Israel asks U.S. for arms, air corridor to attack Iran

Haaretz ^ | 9/11/2008 | Amos Harel and Aluf Benn

[mojito]

The security aid package the United States has refused to give Israel for the past few months out of concern that Israel would use it to attack nuclear facilities in Iran included a large number of "bunker-buster" bombs, permission to use an air corridor to Iran, an advanced technological system and refueling planes.

Officials from both countries have been discussing the Israeli requests over the past few months. Their rejection would make it very difficult for Israel to attack Iran, if such a decision is made.

About a month ago, Haaretz reported that the Bush administration had turned down an Israeli request for certain security items that could upgrade Israel's capability to attack Iran. The U.S. administration reportedly saw the request as a sign preparations were moving ahead for an Israeli attack on Iran.

Diplomatic and security sources indicated to Haaretz that the list of components Israel included:

Bunker-buster GBU-28 bombs: In 2005, the U.S. said it was supplying these bombs to Israel. In August 2006, The New York Times reported that the U.S. had expedited the dispatch of additional bombs at the height of the Second Lebanon War. The bombs, which weigh 2.2 tons each, can penetrate six meters of reinforced concrete. Israel appears to have asked for a relatively large number of additional bunker-busters, and was turned down.

[mojito]

Israel is moving forward and will attack Iran with or without US consent.

[skeeter]

Would Isreal really make a public request for these weapons?

[skeeter]

Would Isreal really make a public request for these weapons?

[bert]

There is a flight path across Jordan, Saudi Arabia and maybe Kuwait.

[Gaffer]

I’m all for ‘looking the other way’ if Israel wants to strike, but giving them sophisticated guided weapons and advanced technology? No! They have shown they would will sell that technology to other countries.

[MeanWestTexan]

They will fly over Iraq and we will be “outraged.”

[LizardQueen]

My bet is that there is a lot more going on under the surface, kind of like an iceberg.

Us publicly denying them this assistance may give us deniablility as to our involvement if/when Israel strikes Iran, even though we may be secretly helping them behind the scenes (which they probably are).

LQ

[bert]

Check this thread....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2079977/posts

The enemy of my enemy is my friend

[Camel Joe]

Well somebody has to step up, I bet those two bombers Russia sent to Venezuela and the flotilla that is enroute would glow in the dark as well. When are we going to wake up? Good Lord, November can’t possibly come soon enough.

[Camel Joe]

Whatcha smokin there?

[Longstreet63]

As an American born of Iranian parents, this is a viscerally difficult issue for me...however, if Iran is about to complete its weaponization...then what are we thinking? Those plants need to go...The world doesn't need nukes in the hand of those who are actively and religiously obsessed with Armageddon...

[Paco]

Roger that Longstreet. I think the term “plausible deniability” has now been given by the US.

[McGruff]

From what I understand the youth of Iran want to be like the west. It's the Mullah's and old guard that's the problem. Certainly we can take out Iran's nuclear ambition's without a lot of civilian casualties.

[Gaffer]

Not smoking anything and don’t have a particular axe to grind with Israel, but if you don’t think that Israel has sold or exported US technology to other countries then you need to regroup there.....

[rahbert]

I think he referring to the Phalcon episode where
Israel was marketing a AEW platform to China that
supposedly had some US content.

They have supplied older versions of AA missiles to
China as well (non-US content).

They trade pretty widely around the world but the systems
are Israeli technology for the most part and not subject to
our veto.

[woollyone]

affirmative

[Longstreet63]

That's true to a certain extent...what I fear is that they want the lifestyle they see in Hollywood and in advertisements...they have no outlet for this in Iran as they are obviously oppressed...I doubt that they're as much in tune with American policies as one would hope...any attack would rally the Iranians (a notoriously nationalistic bunch) around the government...but it needs to be done...

[Cinnamon Girl]

A satellite image of Iran's uranium enrichment plant in Natanz. (AP)

Is the U.S. plan really to just sit there and wait for Iran to have their nukes in order?

[Mashood]

Frankly I’m suprised that Israel doesn’t already have this home-grown weaponry. They may not have the delivery means.

[Logical me]

What the hell is Bush thinking? He has lost his mind. Russia and China selling all over the world to hostile nations and we won’t supply a friendly nation like Israel? Maybe we are afraid that Israel will do what we seem to be afraid to do until too late. Wouldn’t be surprised that if we ever get hit with a nuke suitcase, it will be from Iran.