Posted on 01/04/2010 8:43:32 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Amid mounting concern that Israel may unleash pre-emptive strikes against Iran to attack its nuclear facilities, some Israeli commentators are preaching restraint. They warn that Israel does not have the firepower to deliver a knockout blow to Iran's perceived drive for nuclear weapons and faces a potentially withering Iranian retaliation the likes of which they have never endured before.
"It must be stated plainly: Israel does not have independent strike capability against Iran -- not in the broad sense of the term," Amos Harel wrote in the liberal daily Haaretz Wednesday.
"The air force is capable of delivering a certain amount of explosives to a given target and bringing most of its aircraft back home intact.
"But it is doubtful whether Israel can allow itself to act against the wishes of the United States -- to stand alone against an Iranian response and begin an open-ended operation against a nation of 70 million people," Harel wrote.
"It is best to disabuse ourselves of illusions about our ability to dictate a New Middle East order.
"That is the lesson learned, in blood, by Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon in Lebanon in 1982 and by George W. Bush in Iraq in 2003."
Harel and others argue that the time to hit Iran's nuclear infrastructure was several years ago, simply by taking out the uranium conversion plant at Isfahan, in central Iran, not now that the nuclear sites have been widely dispersed, buried deep underground and ringed by air-defense missiles.
It is suggested that since the Israeli military has been given a large budget increase to counter the Iranian threat it feels it must "persuade the political echelon that it can do the job" or
(Excerpt) Read more at spacewar.com ...
Sorry, but this amounts to being rehash of rehash.
What are they saying that has not already been said before?
I hope the Israelis have a strong and invisible hand in supporting the Iranian democrats (small “d”).
Regime change is the best thing; though perhaps too little too late. So I’ll take a first strike too. Just sayin’.
I would guess that most of the 70 million people in Iran have nothing against Israel. The crazy rhetoric is concentrated amongst the few in power and their grasp is slipping.
I hope that events overtake the need for Israel to attack and that the regime is overthrown and run out on a rail before that happens.
If not, I hope that they prevail in the bold and necessary moves for their survival.
Whatever happens to Israel happens to Europe. Whatever happens to Europe eventually hits the US. ITs just a function of time and Iranian aggression.
According to some forecasts, Israel is scheduled to launch it’s strike during the new moon surrounding 21 January. I have my doubts.
“They warn that Israel does not have the firepower to deliver a knockout blow to Iran’s perceived drive for nuclear weapons and faces a potentially withering Iranian retaliation the likes of which they have never endured before.”
~~~
I have to agree with this,,,
Israel can only put about 150 aircraft in the strike package
of the F-15/16 I type fighters,,,(long range),,,
This leaves nothing to take out Iran’s long range rockets.
When Israel strikes Iran will likely launch WMD against
Israel and the gulf oil ports,,,
This will take out about 25% of the world’s oil supply,,,
Then there’s this :
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420959/posts
This will take about two weeks to haul all the stuff to
the northern border,,,
I look for large scale rocket attacks (WMD) from that AO,,,
Israel will have about 240 fighters left home to take out
the launchers in Lebanon,,,
The “new moon” is Jan.21st,,,Dark night,,,
I sure hope I’m wrong...
They are training 24/7 and you timeframe is not far off.
They are training 24/7 and you timeframe is not far off.
They are training 24/7 and your timeframe is not far off. There. Third times the charm...
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
..................
Iran will only respect a show of overwhelming force, anything less will be signs of weakness, like a straw fire Iran will blaze fast but burn out very quickly.
As was discussed on the news recently many people in America think brokering for peace is strength, however in the Middle East this is strongly viewed as a weakness, the more you press for peace the more you face battles and terrorism.
Only the use of first strike acts and immediate follow up support will a country such as Iran realized they are facing an enemy that has convicted beliefs and in their own mantra will understand an enemy with stronger beliefs is an enemy that is unconquerable.
Remember the Spartans.
The attack could work if it were bolstered by a few hundred cruise missles from the US as well as several sorties of anti-radar/anti-SAM by the US.
But lets be honest, that’s a pipe dream. Maybe if Bush was still president, but Bambi will NEVER commit to that level of force so Isreal know’s it’s screwed.
He has hat Nobel Peace Prize to live up to and all. A coordinated assualt would basically mean WWIII-light. The muzzies would squelch the oil flow and then you have world-wide depression. The spiral would get uglier and uglier. Bambi will never allow unlimited resource gathering within the US and off shore, so we’re looking at $10/gallon gas.
It’s too bad. We’ll pay for our weakness and failure to act before too long.
Well, of course, Back In The day, they used to be able to COUNT on their ONE Friend. (sigh)
“Spartans, prepare for glory!”
Sorry, couldn’t resist. Loved 300.
Even Ahmedinejad's original surname shows that he is of Jewish descent, and surely there must be a similarly sizable population who have a Jewish ancestor somewhere in their family tree.
Since Israel has helped India, might not India be able to offer material support in Israels fight against its own enemy, Iran?
Amos Harel wrote in the liberal daily Haaretz Wednesday.A single quisling and coward writes an op-ed -- that's all that's going on. Thanks sonofstrangelove.
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.