Posted on 12/26/2007 8:51:20 AM PST by BradtotheBone
WASHINGTON Iran could sustain up to 28 million and Israel 800,000 casualties in a nuclear war between the two countries.
A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies envisioned a nuclear missile war between Iran and Israel that would last 21 days. Authored by former Defense Department strategist Anthony Cordesman, the report said Israel could conceivably survive a nuclear war, but Iran would not. "Iranian recovery is not possible in the normal sense of the term," the report, entitled "Iran, Israel and Nuclear War," said. "Israeli recovery [is] theoretically possible in population and economic terms."
The report was released on Nov. 19 amid Iranian threats to destroy the Jewish state. Cordesman said Israel could cause tremendous damage to Iran because of its much more powerful nuclear weapons. "Israel and U.S. capability to preempt is factor, but main issue may be Israel's ability to clearly develop mutual assured destruction and U.S. capability to deploy credible level of extended deterrence," the report said.
Israel has produced nuclear weapons with a yield of one megaton, the report said. In contrast, Iran would be unable to assemble a weapon of more than 100 kilotons.
A megaton weapon could inflict third-degree burns at three times the radius, and radiation fallout could kill others at a distance of 130 kilometers. A 100 kiloton bomb could result in casualties within a radius of 13 kilometers.
The report expressed confidence in Israeli missile defense capabilities. Cordesman said most Iranian nuclear missiles could be intercepted by the Israeli-origin Arrow-2 missile defense system, bolstered by the U.S-origin PAC-2 Guided Enhanced Missile Plus.
The report envisions a war between 2010 and 2020, when Iran was expected to acquire an arsenal of up to 30 nuclear warheads. Cordesman expected Israel to have more than 200 nuclear warheads, launched by ground- and sea-based systems.
"Prevention [of Iran's nuclear weapons] may stimulate massive covert, dispersed effort," the report said. "Preemption becomes radically different once Iran has nuclear armed force."
Cordesman expects Syria, albeit without nuclear weapons, to join any war. The report envisions Syria firing chemical and other nonconventional weapons that could kill up to 800,000 Israelis. For its part, Syria could lose 18 million in an Israeli nuclear retaliation.
Egypt could also join an Iranian war against Israel. The report expected Israel to retaliate by firing nuclear missiles toward Alexandria, Aswan, Cairo and other cities. Cordesman said Egypt's Suez Canal and Aswan Dam would be destroyed.
"Rational actors do not fight nuclear wars, but history is not written about rational actors behaving in a rational manner," the report said.
Duh, I think God would agree.
Iarael should attack it’s enemies first.
The report shouts for someone to stop Iran before this happens. The military action that headlines will scream about today will save tens of millions on all sides. And I don’t wish to receive the fallout here from large nukes detonated above ground.
Could indeed be separate incidents, as you say. Bottom line, though, is that Israel survives whatever gets thrown at them from here on in:
Amos 9:14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.
“Duh, I think God would agree.”
Israel has God on her side.
Iran only has allah. It would be like an unfair fight except, Iran or any Islamic country could have had God on their side too and then there would be no need for war. But “no”. They chose a false god. One that was made up by their dead leader.
Praise the living God.
And BTW, GoHunter08.com to donate to his run for the nomination. Please
“..nuclear missile war between Iran and Israel that would last 21 days.”
Why so long? Launch all missiles simultaneously and don’t give Russia, China and N. Korea the time to form an alliance with a country that has ceased to exist.
Any one who has read the last book in the Bible would know this.
They didn't survive the Romans in 70 AD; why do you think there's a guarantee now?
...”why do you think there’s a guarantee now?’
...”because “It is written”...book of Amos chapter 9.
“Think tanks” are those who might eventually come to the obvious by way of common sense.
Israel is our ally. I hope and think that we would not allow somebody to nuke Israel without immediate nuclear retaliation from the U.S.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.