Posted on 01/08/2007 7:37:04 AM PST by SJackson
No, Israel would use full size nuclear arms against Iran. And that would be due to an imminent or launched attack on Israel itself.
It's called deterance.
There, fixed it.
This whole Israel nuke thing is probably a bunch of bull. The source of the story is Bassam Abu Sharif, former PLO press officer and senior adviser to Yasser Arafat. The creep is probably getting his jollies watching the western press hype everyone into a frenzy of worry.
Is the Pope German?........
Israel will not go quietly.
If it feels threatened with extinction, and that that feeling reflects an imminent concern, I think Israel would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against Iran.
High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel, WOT
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"But would Israel use tactical nuclear weapons - if it had them - to do so?"
No they wouldn't. Because if they did that would open up Pakistan and India using them in Kashmir, South & North Korea using them. It would legitimatize the use of nukes as a preemptive measure, which means NK may get one off against the US and with a RAT congress in, we may not get to retaliate.
What Israel should do is threaten to launch a conventional attack on Irans oil terminals. The reason Iran is not getting touched is because they are hiding behind their oil. Threaten to destroy that and now see how quick China and Europe tell Iran to stop.
In addition, Israel would be reluctant to use a WMD that could MB>set off a regional war.
Regional war?!?!? YAAKOV KATZ must be on crack.
The next country that uses a nuke starts WWIII (or IV or V, take your pick of terms). And personally I don't want to get incinerated by a Russian nuke because Israel has a problem with Iran.
So what ? China has plans for us. Russia has plans for us. The USA has plans to nuke practically everyone. Making a plan is just a sign of a good staff.
Is there any sense that the US should have any input into Israel's use of nukes if US support, and potentially US blood, are much of the reason Israel is prepared to deal with response?
I don't disagree with much of what Israel does. What I disagree with is blind loyalty.
Just a thought.
I don't think Russia will launch against us in the event of an Israeli attack on Iran. $6.00 gas is much more likely. In either case I don't think Israel will consent to extermination for our benefit.
I doubt Israel will use nukes.
There's no reason for the US to shed blood to defend Israel, Israel can defend herself.
I admit to being one of those who thinks "war for oil" is legitimate. That's why we were in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia a decade ago. It wasn't about rescuing the Kuwaitis. In that context, the US has a legitimate interest in preventing a nuclear Iran, which will dominate the region and thus 60% of the worlds oil.
I think you're right. By raising the spectre of a nuclear attack, world wide opposition to any attack against Iran's nuclear facilities is raised.
I don't disagree with much of what Israel does. What I disagree with is blind loyalty.**** Israel (or any country for that matter, even if we don't like them) has a natural right to self defense.
However, if an 'ally' starts feeling froggy solely because they're counting on us to bear the brunt of any retaliation and to back them 100% what ever the situation better think again (This would go for GB or Australia too). I'm not 'going Buchanan' but dammit we are not the world's babysitter or cop. Plus, right now we're having enough trouble 'winning' against a bunch of wackos with guns. (They're almost like street gangs on steroids)
I've been watching programs on the History Channel about WWI and how it started. The current situation in the ME is eerily similar - and that ain't good.
How is Israel counting on us to bear the brunt of any retaliation?
If the survival of their country was at stake, of course the Israelis would use their nuclear weapons. The United States would do the same.
No kidding, survival is survival. Look, if any sensible and decent person was faced with a choice of themselves and their families being killed by an axe murderer, they'd be fully justified in pulling out a gun and killing the SOB. Nukes are just the national equivalent of a 12-gauge.
That being said, using them is a last resort for any sane and moral nation. Israel has other options. Of course, if the US is going to stand in the way (not by failing to cooperate, but by actually saying "no, rely on negotiations" even as Iran reaches the point of no return on getting sufficient nuclear material for a bomb), then Israel will have fewer (or no) options but to nuke Iran.
The simple fact is that Israel is the canary in the coal mine. Condor51, do you really believe that if Israel ceased to exist that the Arabs/Moslems would suddenly stop hating us? Israel is an excuse, an easy one for them. Remove it, and another excuse will pop up within an hour. We are definitely next on Iran's "needs to be nuked" list.
Execute plan "R"...
(I would have thought that it was incredible that we had plans that far down the alphabet...)
But it still was a funny film...My precious bodily fluids have been well protected since then...
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