The recent flurry of diplomatic activity, press reports that give an awful lot of detail about weapons and tactics, and the curiously timed announcement of a new "bunker buster" bomb suggest a new sense of urgency across the board regarding Iran's nuclear program, well beyond just Israel.
Whether it is a year that makes the difference, or less, or more, this much is true: the endless cycle of sanctions, waiting, and reports at the UN is not going to end with Iran, having gotten this far, saying, "Alright, fine. We give up. This latest round of sanctions is just a little too uncomfortable." There must be more action on all fronts than kicking the can down the road to the next report, or the end of that road will be an Iranian nuclear test.
"Israel: time running out to stop a nuclear Iran," from Reuters, November 19:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran is less than a year away from being unstoppable in its goal of producing a nuclear weapon, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in an interview with CNN released on Saturday.
In an advance transcript of an interview to air on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" program on Sunday, Barak said Israel was focused on the prospect of a nuclear Iran and what "should and could be done about it on time."
"It's true that it won't take three years, probably three quarters before no one can do anything practically about it because the Iranians are gradually, deliberately entering into what I call a zone of immunity, by widening the redundancy of their plan, making it spread over many more sites with many more hidden elements," he said.
Barak, a former Israeli prime minister, said a report earlier this month by the U.N. nuclear watchdog that Tehran appeared to have worked on designing an atomic bomb and may still be conducting secret research had had a sobering effect on world leaders and was driving urgent, intensive diplomacy.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report confirmed long-standing concerns that Iran aims to build a nuclear weapon, which Israel sees as a threat to its existence. Tehran has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
The United States and Israel have not ruled out possible air strikes on Iran's nuclear sites.
"I don't think that that is a subject for public discussion," Barak said when asked whether Israel was prepared to attack Iran to stop its nuclear ambitions.
He said a nuclear Iran would have deep repercussions for the Middle East, prompting countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt to "turn nuclear" and starting a countdown to putting nuclear materials in the hands of terrorists.
It'll be fantastic if Israel decides to eliminate the Iranian threat before the end of the year, as has been previously speculated. HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ! !
Just when you thought the Middle East couldn't be more of a cluster-fu@k than it currently is. Can you imagine the idiots running the governments of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt with nuclear weapons?! It's akin to arming the local asylum for the criminally insane with said weapons. One can't help but wonder what the hell Israel is waiting for. A year ago, I heard a political analyst with balls recommend Iran be "made into a parking lot". It was a good idea then and seemingly the only option now. Nuke 'em. It may even calm the rest of the Middle East's Muslims down a bit. Their proclamations regarding their preference of death over life, might take a back seat to the self-preservation instinct. Then again, maybe not.
Again, again and again: on Sept 11, 2001, 19,000 muslim brotherhood animals were rotting in Egypt's prisons. After 7 years of forced political inclusivism by the Bush lunacy, only 1000 remained.
Released MB prisoners became celebrities and developed cult followings. Further indulgence of the Obama idiocy handed power to those animals.
Bush-Obama slavish servitude to the MB has been mirrored by alliance formation centered in Iran. Currently they have Turkey, Syria, Azerbajan, and most of west Afghanistan within same, with Russia forming military and trade relations with same. When the Bush jihad subsidy in Iraq ends, the alliance will have another formal partner. The US taxpayer subsidized this in the name of some wild aniaml's perverse concept of "freedom."
I know that a majority here would eat GWB's crap. Future generations faced with US subsidized, nuclear tipped ICBMs aimed at the US Homeland will hold pilgrimages to spit on GWB's grave. They should spit on the graves of anyone who filtered that oil patch brat's pathological myopia from their capacity to understand evil.
If America ever dies this motto should appear on its tombstone: "islam is peace," GWBush, Sept 15, 2001.
It's pretty shallow thinking to advocate solving all your problems by dropping a nuclear bomb on a country. Your contribution is not serious. Furthermore, I have seen Marisol ban posters for this type of comment.
To Frank Mutteater: I do not yield to anyone in my loathing of what GWB did to the US. He handed Iraq as a political entity over to Iran, where Iraq and Iran had previously been blood-enemies. You are correct that GWB had not an idea what evil Islam is; nor did he care to learn.
A bunch of pointedly focused barrage of bunker-busters could be dropped simultaneously on each Nuclear plant where bomb making material is produced or planned to be produced in Iran. They should take care to minimizing collateral damage.
Iran will never reach test firing a nuclear warhead. Israel will not permit Tehran to become a nuclear power capable of Israel's instant destruction. Israel has and will continue to diffuse Tehran's nuclear policies and if required, accelerate their activities accordingly.
For Israel, there is no other alternative.
You have more than your share of cheek. I am not one to put too fine a point on an issue, particularly when said issue has to do with Israel's annihilation. Whether you find my contribution serious or not, is your opinion. You are familiar with the adage having to with opinions I'm certain. Your issue with nuclear strikes as a means to problem-resolution is best taken up with Israel. They're waiting to hear from you. Perhaps if you explain the "shallowness" of their proposed action and ask nicely, Israel will alter its defense strategy to one that meets your approval. While you're at it, ask Marisol to ban me.
Two entries from an English-language Israeli blog, that people may find of interest, as giving a glimpse into the way that ordinary Israeli citizens are thinking.
http://israelisoldiersmother.blogspot.com/2011/11/israels-secret-weapon-against-iran.html
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Israel's Secret Weapon Against Iran.
In the comments, one person writes:
"So I asked my husband today if he wanted to renew his passport in case Iran attacked. He refused. "This is my country" he told me, ruling out any idea of flight to the US. He told me to go. "Ainli eretz acheret," I replied.
"But what about Josh? He's young, he should have a chance to live?" I asked.
My son, now in national service, popped out of his room to join us. "I'm not going anywhere," he said firmly. "No one is driving me out of my land."
Your post made me wonder just how many other families have had this same conversation recently."
END QUOTE.
Reading that one sent shivers down my spine.
And here's something else, from the same blog (click on the link and you'll see what it's about).
http://israelisoldiersmother.blogspot.com/2011/11/israel-vs-iran-movie.html
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Israel vs. Iran - the movie?
I am always amazed by people who can create videos...that say so much. This one is an example – [click on the link, she's got a video embedded, it looks...interesting. And scary.]