Posted on 12/10/2005 6:48:44 PM PST by rhainw
ISRAEL’S armed forces have been ordered by Ariel Sharon, the prime minister, to be ready by the end of March for possible strikes on secret uranium enrichment sites in Iran, military sources have revealed. The order came after Israeli intelligence warned the government that Iran was operating enrichment facilities, believed to be small and concealed in civilian locations.
Iran’s stand-off with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over nuclear inspections and aggressive rhetoric from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, who said last week that Israel should be moved to Europe, are causing mounting concern.
The crisis is set to come to a head in early March, when Mohamed El-Baradei, the head of the IAEA, will present his next report on Iran. El-Baradei, who received the Nobel peace prize yesterday, warned that the world was “losing patience” with Iran.
A senior White House source said the threat of a nuclear Iran was moving to the top of the international agenda and the issue now was: “What next?” That question would have to be answered in the next few months, he said.
Defence sources in Israel believe the end of March to be the “point of no return” after which Iran will have the technical expertise to enrich uranium in sufficient quantities to build a nuclear warhead in two to four years.
“Israel — and not only Israel — cannot accept a nuclear Iran,” Sharon warned recently. “We have the ability to deal with this and we’re making all the necessary preparations to be ready for such a situation.”
The order to prepare for a possible attack went through the Israeli defence ministry to the chief of staff. Sources inside special forces command confirmed that “G” readiness — the highest stage — for an operation was announced last week.
Gholamreza Aghazadeah, head of the Atomic Organisation of Iran, warned yesterday that his country would produce nuclear fuel. “There is no doubt that we have to carry out uranium enrichment,” he said.
He promised it would not be done during forthcoming talks with European negotiators. But although Iran insists it wants only nuclear energy, Israeli intelligence has concluded it is deceiving the world and has no intention of giving up what it believes is its right to develop nuclear weapons.
A “massive” Israeli intelligence operation has been underway since Iran was designated the “top priority for 2005”, according to security sources.
Cross-border operations and signal intelligence from a base established by the Israelis in northern Iraq are said to have identified a number of Iranian uranium enrichment sites unknown to the the IAEA.
Since Israel destroyed the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq in 1981, “it has been understood that the lesson is, don’t have one site, have 50 sites”, a White House source said.
If a military operation is approved, Israel will use air and ground forces against several nuclear targets in the hope of stalling Tehran’s nuclear programme for years, according to Israeli military sources.
It is believed Israel would call on its top special forces brigade, Unit 262 — the equivalent of the SAS — and the F-15I strategic 69 Squadron, which can strike Iran and return to Israel without refuelling.
"How could ANY article re Iran's nukes fail to mention Russia?"
Most don't. The world is asleep about Russia.
They are also providing them with ICBM technology.
Yeah I read that on Tass news wire few weeks ago about Russia and Iran and weapons they score
And we will sell the countermeasures to the Israells's. This gives both sides the chance to test under actual field conditions. "Don't cha just love it..."
Yep!
yes, exactly as you implied....
there's battle lines being drawn.
I'm not the 'most' religious person
on the board, but I do agree.......
Prayer is in order.....
A country that is armed and pissed is a respectable country.
* Iran can control the Straight of Hormuz
* that Russia has built Iran's major nuclear facilities
* Russia is selling SAMs to defend Iran
* that Russia is protecting Iran diplomatically
* that Russian nuclear engineers are aiding Iran in the training of nuclear technology
* the Straight of Hormuz is the most strategic point in the Middle East economically and militarily
* that it is clear Russia is using Iran as a proxy state for Russian force projection . . .
Then, be it resolved that the USA will respond . . .
a) by giving another $15 billion to Africa to maintain female genital mutilation
b) Take up Senator Santorum's request to give a fixed % of GDP to global charity
c) Issue $2000 debit cards as Christmas presents to welfare groupies from New Orleans, currently hanging out at FEMA paid Holiday Inns
Family Guy is very liberal. It's full of little remarks and asides against Republicans. Remember, it's set in Rhode Island. Of course, the lead character making the remarks is a crude pig....
My kind of women! ;-)
We should declare war on Iran. Next, we should begin saturation bombing of the Iran-Iraq border. Then, Mullahs should start turning up dead in large numbers.
Russia is mentioned here but people should understand that the wounded and humiliated Bear may not stand quiet while its client state is pulverized.
This is the ugly World War III scenario. The evil Bear is alligned with the evil mullahs.
Bush does not understand or know Russia's history or Putin's soul. He has been misled by interim agreements on other issues.
Something/Anything?
Where?
Declare War?
Are you sure you are talking about our Congress?
http://inhonor.net/videos/uped/fl_video.php?f_num=52900
Iran's royal presentation
Iranian soldiers showing-off their artistic side.
http://www.lauramansfield.com/j/120905_threat.asp
9 December 2005: Iran's President: OIC agreed any threat against any OIC memberwill be seen as threat to entire Islamic world
I don't like the sound of this at all.
If this statement is true, then the Organization of Islamic Countries has decided that any action against a member country would be considered as a threat to all of the countries, and would require action.
I'd like to see a transcription from the OIC conference in Mecca to see if this is actually what they decided.
But how they plan to enforce this is another matter...
President (Mahmud) Ahmadinezhad, who had gone to Saudi Arabia in order to attend the extraordinary summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), returned to Tehran this morning.
Speaking to reporters after arriving in Tehran, the president commented on the Mecca summit and said:
(Ahmadinezhad, recording) One of the most important decisions taken was about supporting the member states against foreign threats. The resolution of the summit said that any threat against any member of the OIC will be tantamount to threatening the entire world of Islam. This paves the way to defending the Islamic territories as well as compiling and signing joint security and defence pacts. Moreover, (it paves the way) to defending the rights of Muslims all over the world, in particular in those states where Muslims are in the minority. This was approved by the summit too.
We are witnessing that, today in the world, hostility to Islam is promoted in an organized manner and those opposing Islam are given support. The summit made good decisions to combat hostility against Islam in the world.
In connection with the issue of creating an affinity among various Islamic sects, which is the foundation of the Islamic ummah's (nation's) unity, fortunately all the various sects that are practised in the Islamic world today were formally recognized. This was mentioned in the official charter of the OIC. The names of Sunni and Shi'i sects were written down, indicating that all of these sects are recognized in all Islamic countries. It was made a future agenda of the summit and member states to endeavour and create affinity and encourage talks among these sects.
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