[Cinnamon Girl]

Are you saying that Israel HOPES Iran would take it out on America?

[johnny7]

Are you saying that Israel HOPES Iran would take it out on America?

Not exactly. Churchill didn't hope for Pearl Harbor... but he thanked God America was finally in the game.

[Polybius]

They may have the guts... but not the firepower or logistical support to fully succeed in conventional airstrikes. Essentially, they will just kick the beehive and hope Iran goes mental... by lashing out at America in Iraq and unleashing their trained monkeys in Lebanon and Gaza. No matter who starts it, it's a job that must be attended to... and finished. ..... johnny7

Are you saying that Israel HOPES Iran would take it out on America? ..... Cinnamon Girl

That is exactly what johnny7 is saying and johnny7 has correctly assessed the logistical and operational realities of the situation.

Iran's nuclear facilities are too dispersed, hardened and defended to be knocked out with 100 sorties launched from as far away as Israel. That would be a task requiring a Shock & Awe air campaign over a few weeks that only U.S. air power can accomplish.

During Desert Storm, the coalition air campaign flew a total of 109,876 sorties over the 43-day war, an average of 2,555 sorties per day.

Such a campaign is simply beyond Israel's capabilities. Israel can start the fight but only the U.S. can finish it. Israel knows that.

Don't be too shocked about the Realpolitiks of war. Israel, like Britain in World War II, HOPES to survive and Israel is aware of the military realities.

"To have the United States at our side was to me the greatest joy. Now at this very moment I knew the United States was in the war, up to the neck and in to the death. So we had won after all!...Hitler's fate was sealed. Mussolini's fate was sealed. As for the Japanese, they would be ground to powder." ...... Winston Churchill writing about his reaction to Pearl Harbor