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Israeli strike on Iran just a matter of time?

Published time: August 06, 2009 10:44
Edited time: September 01, 2010 05:27

Despite all diplomatic efforts the US has undertaken to dissuade Israel from striking Iranian nuclear facilities, the attack now seems virtually inevitable.

In light of Israel’s recent military preparations, it can only be a matter of when.

The recent visit of Defense Secretary Robert Gates to Jerusalem only proved Israel is determined to act, taking “no option” off the table regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

“This is our position. We mean it,” Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said, pointing out at the same time that the current priority should be diplomacy.

When it comes to the US mediating role, diplomats appear to have used up their tools.

“Mr. Obama has no new strategic thinking on Iran. He vaguely promises to offer the country the carrot of diplomacy – followed by an empty threat of sanctions down the road if Iran does not comply with US requests. This is precisely the European Union’s approach, which has failed for over six years,” American diplomat John Bolton, former US Ambassador to the UN, wrote in the aftermath of the meeting in The Wall Street Journal. “There is no reason Iran would suddenly now bow to Mr. Obama’s diplomatic efforts, especially after its embarrassing election in June.”

Watch RT exclusive interview with former U.S. ambassador to the UN John Bolton

Calling the outcome of Gates’ visit to Israel “polite but inconclusive”, Bolton says, “It will be no surprise if Israel strikes by the year’s end.”

Indeed, recent actions from the Jewish state – including long-range air force maneuvers and the recent movement of Israeli warships and submarines through the Suez Canal – are eloquent enough.

As for Iran, it shows no sign of halting its nuclear ambitions. Rejecting calls to curb its uranium enrichment, it continues to insist the program is for legitimate energy needs. This makes Israel believe that, in just a few months, Tehran will produce enough uranium for a warhead. However, Western intelligence has put that capability several years away.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has put up to 40,000 rockets on the Israeli-Lebanese border and is training its forces to use ground-to-ground missiles capable of hitting Tel Aviv, The Times reports.

“Hezbollah’s rearming is in the name of resistance against Israel. The real reason, however, probably has more to do with its ally Iran. If Israel carries out its threat to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, the main retaliation is likely to come from Hezbollah in Lebanon,” the British newspaper writes in its online edition.

However, Amos Harel from the Israeli online edition of Haaretz.com does not deem a military conflict with Lebanon possible under the current circumstances:

“It will be exceedingly difficult to rally international support for a Third Lebanon War, particularly if it were to erupt over surface-to-air missiles, which are already today deployed in Syria. And if a confrontation erupts between Israel and Iran, Israel is unlikely to ignite a secondary front that would divert resources from the main theater,” Harel believes.

Whether or not Tel Aviv considers the Lebanese option “it could be that Israel is indeed accelerating its preparations for a strike, out of a circumspect reading of the situation and a growing belief that Washington will not come to its aid,” concludes Amos Harel.

Comments (23)

Cantemir 31.08.2010 12:17

So sad it is to see in the world how the voices of reason, kindness, compassion and brotherly love are silenced and instead to hear ever closer the beat of the drums of war... How the politicians and mass media are completely servile to special interest groups, to the “powers that be”, belching out lies after lies, hatred, hostility, poisons of every imaginable kind... preparing the human herds for the great slaughter at their own hands... And foolish, tired, disempowered people buying it all, lock, stock and barrel, no questions asked! In the words of Adam Weishaupt: “Oh, foolish man, what can you not be made to believe?”. You people on this forum and elsewhere promoting war, death and destruction, have you even considered that it is only just that before you take one side or another, you should take a step back and look at the present situation in the world today and especially Middle East from a greater perspective? Have you analysed all or most of the facts in a historic, economic, financial, cultural, religious, political and exopolitics’ context? Have you at the very least gotten all the facts? Too hard for you? But it is not hard to express opinions here and elsewhere that are based mainly on your whims, wishes, biases and influences you received constantly from the controlled media... lies upon lies, hatred, war... How deluded you are!

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Truthammer 11.06.2010 20:12

I am afraid that the Zionists in the Whitehouse will drag America into yet another middle-east misadventure ! By striking Iraq first , with no tangible proof of weapons - of - mass - destruction , America has set a dangerous precedent on the world stage ! American " democracy " is a joke ! Most Americans were against invading Iraq but the big demonstrations were not covered in the mainstream American press . They were ignored by their own leaders who are ideologically bent on taking over the planet - one country at a time . First , the mission was about removing the "weapons of mass destruction ". None were found . Second , the mission was to remove Saddam Hussein - they did that . Third , now our leaders say we must stay and create a democracy for the Iraqi people because the country is so unstable . Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 and the American government knew that before they invaded Iraq . They were making plans to invade a year prior to 9/11 ! They only needed an excuse to get a foothold in the middle-east to exploit oil reserves and set up supply routes to secure the ability to invade other neighboring countries . Iran does not trust America ever since America imposed " The Shah " on Iran who ruled the people with an iron fist on behalf of American and British oil interests . America is not trusted in many countries all over the world . I can understand why the Iranian government is so paranoid about being attacked and why they would want their own detterent just like North Korea.

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I'm no scholar 21.02.2010 00:34

You know, it's really cool that so many people actually take the time to read stories like these, and then participate in a dialogue. We get many different points of view, and as long as everyone holds their temper in check, we all benefit. Unfortunately, in my opinion Israel simply cannot allow a regime that has openly expressed it's desire eliminate all Jews from the region by any means necessary to develop nuclear weapons. And lets face it, Iran has NEVER behaved in anything even approaching a sane manner. I don't think Israel will be given the chance to strike first though. I think Iran will most likely lead the entire middle east, and probably the rest of the world too, into the final conflict. I think by and large, the Muslims of the world get a pretty bad rap. The majority of them are peace loving, and probably have no problem with Jews, Christians, Buddhists, or any other religion. Unfortunately, the ones that are in control of the use of military force, are mostly no more than a bunch of zealous thugs. And those leaders have made it absolutely clear that ANY person who is not Islamic is not deserving of life. Iran's leadership is decaying into a dictatorship, which very closely resembles Iraq a few short years ago.

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View all comments (23)
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