Posted on 12/10/2005 6:48:44 PM PST by rhainw
ISRAEL’S armed forces have been ordered by Ariel Sharon, the prime minister, to be ready by the end of March for possible strikes on secret uranium enrichment sites in Iran, military sources have revealed. The order came after Israeli intelligence warned the government that Iran was operating enrichment facilities, believed to be small and concealed in civilian locations.
Iran’s stand-off with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over nuclear inspections and aggressive rhetoric from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, who said last week that Israel should be moved to Europe, are causing mounting concern.
The crisis is set to come to a head in early March, when Mohamed El-Baradei, the head of the IAEA, will present his next report on Iran. El-Baradei, who received the Nobel peace prize yesterday, warned that the world was “losing patience” with Iran.
A senior White House source said the threat of a nuclear Iran was moving to the top of the international agenda and the issue now was: “What next?” That question would have to be answered in the next few months, he said.
Defence sources in Israel believe the end of March to be the “point of no return” after which Iran will have the technical expertise to enrich uranium in sufficient quantities to build a nuclear warhead in two to four years.
“Israel — and not only Israel — cannot accept a nuclear Iran,” Sharon warned recently. “We have the ability to deal with this and we’re making all the necessary preparations to be ready for such a situation.”
The order to prepare for a possible attack went through the Israeli defence ministry to the chief of staff. Sources inside special forces command confirmed that “G” readiness — the highest stage — for an operation was announced last week.
Gholamreza Aghazadeah, head of the Atomic Organisation of Iran, warned yesterday that his country would produce nuclear fuel. “There is no doubt that we have to carry out uranium enrichment,” he said.
He promised it would not be done during forthcoming talks with European negotiators. But although Iran insists it wants only nuclear energy, Israeli intelligence has concluded it is deceiving the world and has no intention of giving up what it believes is its right to develop nuclear weapons.
A “massive” Israeli intelligence operation has been underway since Iran was designated the “top priority for 2005”, according to security sources.
Cross-border operations and signal intelligence from a base established by the Israelis in northern Iraq are said to have identified a number of Iranian uranium enrichment sites unknown to the the IAEA.
Since Israel destroyed the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq in 1981, “it has been understood that the lesson is, don’t have one site, have 50 sites”, a White House source said.
If a military operation is approved, Israel will use air and ground forces against several nuclear targets in the hope of stalling Tehran’s nuclear programme for years, according to Israeli military sources.
It is believed Israel would call on its top special forces brigade, Unit 262 — the equivalent of the SAS — and the F-15I strategic 69 Squadron, which can strike Iran and return to Israel without refuelling.
"And our sats would notice many of them sailing a few days before (most don't leave the docks from what I understand)."
One striking thing that I've read, that I forgot to include, would be to watch out for the merchant ships coming down past Norway, en masse. This is not noticed because we've been "blinded."
If even one soldier dies because of this hubras, those who openned their jaws should be in jail.
I hope that the US has no real role in the end times prophecies because we are decimated by the Rapture. After all, we are still a Christian country I hope.
Also, after the rapture, the supporters of Israel will be gone, I don't see those left being very concerned about the continued existence of Israel, and the tribulation is all about God's dealing with Isreal, therefore no mention of the US.
"After all, we are still a Christian country I hope."
Go out in public, to a shopping mall or public event, and look around you, listen to popular music on the radio, watch popular television shows, read your local MSM rag of a so-called "newspaper," and you'll likely reach the conclusion that the self-described Christian majority in our nation is Christian in name only. This has happened in a fairly short period of time, in the greater scheme of things; less than a generation. We're running out of time to turn the tide.
"I think it would be better if we did it than Israel. IF we do it, they hate us already, so what. If Israel does it, it may lead to broader war in the ME if Russia/Syria/Iran etc retaliate.
? this touches off Ezekiel 37-38 for you prophecy buffs"
I think it will either way. I'm afraid the US may not come out of this unscathed.
..an old Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times."
because the Sunday Times hates Israel and wants to do everything possible to forestall the operation
The Iranians don't need a Sunday Times article to warn them. They, and any other Arab country knows that Israel will not allow them to go nuclear.
Ergo, Iran is, and has been ready. Israel, however, will do what is necessary. When your existence is at stake you don't play games or take chances.
The Saudis want nothing to do with Iranian nukes, they'll be high fiving each other in Riyadh if and when Israel acts.
Israel might take off from Turkey or even Northern Iraq.
I think ALCM will be used, or those launched from subs, the aerial strike may be tougher to pull off. Although if it's needed, the IAF pilots have spent their lives training for this. If the IAF can't be used for a mission like this it's pointless. They don't need it to buzz Beirut every 6 months, that's for sure.
As for the SAM batteries, if you look at the IAF's performance against the Syrian SAM batteries in the Bekaa Valley in 1982, they did a pretty good job.
When it comes down to losing a few planes or letting Iran go nuclear, it's not really a contest.
If Putin has to choose between Washington and Tehran, he won't need long to make up his mind.
WW3 was the cold war, WW4 is the war on terror, this would actually be WW5 or an escalation of WW4..
I do not think the top Isreali Brass really wears their top secret plans on their sleeves.
"We're already fighting WWIV."
That model is as follows:
1914-1918 WWI
1939-1945 WWII
1945-1990 WWIII (Cold War)
2001- WWIV (War on Terror)
I have the Sam Adams Lager on ice just waiting to toast the Israeli Air Force once the strike is made..........
We're already fighting WWIV."
That model is as follows:
1914-1918 WWI
1939-1945 WWII
1945-1990 WWIII (Cold War)
2001- WWIV (War on Terror)
Your chronology is correct.
And where are the EU countries in all of this?
They are nowhere. They are USELESS, or worse.
Next time you see one of those idiots, let him know what you think. I have little respect left for any Europeans majorities west of the Oder-Niesse line. They are weak, fearful, cowardly, drunk, drugged-out, and stupid.
Iran would have no shot in hell of hitting any of the above cities here in the States - They wouldn't have enough nukes to "flood the zone" per say -
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