Israel Tells the U.S. It Will Retaliate if Attacked by Iraq

The New York Times ^ | 9/21/2002 | Michael R. Gordon

[eddie willers]

I'd agree with you if there wasn't oil there.
We're a player whether we want to be or not.

[Robert_Paulson2]

I posted that in a series of several responses to bones...

Israel and the USA no doubt in my mind, did this together... It is NOT some rogue act by Israel.. but part of the war on terror.

It's final roundup time in Israel, prior to the other actions impending in the theatre...

I expect the usual "Israel must cease hostilities" stuff momentarily... whilst cia operatives go through the list of terroristas KNOWN to be in the compound... alongsided their mossad counterparts.

[Robert_Paulson2]

Pakistan is not that easily pacified.

perhaps not, but their nukes are... and they are NO THREAT TO ISRAEL... period. Or india either.

[Mr. Mojo]

Say... are you LIBERAL?

LOL....Well, if you consider a gun-totin', GOP votin', flat tax advocatin', UN despisin' guy a liberal.....

Be honest, are you a teenager? Your views are naive and uninformed in the extreme.

[SEGUET]

"I got news pal. If the troops get contaminated with biological weaponry and we deploy pharmaceuticals to the theatre, the citizenry of the US is sitting duck to an attack here at home. I damn well hope the White House has that scenario mapped out!"

Don't laugh - the old rope a dope - while we are busy over there with Franks-footers v Sad man - a little head fake - a little US bio thing (that is probably already here - and we are in the sh*tter -

THE Buush doesn't want to think about things like that though

[Mr. Mojo]

Israel is not a major player.

If you have the third strongest military in the world, you're a major player.

[bonesmccoy]

Actually there is another play. US companies should work with Russian companies to develop oil exploration projects in Siberia. By hauling the crude across the North Pacific, we can alter the balance of power away from Middle Eastern oil thugs. The faster we help the Japanese and Russians figure out how to develop in Siberia, the better off fuel prices will be in the US. Then, the democrats can prevent US oil exploration in ANWAR all they want. It won't matter. How ironic that it is easier to cut a deal with the Russians in Siberia than it is with Gray Davis.

[bonesmccoy]

according to whose standard are you measuring?
IDF is a great force, but it's not that great. You'd have to say that IDF is better than UK, Russia, and China???

[tet68]

Just because you're paranoid,
doesn't mean someone ISN'T out to get you.

[eddie willers]

How ironic that it is easier to cut a deal with the Russians in Siberia than it is with Gray Davis.

LOL!
Still having trouble with Marxists...

[Hank Kerchief]

If we believe that our nation has been attacked, we should address the situation with the perpetrator... any perpetrator... including if Israel's action costs American lives.

But not vice-versa, right? You don't really care if any American action costs Israelly lives? You also believe that a country does not have a right to retaliate if attacked, unless it can insure no American lives are threatened?

Just asking?

Hank

[bonesmccoy]

So does that mean that IDF and USAF/USN pilots can ID each other? That's a great step forwards.

The real problem I am more concerned about is that if Saddam Hussein uses chemical weapons on Israel, a nuclear response would kill our operatives and forces in the field.

Regarding biological weapons, some of the people in this thread do not understand how these devices work. Israel won't realize it was hit with biological weapons for some period of time (likely a few weeks).

[dennisw]

Yes, the Palestinians have a violent streak running. However, real political solutions occur when people have hope and ideals. Neither appear to exist for any individual in the Middle East. The Jews and Palestinians have such poor leadership. Really feel sorry for any individuals living around there.

Thanks for the dime store platitudes. Now roll over and go back to sleep.

[kms61]

Of course they have every right to self defense, but it's puzzling why they would bother to get involved in more than some token way, since the end of Saddam's reign would be at hand anyway...unless they didn't trust the US to finish the job.

[bonesmccoy]

No, that's not what I said. US forces have not killed Israelis. My point is that if the US military is on an offensive operation in Iraq, Israel needs to stay out of the battlefield. IDF will further cloud our operations and cost US lives.

While Israel has a right to respond and defend her citizens, there are times when little response is really practical. During Desert Storm this was exactly the case. USAF was hunting SCUDs and performing an offensive role. US Army was shooting SCUDS and performing the defensive role. What else is there to do?

[bonesmccoy]

So you have no basis for your claim? IDF is a great force, but it's not the third best on Earth by any means. It's probably top 10, but Russia, the US, and NATO could probably out class IDF. The Chinese Red Army would probably roll over Israel in a few minutes. So, no, I don't think IDF is number 3 on Earth. And, no, I doubt that Israel itself can be considered a "major" player. Certainly, the US news media makes Israeli politics a topic du jour. However, it doesn't really merit such 24-7 attention.

[ultima ratio]

This would be a big mistake. Israel can strike back, but it cannot occupy the country. Only the US can go in with force and occupy the capital. Israel's involvement would seriously erode our ability to set up a friendly democratic post-Saddam government.