At his visit to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), an AIPAC founded think tank, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak reiterated his calls for Western nations to keep “all options” open in moving against Iran. But more importantly, he suggested Israel might attack Iran even beyond American objections.
US officials have repeatedly expressed opposition to a unilateral Israeli attack, noting that it would be perceived internationally as an attack by the United States, which has provided Israel with enormous military aid over the years.
Israel has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran over the past several years, and has also pressed the United States and other nations to impose “crippling sanctions” on them to punish them for their civilian nuclear program, while claiming the program could be an “existential threat” to Israel some day.
But even as Barak reiterated the long-standing threats to attack Iran, he openly downplayed the threat Iran posed to Israel, insisting “I don’t think the Iranians, even if they got the bomb, would drop it in the neighborhood.”
Despite repeatedly claims from Israel and the US, there is no proof Iran has an active nuclear weapons program, and the IAEA has repeatedly confirmed that the civilian nuclear program is not diverting any material to non-civilian use. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, last week declared that nuclear weapons were religiously forbidden. Israel on the other hand is believed to have hundreds of nuclear weapons and is not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
It's typical of (OK, most) Israeli officials that Mr. Barak is sufficiently intelligent and tactful to have phrased his rejection of the need for US approval in a way that comes off sounding, well, almost pro-American.
Strictly speaking, however, he may not be correct. When Mr. Cheney's 'Office of Special Plans' was 'stovepiping' fabrications from a parallel office that had been established inside of Israel, did that not amount to the Israelis asking the Americans to 'come and fight' for them?
Of course, for the bulk of Americans who get their news from the MSM rather than antiwar.com, that would be a moot point, as they wouldn't know about the OSP to begin with.
Israel is nothing but trouble for America.
What about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the event of war ? And war for no reason-as with Iraq and Afghanistan (there´s one reason: the oil and gas pipeline from Turkmenistan)-no reason other than sheer madness. But if it´s madness, why do the soldiers accept being killed for no reason ? Brainwashed by the propaganda.
Never, ever, underestimate the power of propaganda, especially on a gullible people like Americans. Look how Americans bought into the absurd yellow journalism about Spanish "atrocities" in Cuba. Americans later committed for real, those very atrocities in the Philippines. How about the outrageous Wellington House propaganda in WW1? Most Americans accepted this nonsense at face value. How about WW2? Everything from Stalin as "uncle Joe", to the supposedly uncalled for, and unanticipated Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Then there was the Vietnamese "attack" in the gulf of Tonkin. An "attack" that somehow didn't kill, wound or injure one single American. How about the "weapons of mass destruction" and "smoking gun as a mushroom cloud" drivel? In reality Iraq was never any threat to Americans.
Mr. Barak is playing cute. The constant clamor by the Podhoretz family, AIPAC, and the present government in Israel to bomb Iran to the stone age is nothing but a continuation of what the study group prepared for Mr. Nethanyahu.
It could be that Mr. Nethanyahu did not share the recommendations of ***"A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm, commonly referred to as the "Clean Break" report, was prepared in 1996 by a study group led by Richard Perle for Benjamin Netanyahu, the then-Prime Minister of Israel.[1] The report explained a new approach to solving Israel's security problems in the Middle East with an emphasis on "Western values" with Mr. Barak
And thats the reason for him saying, “ that Israel has always “felt very proud that we never asked the Americans to come and fight for us.”
*** Easily Googled on Wikipedia.
Oh yeah we are gonna believe that "THEY" had NOTHING to do with these TWO wars we are paying for…. Hey, maybe scooter Libby is really Amish….. Perhaps Tel Aviv Joe from Connecticut is really unconcerned about Israel…. Even as he works to have the 911 trials in somewhere FAR from probing questions and what remains of free Media… Somewhere like CUBA, or maybe Afghanistan..Maybe someone will believe you, but It won't be me.. Because Israel is America's No.1 welfare queen, getting MORE free money from U.S. taxpayers than ANY other client we could and should have an opinion about how they spend OUR money…. and how many people they kill with the weapons we gave them. Anything else is stupid and irresponsible…. sold out……..
In the 1970's, while the Shah was still in charge of Iran – Cheney and Rumsfeld offered to sell to Iran 31 nuclear power plants. Of course, the Shah was 'our dictator' as was Stalin during WWII. Israel offered to trade medium range nuclear tipped missiles to Iran in exchange for oil – remember the Iran-Contra affair under Reagan with Israel selling arms to Iran. Maybe Iran should bomb the heck out of Israel as a preemptive act? And certainly the U.S. should cut ALL ties to our only true enemy in the Middle East – Israel! NO more wars by the 'goyim' for the 'master race'!
There is no reason for any country to attack Iran. They are only doing what they are allowed to do by the IAEA and the NPT they signed.
It seems that Israel is the one that should be sanctioned for making threats and having the illegal nukes.
Well, How fare is the double standard of this world. Israel can thread everyone in this world, allowed to kill civilians, commit genocide, have nuclear weapons (more than a lot of european countries), violate all the ONU rules…… and everithing is okay!!……. Why Iran should follow world rules?….. because of what? ….. Are we not willing to let others countries to be as murder as us?……. that is the privilegde of few countries (USA and Israel)…. pure propaganda!
"felt very proud that we never asked the Americans to come and fight for us.” ….. You forgot to say that all Moron Countries in this world has sacrifying their bloods on your own wars (Remember your holocaust), middle east, etc…….. that you Judes never, never, never give a D&*( for the rest of this world.
They just "ASK" for America to give them 3 billion dollars a year in weapons and foreign aid and to turn a blind eye to their illegal nuclear weapons.
When will they get this world war 3 over with already…im sick of all the hype up to the event just make it happen already because its been in the airs for atleast a year now…WORLD WAR 3 HERE WE COMMMME
If Israel attacks Iran unilaterally they ought not expect *any* help from the U.S. if Iran responds. And lets cut off all U.S. "aid" and weapons to this aggressor country that lives at first world standards and thus has no need for aid.
What a fascinating article this is!!! There are so many amazing and horrifying points. Just look at the FACT that both Israel and Iran have declared that Iran is NOT a threat – remember, Obama declared a few weeks ago that Iran ISN'T EVEN CAPABLE OF ENRICHING TO 20%!!! – and yet the whole drive to sanctions/war (remember, crippling sanctions are war) is founded on the Orwellian notion that Iran IS a threat!!!
And then there's Barak's ridiculous declaration that Israel is proud of never having asked the US for help!!!! Not only does Israel carry out its horrific acts with US weapons, but every single effing IsraelI KNOWS that they couldn't get away with any of it for a minute without US backup. Not for a minute. The folks in Israel may not want to admit this, of course, so its our job to make them admit it by letting them know that our support is no longer conditional. But, of course, to get that done, we would have to elect pretty much an entirely new body of representatives.
It's not to be ignored, of course, that Israel can't get at Iran without going through airspace controlled by the US or by a close US ally.
Another fascinating theme recently much touted by the warmongers is the idea that Iran deserves to be attacked because – get this – BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE ATTACKED!!!!! I swear to God, that is the most creative pretext for war I have ever seen, and in these Orwellian times, it's even getting an open and seriously public hearing, instead of being simply laughed off!!!
These are sick, sick times, but at least they do make for great TV.
Can someone remind this terrorist douchbag about an event 60 years ago called WW2 ?
Take away US aid, US arms and US support and see what happens to tough talking Israel.
I remember the USS Liberty. With allies like this who needs enemies ?
Dumping white phosphorus on Gaza's civilian population was the last straw for supporting this regime.
I've been very supportive of Israel and it's right to defend itself but we know longer see a country "defending" itself.
Be careful Israel, the christian zionists that pretend to support you really just want to see you nuked so Jesus returns.
It is not just the USS Liberty, but during the Lebanon war in the early 1980s, the US Marines were part of the peacekeeping force that was sent in to allow the PLO to evacuate. This was done in order to protect the "civillian" population of Lebanon. It may have been a bad decision to intervene, but the US Marines were there, and Israeli snipers took a lot of pot shots at US Marines. The US Marines don't tolerate such behavior, and US snipers bagged a few dozen Israeli snipers, which is something that the Israelis will not publicly acknowledge. No one should have any illusions about the nature of the combatants in the Middle East. Israel has a problem with Iran, and Israel needs to dispel itself of any delusions that the USA will come to their rescue. Israel needs to take care of its own problems, and the USA needs to stay out of the way.
It would be impossible for Israel to attack Iran without the connivance of the US because they have to fly over Iraq,
The only other alternative would be to fly over Saudi Arabia or Turkey.
Nonsense. Ballistic missiles go into space and return on a reentry trajectory, at 10000 mph. If Israel's nuclear warheads are of the small tactical variety, Israel will need to use about 100 of them to disable Iran. If Israel has megaton throw weights, then it won't need as many. Either way, the consent of the USA is not needed.
Bombs away!!
Barak didn't say that Iran wasn't a threat, he merely said that Iran is rational enough not to launch an immediate nuclear attack on Israel. Possession of nuclear weapons would allow Iran to back Hezbollah and Hamas to the hilt, with complete impunity. Those irregular armies can destroy Israel all by themselves if they can mobilize the entire Palestinian masses to join them. Having the deterrent power that nuclear weapons provide would allow Iran to destroy Israel slowly and systematically. Israel has no real defence against this either, unless it preempts Iran with a full nuclear strike.
So Israel, what are you waiting for? Get your war on already.
The problem in the Midddle rests with Tribal politics and neolithic religions. The Shah was a "pis aller" strong man but he kept the mullahs in check. Do-gooders in this country egged on ayatollah what's his name. Savak became an evil name and we all know the rest of the story. The Danish caricature of Muhhamed with a smoking bomb has a basis in reality. It would behove anybody who gives credence to peaceful Muslim aspirations to rent "The Battle of Algiers" or "The Sword of Gideon." Il y a encore ceux qui se souviennent de l'aide qu'Israel a porte a la France pendant l'Insurrection Alkgerienne.
Israel has always “felt very proud that we never asked the Americans to come and fight for us.”
haha….sure…And who foot the bill for your arsenal?
Israel should begin by going it alone monetarily. As long as its hand is stuck in America's pocketbook it is rarely ever "going it alone."
and if totally shilled out total propaganda recollects correctly,iether did any other concerned party,pity that is