I’m crossing my fingers that these claims of Israel’s preparing for a pre-emptive attack on Iran aren’t right, because if they are you can bet we’re all in for a whole mess of trouble.
Citing what it said were several Israeli military sources, [Britain's Sunday Times] said two Israeli air force squadrons had been training to blow up an enrichment plant in Natanz using low-yield nuclear “bunker busters.”
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The newspaper said the Israeli plan envisaged conventional laser-guided bombs opening “tunnels” into the targets. Nuclear warheads would then be used fired into the plant at Natanz, exploding deep underground to reduce radioactive fallout.
Israeli pilots have flown to Gibraltar in recent weeks to train for the 2,000 mile round-trip to the Iranian targets, the Sunday Times said, and three possible routes to Iran have been mapped out including one over Turkey.
Greeeeeeat. Now Israel’s got nukes, they’re trying to keep nukes out of Iran’s hands. Let’s do a little roleplaying here. You’re any other nation in the Middle East. You already don’t like Israel. Now Israel’s going to attack your friend, using the very weapon that they demand no one else in the area is allowed to have. Basically they’re going to shoot Iran to prevent Iran from getting a gun.
Also remember that Israel likely can’t do this all by themselves. So you know the neocons are going to flock to their aid should this actually come to pass. USA and Israel against Iran, who will no doubt get help from other countries (possibly even Iraq, who has previously supported Iran’s nuclear ambitions provide they be peaceful).
The Middle East needs a democracy like Israel out there, but it occasionally seems like their presence creates a hefty amount of conflict. Oh, and a quick note: I am in no way saying that Israel should be removed from the region. Bah.
I largely agree with what you’ve said, but two things to keep in mind:
1) Israel, like most nations, would be totally foolish if they did NOT have plans on atttacking/defending itself from its enemies. I would expect most nations have them, its good policy. Especially when you’re surrounded on all sides by enemies.
2) Don’t forget that Israel has probably the strongest intelligence organization and is very good with keeping secrets. It’s probably an intentional leak (if it weren’t, the leaker is probably under the Sea of Gallilee right now). It lets them posture and get the international community paying attention to Iranian nuke potential again without actually DOING anything.
3) Israel has already has done something like this once. Look up “Operation Opera” on wikipedia.