Posted on 10/28/2011 5:39:41 PM PDT by mandaladon
JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to execute a 1,000-for-1 prisoner exchange last week despite his frequently voiced opposition to such lopsided deals is seen by several Israeli military commentators as an effort to “clear the deck” before possibly undertaking an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Amir Oren, the veteran military analyst for Ha'aretz newspaper, took note of Israel’s exchanging 1,027 Palestinian convicts for army Staff Sgt. Gilad Schalit, who had been captured by Hamas in 2006. Mr. Oren wrote that the price paid by Mr. Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak “can be interpreted only in a context that goes beyond that of the Gilad Schalit deal.”
He noted that Israeli leaders in the past have shown a readiness to absorb “a small loss” in order to attain a greater success, generally involving “some sort of military adventure.”
Mr. Oren also noted that, until recently, Mr. Netanyahu had faced opposition to attacking Iran from Army Chief of Staff Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and Mossad intelligence chief Meir Dagan. Both retired earlier this year and have been replaced by men believed to hold a different view on Iran. The Islamic republic has not been a top agenda item since the outbreak of the Arab Spring. Yet Iran’s nuclear program, which Western nations believe is geared for making an atomic bomb, has remained a key concern, despite Tehran’s denials that it is seeking to build a nuclear weapon.
According to Israeli media reports, a shift in the Israeli government’s views on Iran might have prompted Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s Middle East visit in April: His main mission was to pass on a warning from President Obama against any unilateral attack on Iran.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
My thoughts also, Clean up loose ends before making new ones.
Pray they are on God’s side, My Heart tells me they are.
I hope Israel takes out Iran’s nuke program, but I don’t believe it will happen. Hussein will put too much pressure on them not to do anything that direct.
My guess is Israel made it clear they would strike, and to prevent that the US agreed to work closely with Israel covertly. This probably included the virus attack on their centrifuges and the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists. I think both Israel and the US are taking steps that are much more bold than people realize, but I also think those efforts will ultimately fail. We are very likely going to be stuck with a nuclear armed Iran.
One day books are going to be written at our attempts to sabotage the Iranian nuclear program. Sadly, in the long run, only a very direct attack is going to fully stop this program.
bump.
It is delusional to think that Netanyahu will attack Iran at this point. The nukes are too far along and too dispersed for a few surgical strikes now. That window is closed. Bibi values economics above all anyway.
Grrrr... like obama is going to be around much longer. Even if he is, he is so weakened he means nothing.
Well someone will have to do it.
I just wish Obama was gone before they were forced to do it. There are some seriously rabid Israel haters in the administration.
Sounds very plausible. Even Barak, the atheist, leftist kibbutznik, is saying Iran has to be dealt with...It wont be too much longer...
only a very direct attack is going to fully stop this program.
At this point, probably the only way they can actually stop Iran’s nuclear program is to nuke Iran. That is what listening to the the UN and EU gets you.
I don’t know why you think america had anything to do with those viruses. I’m thinking it was a collaboration between israel and eastern europe.
They could have cleared the deck better if they had dropped the 1,000 Palestinian prisoners on Iran from 10,000 feet along with some block buster bombs.
This fits with the kenyan’s actions all over the Middle East and Africa. He is an utter failure domestically and needs some BIG foreign policy success. Panetta’s visit might well have signaled the go-ahead for Israel and US backup. His “leading from behind” in the Islamic putsches against the more-or-less secular pro or not anti US leaders in Egypt, Tunisia, and Lybia not got him any positive numbers so it is maybe time to go after Iran which would be popular with Americans and perhaps give the kenyan an aura of decisiveness.
If the attack is made the US will be involved. I suspect the US has given the go-ahead. The question is whose side will the US come down on. If the kenyan said go get them will the USN join the attack or will it shoot down the Israeli planes and launch an intervention in Israel? The kenyan can simply say the attack “failed” and US forces have to go in to “protect” the population. The US would then impose its beloved “two state” solution that would rapidly morph into one Islamic entity.
The government of my dear friend Prime Minister Netanyahu has been under incredible pressure from the Obama Administration to make concessions to the Palestinians in the name of peace. I was greatly troubled to read the news that Israel has reversed its position and has agreed to present a border proposal to the Quartet for Middle East Peace. I know Mr. Netanyahu is committed to defending Israel and retaining control of Jerusalem, but his hand may have been forced by threats—both specific and implied—from the United States.
For Israel to declare a position on borders in advance of the Palestinians is for them to negotiate with themselves. They are being forced to make concessions even in advance of any future negotiations that may take place. Any sign of weakness will be seized on by Israel’s enemies. This is grim news indeed, and I believe it is just one more indication that a new outbreak of war is possible at any moment. The threat is more serious than ever, and we must stand with the Jewish people right now.
Your ambassador to Jerusalem,
Dr. Michael Evans
Just from reading, research and reading between the lines of what officaldom says and wont say. What I gather is that the US committed to stopping Iran's nuke program with almost anything short of a direct attack.
I could be persuaded otherwise if you have good links I can read about an Israeli collaboration Eastern Europe.
Nothing is likely to happen until after 16:00 21 Jan. 2013! After that date and time the first time Iran makes a hostile move they will be flattened!
and I seriously doubt we will help israel in any future attacks. We are getting ready to pull out of the middle east. If I had any voice in world politics I would encourage israel to form more allies...such as india and europe...and then plan on going it alone for many things because there doesn’t seem to be any money or desire in america to do the heavy lifting anymore. I think I would also advise europe to do more for its own defense cuz I would be telling america to pull out of europe for good. Its been 3/4 of a century since WWII. enough is enough. America is not europe’s baby sitter for eternity.
Amir Oren, the veteran military analyst for Ha'aretz newspaper... also noted that, until recently, Mr. Netanyahu had faced opposition to attacking Iran from Army Chief of Staff Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and Mossad intelligence chief Meir Dagan. Both retired earlier this year and have been replaced by men believed to hold a different view on Iran... a shift in the Israeli government's views on Iran might have prompted Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's Middle East visit in April: His main mission was to pass on a warning from President Obama against any unilateral attack on Iran.Panetta should have been greeted with a wave of new building permits, and then told to shove all demands up his and Zero's ass until Schalit was released.
If there is any capability now for anyone to take out the WMD program other than nuking the entire country, then we have witnessed the greatest and most successful disinformation campaign of all time.
All that talk from both Israeli and US leaders about how they would never allow Iran to go nuclear - I think it was just empty words.
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