Israeli Cities Ordered to Ready Bomb Shelters

Ha'aretz Daily ^ | 2/8/2002 | Mazal Mualem

[ex-Texan]

Israeli Cities Ordered To Ready Bomb Shelters

By Mazal Mualem

Ha'aretz Daily Correspondent

The Union of Local Authorities (ULA) on Thursday ordered the heads of the local municipalities to prepare public bomb shelters. The move came following re-assessment talks with security forces, which were held in light of the current tension between the United States and Iraq, and the possibility that Israel will be the target of an Iraqi retaliatory strike in response to an American invasion. ULA Chairman Adi Eldar sent a letter to municipality heads, requesting that they hold tutorial sessions with Home Front command officers, and they check the operational level of the shelters in their municipality. The municpalities were also ordered to ensure that they have adequate gasoline reserves, that the backup systems are in working order and that they had adequate numbers of staff.

[TEXICAN II]

"EX"!! My God sir, but how can that be? Marines are never 'ex', old Aggies are but 'Former Students', children never forsake their parents-this can't be correct! Please, you must address the issue. Think of the consequences. You put civilization at risk by deneying the most recognizable nationality on EARTH! I will send you a brand-new FLAG, if you will but remove the stain!

[ArGee]

If we bomb Iraq shouldn't they in return try to strike us?

Yes, if they aren't chicken.

Shalom.

[ArGee]

in the minds of the fundamentalist islamic jihad raghead

Did you leave out camel pimp on purpose?

Shalom.

[WyCoKsRepublican]

Amen....if Iraq hits Israel this time, Baghdad could become a new Wal-Mart parking lot..........the restraints of the Gulf War will not be in place. Israel has the nukes, not to mention the "smarts" to defend their land. I am a Christian, believing that the Jews are indeed God's chosen people....I don't always understand it, but take it on faith.......We will prevail! and we will be victorious!..............God Bless President Bush, our trooops and especially those of us who dig for the truth and understand why we are doing what we are doing......RT

[RightWhale]

a green light for all other Arab states to attack Israel

Egypt will sit it out. Jordan will try to keep low. Syria can't afford to attack. Who else is there to join Iraq?

Palestinians? They won't like this any better than Jordan does.

Saudi? Would not be in their interest.

Terrorists from their lairs? Probably, but they don't have the manpower or materiel for actual war.

[pt17]

Your explanation is most plausible. Building shelters at this time has a number of advantages including (1) protecting from Hizbollah rockets, (2) giving the populace additional places of security in times of terrorist escalation and possible incursion of Osama's bunch and (3) putting some psy-ops pressure on Iraq/Iran.

This is NOT likely to be the beginning of the end. More likely, it is the end of the beginning (of the war on terrorism).

[WALLACE212]

It will be fireworks show for the whole world. The IDF is painfully aware that they are about one SS18 (thats the really big Russky ICBM, a mere 14 warheads) from complete extinction... if they for a moment the Big One is coming, they won't have any neighboors.

[CathyRyan]

I am from the duck and cover generation. Some of my earliest memories are of my mother putting on her makeup when a siren goes off she stops and then says it's OK it's just a drill and goes back to putting on her makeup and my dad taking us all out to look at fallout shelters. It was like a damn family outing to pick out a Christmas tree. It's a wonder I do not have a shrink on 24 hour on-call retainer.

[cinciphil]

I read in the book "The Samson Option" that the IDF had targetted the oil fields in the Caucaus and the Russians backed off supplying Iraq, as heavily as they were. Supposedly Pollard gave the IDF the info to target the USSR.

[r9etb]

Who else is there to join Iraq?

The right question is not who would or could join, but who does Iraq think will join?

And remember -- we're talking about Saddam when we ask that question.

[veryconernedamerican]

It could be a bigger war that involves Syria and Saudi and Egypt though not of their choosing. We are holding people a little more responsible for their actions. And the threat level increases daily. Agreed these countries would like to sit it out, but that is not an option, they will be forced to choose sides. And choosing sides in this will include commiting significant resources toward killing terrorists throughout the middle east. That was what was meant when Bush said some countries will be afarid to act and in those cases America will act.

[Jimmyclyde]

This isn't a good development

Please..... Just to let everybody know, Friend or Foe hates Israel and hopes Iraq bombs the crap out of them.

Don't fall for his " I'm so concerned this is a real bad problem" speech.

He is a liar.

[WyCoKsRepublican]

Egypt and Jordan will not attack Israel. While we have our differences with these two nations, I just don't see them wanting to wedge into the situation. Remember, Anwar Sadat hand-picked Mubarak (sp?_) Sadat was a gem......and I'll never forget the day he perished....As for Jordan, I think they still like us a little more than they like to admit.........more westerized than the other Arab states? You decide..............RT

[Johnny B.]

"Still an atheist ...guess I'm going to Hell! Wheeeeee...."

We'll all find out one day! Wheeeee........

Actually, we won't. The downside of being an athiest is not being able to ultimately say, "I told you so!" :-)

[Mixer]

Thanks for all of the responses

[RightWhale]

Saddam is an attorney.

When he was 12 he couldn't go to public school due to being an oppressed minority. His grandfather gave him a service pistol, a 45, which Saddam wore to school, thus allowing him to get an education. Tough neighborhood.

Unfortunately, once that path is chosen it is next to impossible to change routes later. He is kind of stuck.

I believe he will stick to what is legal. Of course he may think that Israel is an illegal regieme. Just as he thought that Kuwait was legally part of Iraq.

Can't take this to court if he doesn't recognize a court's jurisdiction. This reduces the possible routes of resolution.

He could step down and take refuge in Paris, that's not unheard of. Pass the scepter to the next generation and wash his hands of the whole deal.

[Centurion2000]

this is not a good development bump

[Rebelbase]

My reply about all of us knowing one day was to imply that he will find out one day where he ends up and if he is not in the same place as I, then I'll know where he is.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Well hopefully it is just a sign of Israel being prudent.

Ya know, I've never really worried about any terrorism happening at the Olympics(and still don't). But I am concerned about a terrorist act taking place somewhere else in the US during the Olympics. Perhaps this article suggests that targeting Israel during the event might be a consideration. Lets hope not.