Revealed: Israel plans nuclear strike on Iran (dated January 7, 2007)

London Times ^ | 01/07/2007 | Uzi Mahnaimi, New York and Sarah Baxter, Washington

[Aristotelian]

ISRAEL has drawn up secret plans to destroy Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities with tactical nuclear weapons.

Two Israeli air force squadrons are training to blow up an Iranian facility using low-yield nuclear “bunker-busters”, according to several Israeli military sources.

The attack would be the first with nuclear weapons since 1945, when the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Israeli weapons would each have a force equivalent to one-fifteenth of the Hiroshima bomb.

Under the plans, conventional laser-guided bombs would open “tunnels” into the targets. “Mini-nukes” would then immediately be fired into a plant at Natanz, exploding deep underground to reduce the risk of radioactive fallout.

“As soon as the green light is given, it will be one mission, one strike and the Iranian nuclear project will be demolished,” said one of the sources.

The plans, disclosed to The Sunday Times last week, have been prompted in part by the Israeli intelligence service Mossad’s assessment that Iran is on the verge of producing enough enriched uranium to make nuclear weapons within two years.

Israeli military commanders believe conventional strikes may no longer be enough to annihilate increasingly well-defended enrichment facilities. Several have been built beneath at least 70ft of concrete and rock. However, the nuclear-tipped bunker-busters would be used only if a conventional attack was ruled out and if the United States declined to intervene, senior sources said.

[Aristotelian]

This kind of report by Sunday Times reporters needs to be taken with a grain of salt. They are notorious for exaggeration and often play fast and loose with the truth. Nonetheless, I have no doubt that Israel plans a pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuke sites if the U.S. fails to intevene.

[spanalot]

What are we waiting for?

[Domandred]

I’m sure Israel...and everyone else for that matter...has war gamed all kinds of different scenarios for blowing up various stuff with high yield explosives including nuclear. Doesn’t mean they are actually going to do it.

[Eye of Unk]

Somebody wake me when the show starts, I think these folks have been watching too much WCW.

[airborne]

“As soon as the green light is given, it will be one mission, one strike and the Iranian nuclear project will be demolished,” said one of the sources.

[no-to-illegals]

At the rate things are progressing....The Sampson Option may be the only option available, sooner rather than later.....if there is any truth in this article....but.... I truly have no idea....mho

[ExpatGator]

If it’s true, where can we send contributions for fuel?

[Star Traveler]

I believe I’ve read before that Israel uses this paper and some reporters to put out stories (without attribution to themselves in the Israeli government) in order to gauge world opinion, ahead of some action they are planning. And also, they do it to soften up and get world opinion used to an idea or plan of action they are contemplating.

This could be what is going on here...

Regards,
Star Traveler

[lapster]

Well, that would certainly set Islamic terrorist plans back about 100 years, or so. Git ‘er dun!

[Bringbackthedraft]

Gee, maybe the Japanese should have told us what they planned before pearl Harbor? Then again, we gave them enough warning before Hiroshima. Maybe there is a message here for Iran? Ah, but the Mullahs will take defensive measures like moving daycare centers to the site.

[knarf]

"ISRAEL has drawn up secret plans to destroy Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities with tactical nuclear weapons."

Well ... they're secret with me, but ... I'm not so sure about you.

[PROCON]

I’ll see your hundred years and raise you 100 years..LOL

[Velveeta]

Uzi’s been hitting the Uzo again.

This is the same “journalist” who reported that the Jews were developing a genetically based bio weapon that would only kill Arabs. LOL

[Gay State Conservative]

Somebody wake me when the show starts, I think these folks have been watching too much WCW.

Fact: Israel is scared silly by the prospect of an Iran with nukes.

Fact: Israel has damn good reason to be frightened by this scenario

Fact: The unofficial national slogan of Israel since its founding has been "never again".

Likely to be fact: Israel wouldn't have a prayer of taking on Iran using only conventional weapons.

Add these things up and you have the real possibility of one or more mushroom clouds being spotted in the skies of Iran somewhere down the road.

[muawiyah]

No doubt Iran has a nuclear strike planned against Israel.

[Windcatcher]

I was thinking much the same thing, but you articulated it much better than I ever could have. This smacks of an intentional leak, which is not to say that they won’t do it.

[Cyman]

Any and all countries when faced with an enemy that vows to wipe them off the earth, needs to have plans.plans and alternate plans for every eventuality.

This is called everyday life for the state of Israel. Perhaps if we faced such imminent, proximal hostilities our national defense policies would not be put into question by the likes of Kucinich, Pelosi, Reid et al

[mylife]

Secret eh?

[traumer]

Shhhhhhhhhhhh

[Jeff Head]

Given what the Iranian President has said in public about Israel, IMHO, the Israelis would be foolish not to have established some type of contingency plans such as this.