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Israel Needs A Preemptive Nuclear Strike Against Iran
The Israel News Agency ^ | June 24, 2006 | Jonathan Ariel

Posted on 06/24/2006 1:32:23 PM PDT by IsraelBeach

Israel Needs A Preemptive Nuclear Strike Against Iran

By Jonathan Ariel
Israel News Agency

Jerusalem ----- June 24...... One of the best ways to ensure the world doesn’t get wobbly over Iran, is to make it understand that although Israel prefers to regard the rogue Islamic regime as an international problem, we will, if necessary, do whatever it takes to ensure our survival, including a preemptive nuclear strike.

In 1936, when Hitler marched into the Rhineland the allies appeased him, even though they could have been in Berlin in two weeks. In 1938 they once again let him off the hook, even though the allies could have been in Berlin within two months. Shortly after the appeasement of Munich, Russia signed a non-aggression treaty with Hitler, setting the stage for what it hoped would be his defeat of the West, which would pave the way for Russian domination of Eurasia, from Lisbon to Vladivostok.

Now we have Iran, a country led by Ahmadinejad, an equally deranged and evil maniac. He is driven by an ideology combining elements of Nazism and Mahdism, with a tad of Maoism as well, a lethal cocktail of three of the most evil ideologies of human political history.

By most current intelligence estimates, by 2008, exactly 70 years after Chamberlain announced on his return from Munich he had achieved “peace in our time”, the Iranian Islamo-Nazi regime will have succeeded in developing an atomic bomb. Although it seems that the international community has belatedly begun to awaken to the danger, it is still far from certain that this will actually lead to concrete and concerted steps to ensure this doesn’t happen.

Moreover, even if the West does get its act together, three is no guarantee that Russia will not revert to course, enacting a repeat performance of the Molotov-Ribbentrob pact. Putin seriously mulling double crossing the West.

This week new and highly disturbing evidence came to light that this is exactly what Russia is doing. According to a western intelligence report published earlier this week, satellite images showed large volumes of heavy Russian weaponry heading towards Iran. The weapons belonged to Russian military units evacuating Georgia, as part of the Russian-Georgian agreement signed in March, which calls for all Russian troops to be withdrawn from Georgian soil.

The Russians were evacuating their two big Soviet-era military bases in Georgia on the shores of the Black Sea – the 12th base in Batumi and the 62nd at Akhalkalaki to the north, 19 miles from the Turkish border. The mages revealed the retreating Russian units moving along not one but two routes. The first showed small groups of Russian officers and soldiers heading out of Georgia carrying only their personal kits, the second was jammed with convoys of trucks loaded with weapons and logistical systems, radar and ammo.

Freight trains were also pressed into service. This route wound out of Georgia and headed into Armenia where the vehicles halted at the Russian base near Gyumri. A Russian military spokesman explained this relocation by stating that “the property of the 62nd (Akhalkalaki), Georgia, would be reassigned to replenish Russia’s 102nd base in Gyumri, Armenia.” He added: “The transfer of this property to any other party is not envisioned.”

However Armenia was not the “the property’s” last stop. The close watch on the Russian supplies convoys continued and, lo and behold, a third route surfaced, this one heading out of the 102nd base in Armenia and into Iran.

Western military sources have traced the route these weapons took. From Gyumri, the trucks and trains rolled on to the Armenian capital of Yerevan. There, they were offloaded onto Armenian and Iranian trucks and trains, which turned south to the Iranian border. The freight crossed the border and halted at the Iranian town of Sadarak. Its next stop was the Iranian-Azeri town of Naxcivan and then on to Tabriz. Subsequent shipments by truck and rail followed the same route, They included APCs, heavy artillery, Grad rockets, BM-21mm missiles and anti-aircraft systems.

So far this year, Iran has purchased over $7 billion for arms from Russia, including anti-air, nuclear-capable Tor-M1 cruise missiles, considered by experts the most advanced of its kind in the world. Iran has purchased these missiles to secure the Bushehr atomic reactor and other nuclear sites. These sources say that Teheran is using the Georgian weapons deal as bait, to get Moscow to part with weapons and technologies it has so far refrained from passing over to the ayatollahs, specifically technology transfers enabling Iran to begin domestic production of the sophisticated Russian X-5518 nuclear cruise missiles, known also as Kh-55 or AS-15s.

Tehran already has a dozen of these missiles, which have a 3,000km range and are capable of carrying a 200-kiloton nuclear warhead. They were purchased on the black market of Ukraine in 2005. Teheran has reportedly promised to significantly increase its purchase of conventional weapons from Russia, if it agrees to the missile technology transfer.

Despite the uncertainty as to whether Russia (and possibly China as well) would cooperate with the West regarding Iran, the conventional wisdom has remained unchanged, namely that Iran is an international problem, being dealt with accordingly by the international community, and that Israel should therefore take a back seat.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The world needs to understand very clearly that Israel cannot and will not allow a Holocaust –denying regime that openly calls for its destruction to wield a nuclear bomb. Israel needs to make it very clear that the consequence of it having to face a nuclear Iran by itself will be a preemptive strike against Iran.

The more the international community gets the message that the consequences of appeasement will be worse than those of action, the better the chances of action. The growing evidence of Russian perfidy makes it even more important that there be no room for misunderstandings in this regard. The best way to get that message across is to make it very clear that if Israel is faced between an Iran nuclear bomb, or having to launch a preemptive nuclear strike to prevent that eventuality, it will opt for the latter.

The world must be told loud and clear by Israel that the only way to avoid the first nuclear strike by a nation since Nagasaki is to take whatever actions are required to ensure Iran doesn’t get the bomb, and to prevent an Iranian conventional weapons build up to the point where a preemptive nuclear strike becomes the only option for dealing with the rogue ayatollah regime.

Jonathan Ariel, was an advisor to the South African government and is a former editor-in-chief of the Israel on-line Maariv International. He has filled numerous positions with well known Israel and international media organizations such as Maariv, Makor Rishon, Jerusalem Post, Ha'aretz, The International Herald Tribune, Israel Radio, SABC and the Independent Foreign Service. These include Managing-Editor of Makor Rishon and Editor-in-Chief of Maariv International. He has been interviewed and quoted by leading media organizations such as the LA Times, The Economist, The Guardian, The New York Sun, Times of India, The Australian, Sunday Times and the BBC. His articles have been translated into over a dozen major languages, including German, Danish, Dutch, Italian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, French, Arabic, Japanese, Korean and Chinese. He has degrees in Political Science and Journalism. He speaks English and Hebrew at mother tongue level, French, Dutch (Afrikaans) fluently.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: defense; iran; islam; israel; mondalewouldapprove; neveragain; nuclear; terror; terrorism
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To: IsraelBeach
Help us out here if you can.

I seem to recall an old Moshe Dayan or Golda Meier quote that went; "We are not willing to all die to prove our critics wrong."..or something like that.

41 posted on 06/24/2006 2:10:01 PM PDT by labette
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To: Diogenesis
There is NOTHING pre-emptive. Iran has been attacking American and Israel for decades. Most IEDs killing Americans TODAY are from Iran. This would be retaliatory, not pre-emptive.

Perhaps you would perceive it that way, but the rest of the world would not. And our allies might be hesitant to enter a war on our side in that situation. Iran must attack first. Iran is probably hoping for a pre-emptive strike against it. It is the only way they can achieve their goals.
42 posted on 06/24/2006 2:10:08 PM PDT by mysterio
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To: JLAGRAYFOX
Too many Iranians have good and positive feelings about relations with the USA

If that statement is true, they are not electing too many leaders who are friendly to both the United States and Israel in their home country. They are electing leaders that are hostile to the United States and Israel.The rhetoric is out right hostile to the West.
43 posted on 06/24/2006 2:11:31 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room - Dr. Strangelove)
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To: JimRed

Well if they decide to pursue that agenda, they can kiss their tiny little country goodbye. (they are not exactly surrounded by friends)


44 posted on 06/24/2006 2:11:57 PM PDT by Windsong (Jesus Saves, but Buddha makes incremental backups)
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To: JLAGRAYFOX
" North Korea is an obvious target. Syria has hidden Saddam's WMD and has caused many American deaths as well as Iraqi's.."

Neither have caused the deaths the cult in iran have.

45 posted on 06/24/2006 2:12:34 PM PDT by monkeywrench (Deut. 27:17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor's landmark)
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To: IsraelBeach
Your "fear" of creating a larger conflict is not based on fact. Note the word "fear" - it is the military power which is feared the most which dominates the battlefield. The use of small, tactical nuclear weapons would be used against military targets - we are not talking about targeting civilians. And the strike would be executed when the winds are blowing towards Syria. This is being "rational." Surviving is a rational and basic instinct.

Your plan would not work. Exactly what do you think would happen after "tactical" strikes on Iranian targets? Please include how you think other countries would react, including our allies. And outline what you believe would happen internally in Iran, where we currently enjoy popular support.
46 posted on 06/24/2006 2:15:22 PM PDT by mysterio
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To: JLAGRAYFOX
Two better targets would be North Korea and/or Syria.

North Korea knows if they twitch, their nation will be carpet bombed into the Stone age. Syria has been warming up to Iran lately. Possibly because Iran is developing nuclear weapons. I guess the IDF will have two targets to attack: Syria and Iran.
47 posted on 06/24/2006 2:15:49 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room - Dr. Strangelove)
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To: mysterio
Iran has attacked. It helped bring on the 911 Atrocities.

Who cares what the rest of the world perceives.
They will either see the truth ... or die by Islamic Nazi terrorists.

48 posted on 06/24/2006 2:17:48 PM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: IsraelBeach

"And the strike would be executed when the winds are blowing towards Syria."

Ohh, I'm sure hundreds of thousands of coalition troops based between Iran and Syria will be pleased to hear this...


49 posted on 06/24/2006 2:19:02 PM PDT by Canard
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To: mysterio
Please include how you think other countries would react, including our allies.

Russia might raise a stink but will do nothing because it does not have the capability to react. China might raise a stink but do nothing because they are in love with the American dollar.
50 posted on 06/24/2006 2:19:23 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room - Dr. Strangelove)
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To: garbageseeker

I don't believe it is in Israel's best interests to be lobbing nukes at Iran, unless Israel is responding to an Iranian nuclear attack. Do I believe in a preemptive conventional strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, and their war making capacity if the current nuclear talks break down?
I do, and the sooner the better. However, I don't want Israel to do it, I want the United States of America to do it. I want the American Air Force to drop and fire, bunker-busting laser guided missles that penetrate deep in the ground such as the AGM-142s. These 3 thousand pound television guided missles could do the job. If they don't than we have to consider other options.


51 posted on 06/24/2006 2:20:40 PM PDT by AdvisorB
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To: IsraelBeach
"And the strike would be executed when the winds are blowing towards Syria."

Winds blow from west to east.
52 posted on 06/24/2006 2:21:03 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room - Dr. Strangelove)
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To: garbageseeker

"I have always supported a preemptive nuclear strike on their command and control facilities and nuclear facilities to permanently put them out of business using Jericho-2 missiles."

Wow- that position takes a lot of guts on your part. [/sarcasm]


53 posted on 06/24/2006 2:21:45 PM PDT by Altair333 (Red Rover, Red Rover, Send Mexico Right Over)
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To: IsraelBeach

Another interesting discussion:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/02/17/DI2006021701604.html

Michael Karpin was online Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m. ET to discuss his book, "The Bomb in the Basement: How Israel Went Nuclear and What That Means for the World."


54 posted on 06/24/2006 2:22:43 PM PDT by Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek
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To: Mr.Smorch
I want the American Air Force to drop and fire, bunker-busting laser guided missiles that penetrate deep in the ground such as the AGM-142s. These 3 thousand pound television guided missiles could do the job.


These underground bunkers that are in Iran are fortified against bunker buster bombs. A 1 to 10 kiloton surface burst will produce the necessary overpressure to completely destroy these bunkers.
55 posted on 06/24/2006 2:24:58 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room - Dr. Strangelove)
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To: Altair333

And I stand by my comment.


56 posted on 06/24/2006 2:25:31 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room - Dr. Strangelove)
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The best part of this plan:

After Iran has been reduced to a large glazed plain of smoking green glass, all the oil underneath is perfectly usable!


57 posted on 06/24/2006 2:26:15 PM PDT by Bon mots
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To: Canard
"this is not a rational thought"

Is it rational to wait for the Iranians to launch a nuclear attack and watch the Israelis respond with everything they've got?

Does the rational mind think the mad men in Tehran are merely joking when they say Israel will cease to exist?

What is the rational Israeli thought? Let the UN protect us!!
58 posted on 06/24/2006 2:27:29 PM PDT by Tail Gunner John
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To: mysterio
If Israel is attacked, we should come to its defense.

If Israel is attacked with several missiles carrying 200-kiloton nuclear bombs, there may not be anything left of Israel to defend.
59 posted on 06/24/2006 2:27:29 PM PDT by Deo volente
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To: Deo volente
If Israel is attacked with several missiles carrying 200-kiloton nuclear bombs, there may not be anything left of Israel to defend.

They are protected by the Arrow ABM system and as a second layer for defense it has the Patriot missile.
60 posted on 06/24/2006 2:28:51 PM PDT by garbageseeker (Gentleman, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room - Dr. Strangelove)
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