Israel's Deputy Defense Minister Hints At Iran Strike
Ha'Aretz | 10.11.2006 23:42 | Anti-militarism | World
This would, of course, be yet another illegal Act of Aggression. Israel knows Iran has no program for the development of these weapons, and so does every relevant voice on the subject. Seeing as Bush/PNAC promised to "defend" Israel from attack, even if Israel was the initial aggressor, it appears that Israel is intent upon dragging the US into another of its wars.
Deputy Defense Minister: Israel must be ready to stop Iranian nuclear program 'at all costs'
By Haaretz Service and the Associated Press
Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh suggested in comments published Friday that Israel must be ready to prevent Iran's nuclear program "at all costs," and might be forced to launch a military strike against Iran's nuclear program - the clearest statement yet of this possibility from a high-ranking Israeli official.
"I am not advocating an Israeli pre-emptive military action against Iran and I am aware of its possible repercussions," Sneh told The Jerusalem Post daily. "I consider it a last resort. But even the last resort is sometimes the only resort," he said.
Sneh's tough talk is the boldest to date by a high-ranking Israeli official. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other leaders frequently discuss the Iranian threat in grave terms, but stop short of discussing military action against Tehran.
The former Israel Defense Forces brigadier general told the paper that Israel cannot afford "living under a dark cloud of fear from a leader committed to its destruction." Under such a threat, he said, "most Israelis would prefer not to live here; most Jews would prefer not to come here with their families; and Israelis who can live abroad will."
"People are not enthusiastic about being scorched," he said.
Sneh said Israel's greatest possible danger could be Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's ability "to kill the Zionist dream without pushing a button. That's why we must prevent this regime from obtaining nuclear capability at all costs."
Ahmadinejad has previously called for Israel to be "wiped off the map," and has expressed doubts that the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were murdered, took place.
The deputy minister said that while he hopes that efficient sanctions would be imposed by the international community against Iran, "the chances are not high... My working assumption is that they won't succeed."
Government spokeswoman Miri Eisin said Sneh's comments did not necessarily reflect the view of the government or Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Israel crippled Iraq's nuclear program 25 years ago with an airstrike on its unfinished nuclear reactor at Osiraq. Experts say Iran has learned from Iraq's mistakes, scattering its nuclear facilities and building some underground.
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/786439.html
According to International Law, Iran would be well within its rights in attacking Israel, since Israel clearly intends to attack the country without cause.
As the architects of the illegal war in Iraq, and the pending assault on Iran, attempt to distance themselves from the Bush Republicans, its important to be reminded of what they've done, so as not to allow them to escape the consequences of their actions.
Iran: The Next War
Even before the bombs fell on Baghdad, a group of senior Pentagon officials were plotting to invade another country. Their covert campaign once again relied on false intelligence and shady allies. But this time, the target was Iran.
James Bamford, Rolling Stone
israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/5605/index.php
By Haaretz Service and the Associated Press
Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh suggested in comments published Friday that Israel must be ready to prevent Iran's nuclear program "at all costs," and might be forced to launch a military strike against Iran's nuclear program - the clearest statement yet of this possibility from a high-ranking Israeli official.
"I am not advocating an Israeli pre-emptive military action against Iran and I am aware of its possible repercussions," Sneh told The Jerusalem Post daily. "I consider it a last resort. But even the last resort is sometimes the only resort," he said.
Sneh's tough talk is the boldest to date by a high-ranking Israeli official. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other leaders frequently discuss the Iranian threat in grave terms, but stop short of discussing military action against Tehran.
The former Israel Defense Forces brigadier general told the paper that Israel cannot afford "living under a dark cloud of fear from a leader committed to its destruction." Under such a threat, he said, "most Israelis would prefer not to live here; most Jews would prefer not to come here with their families; and Israelis who can live abroad will."
"People are not enthusiastic about being scorched," he said.
Sneh said Israel's greatest possible danger could be Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's ability "to kill the Zionist dream without pushing a button. That's why we must prevent this regime from obtaining nuclear capability at all costs."
Ahmadinejad has previously called for Israel to be "wiped off the map," and has expressed doubts that the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were murdered, took place.
The deputy minister said that while he hopes that efficient sanctions would be imposed by the international community against Iran, "the chances are not high... My working assumption is that they won't succeed."
Government spokeswoman Miri Eisin said Sneh's comments did not necessarily reflect the view of the government or Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Israel crippled Iraq's nuclear program 25 years ago with an airstrike on its unfinished nuclear reactor at Osiraq. Experts say Iran has learned from Iraq's mistakes, scattering its nuclear facilities and building some underground.
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/786439.html
According to International Law, Iran would be well within its rights in attacking Israel, since Israel clearly intends to attack the country without cause.
As the architects of the illegal war in Iraq, and the pending assault on Iran, attempt to distance themselves from the Bush Republicans, its important to be reminded of what they've done, so as not to allow them to escape the consequences of their actions.
Iran: The Next War
Even before the bombs fell on Baghdad, a group of senior Pentagon officials were plotting to invade another country. Their covert campaign once again relied on false intelligence and shady allies. But this time, the target was Iran.
James Bamford, Rolling Stone
israel.indymedia.org/newswire/display/5605/index.php
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