudent,” and Hague said it would not be “a wise thing.” It was not known whether their messages were coordinated.
For sure, it is a reasonable topic of debate as to whether an Israeli strike and the inevitable and ugly fallout that would ensue is the best course of action right now. That said, I find it despicable that the US is telegraphing Israel’s move and trying to get some cover. That is not how friends act.
A strike right now is a debatable topic, but what is not debatable is that Israel is in a fight for its very existence.
While their remains the possibility that all this chatter is intended to make Iran sit up and listen and that such a strike is not in the cards right now, but that seems less and less likely each day.
If this happens, bad things man. Bad things. 2008 will seem like the good ol’ days.
February 20, 2012 at 4:48 am
If only Ron Paul were President right now, Iran would be getting daisies gently placed in the barrels of their rifles. And Israel would be getting a stern reprimand about how Iran had every right to harbor nukes.
February 20, 2012 at 6:00 am
Hopefully it will go as well as in 2007, when Israel bombed an undeclared Syrian reactor. Yes, telegraphing the move is despicable, as is much of what this administration does.
February 20, 2012 at 1:39 pm
John Paul II:
“Father of everyone, listen to the unanimous cries of your children. No more war, the adventure with no return. No more war, the spiral of violence and mourning.”
God have mercy on us all if this goes down as you have posted here.
February 20, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Blackrep, I totally agree.
February 20, 2012 at 2:29 pm
@Anon @ 8:39:
The only thing worse will be what happens when Iran is allowed to get the bomb. They've BEEN at war with us for a very long time. Their RELIGION requires they use nukes against the Little Satan (Israel) and the Great Satan (the US) in order to get the 12th Imam out of the well (where he has been hiding for centuries) and to appear with Jesus to bring Islam to the world.
They literally believe in peace through nuclear strike. This is no joke.
Talk about the taking of innocent lives. Millions will die: Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and other players in the middle east will also get the bomb.
Yes – in the case of Iran – getting the bomb is not a case of legitimate security or deterrence, it is to precipitate "Armageddon".
God have mercy on us, indeed.
February 20, 2012 at 2:57 pm
OBAMA'S CURRENT STRATEGY:
1. Force Israel to go it alone with a strike this spring or, hopefully delay them until this summer. (Without US bunker buster bombs, Israeli strikes will only be partially effective.) By this time, Iran may already have up to three nuclear weapons.
2. Israel will get pounded with tens of thousands of rockets from Iran, Syria, "The Occupied Territories" and from Hezbollah and Hamas in Lebanon. They will take many thousands of civilian casualties. (Turkish aircraft may challenge Israeli planes along the Iraqi border)
3. Obama waits until Israel has been "punished" severely and the images of carnage in Israel can no longer be ignored.
4. Obama warns Iran, et al. to stop the rocket attacks.
5. In mid- October, Obama will "come to the rescue" of Israel (even though "we warned them not to strike") in order to prevent "a second holocaust". He'll use drones, Tomahawk cruise missiles, B-2 (and other) stealth aircraft to minimally hit key sites without taking any US casualties. It leaves Iran's war machine and nuke program intact.
6. The "war" will look like it is suddenly going great. Iran (Hezbollah) will not have yet launched attacks in the US, Obama will be the hero.
7. His proxies will make the point that "we can't switch Presidents" during this conflict.
8. Obama wins reelection.
(9. Obama halts operations by Christmas leaving Iran to accelerate their nuclear weapons program and launch attacks within the United States. The war with Israel continues, but without our help. If Iran has the bomb already it will be used. They will attempt to simultaneously detonate one in the US (carried by truck across the US/Mexico border or, if discovered, right on the border) and as close to Be-er Sheva, Israel, as they can get. (Smuggled across the Egyptian border into Gaza, then across the desert by truck)
Bottom line: Obama is holding back and risking nuclear annihilation so that he can win reelection.
February 21, 2012 at 7:12 pm
Save the world nuke israel