Posted on 04/19/2024 2:37:14 AM PDT by daniel1212
WITH a controversial Israeli attack in the news, I have thought back to another controversial Israeli attack, one that took place 29 years ago today: the strike on the Osirak nuclear reactor under construction in Iraq. The daring, risky bombing dealt a fatal blow to Saddam Hussein’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon. I was then President Ronald Reagan’s national security adviser, after having been his chief foreign policy adviser for several years.
Sunday afternoon, I was on my back porch in Arlington, Va., wading through...my perpetually mounting paperwork. My progress was interrupted..the duty officer was requesting that I go to the special secure line, kept in a safe in my basement...
Israeli warplanes were returning from their mission in Iraq, and were by then over Saudi airspace. Oddly, the aircraft, F-16’s and F-15’s, were thought to be unable to make a round trip to Iraq....
President Reagan was on the line...: he asked, “Why do you suppose they did that?” My answer was something to the effect that the Israelis clearly did not want that reactor to become operational...
With characteristic aplomb, he suddenly asked: “Well, you know what?” I said, “What, Mr. President?” His retort was classic: “Boys will be boys!”
The next day,...vigorous discussion provided some surprises, including the opinions...argued strongly for punitive actions against Israel,...
There also came the unexpected news that several important Middle East countries, while publicly professing outrage and dismay, were privately pleased...
Even today, few people realize that in the years before his presidency, Reagan devoted himself to foreign-policy study,...as a result of his extensive preparation, Reagan developed deeply held principles on foreign policy, and while he was always willing to listen to opposing perspectives, he was not easily persuaded to yield.
By the end of the year...a strategic cooperation agreement.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Short documentary clip on the strike
1981 Israeli Air Force Attack the nuclear reactor in Iraq
https://rumble.com/v4pp9nz-1981-israeli-air-force-attack-the-nuclear-reactor-in-iraq.html
Richard Allen is an ass to demand the President get off the helicopter. Reagan is right that Israel can do whatever it wants.
Ping
Richard V Allen
I remember that event vividly. The world came down on Israel over that it. Not me. Got quite a chuckle out of it. With all that oil why did Saddam need nuclear power? I wonder if the preemptive attack taught Bernie Goetz how to deal with thugs. Heh heh.
4 jets flying close together made only one blip on the radar screen. Low flying and fast to penetrate the walls of the building as the dome was impenetrable. On the return the 4 jets didn’t have to be so secret as the Arabs hid in their bunkers.
I met Dr. Eli Goldratt years ago in Chicago & he was an expert in process improvement. The Israeli govt hired him to expedite the maintenance plan of US fighter jets that they had purchased. I don’t recall the airplane or manufacturer, but he was able to get the maintenance from 3 months to 1 month. The Israeli’s never wanted to be in a position where XX number of fighters tied up in maintenance.
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