After viewing the results of a Pentagon war simulation and securing more military funding from the U.S., Israel has decided to put off any plans for a unilateral strike on Iran until at least next year, according to reports.
The so-called war game was classified but details have been reported about its revealing implications after a preventive Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. It forecasted that a “strike would lead to a wider regional war, which could draw in the United States” and would immediately get at least 200 Americans killed in Iran’s retaliation.
Amir Oren, writing for Ha’aretz, reported that “the meaning of this U.S. scenario is that the blood of these 200 would be on Israel’s hands,” and therefore any Israeli attack in 2012 has been called off.
“At 8:58 P.M. on Tuesday, Israel’s 2012 war against Iran came to a quiet end,” Oren writes. “The capricious plans for a huge aerial attack were returned to the deep recesses of safes and hearts. The war may not have been canceled but it has certainly been postponed. For a while, at least, we can sound the all clear: It won’t happen this year.”
The other apparent factor placing an attack on Iran out of the question, at least for now, was U.S. promises of more money to fund Israel’s expensive anti-missile defense system, the Iron Dome.
This echoes earlier reports that the Obama administration may have offered Israel advanced weaponry in return for putting off a possible attack on Iran until after the 2012 presidential elections. After Obama’s now famous gaffe in what he thought was a private moment with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, it is confirmed that he employs his domestic election cycle in negotiating with other heads of state.
A building consensus within the U.S. and the international community, that an Israeli unilateral strike on Iran would be both unwarranted and counterproductive, may also have pressured Israeli leaders to stop considering an attack at least for this year, if these reports are in fact true.
I didn't realize Barak would have to make a "screw you America, and your handouts" speech to "clarify" an Israeli strike on Iran is imminent. I thought Bibi's trip to the US provided more than enough 'information' for the Israeli 'powers that be' to reasonably conclude Mr. Obama will not openly oppose an Israeli strike on Iran–much less, publicly blame Israel for "the blood of Americans". Although I'd like to believe Amir Oren's interpretation of a seemingly insignificant and inconsequential speech made by an Israeli Defense Minister–which would sound the same with or without Iran on the planet–I'm not sure how he arrived at his conclusions…
Israel should be attacked and really punished for its endless agressions and terror against people in ME. Collateral damage in Israel should be viewed as acceptable as this "colonist, brutal regime" can never be part of civilized world… Its arsenal of WMD is treat to WORLD PEACE.
People in Israel should experience horrors of wars to some way people in ME experienced within the period of this /for humanity/ most embarising project – period of existence state of Israel. Only then can World expect change within Israel …Israel simply has to suffer defeat, or wars "made in Israel" will continue forever…
"…the blood of these 200 would be on Israel’s hands,” and therefore any Israeli attack in 2012 has been called off.
Since when have the Israelies cared about the blood of Americans? Just ask those of the USS Liberty?
" …and securing more military funding from the U.S., Israel has decided to put off any plans for a unilateral strike on Iran until at least next year, according to reports."
Remember this when yer workin' on that 1040. You pay for this and if you refuse men with guns will come to haul you away and into a cage with violent inmates and if you resist they will kill you.
Never forget that the AmeriKan gummit is a government of the criminals, by the criminals, for the criminals and is the most successfull criminal enterprise the world as ever known.
WHAT?!?! Lead to wider war??? Who woulda thunk?!? And this exercise in confirming the overwhelmingly obvious cost how much?
The only language that Israel government will ever understand is language by the united world against Israel apartheid regime and a total boycott of Israel goods and services, all other options are theoretically correct, but in practical terms is not going to happen. This will happen only when the progressive governments are in place and UN half moon is replaced by a progressive and understanding body. The Entire EU is paying Israel to be what it is, all of these regimes are rightwing conservatives including Swedish or Norwegian, or Danish social democrats, so goes for the US “democratic" government.
Giving Israel 'more advanced weapons' is a rather weak way of saying 'no'.
If the Iranian project is set back for six months or several years, it seems only reasonable that other countries in the middle east will scramble to complete their own projects in the meantime: because a nuclear armed Iran would be the opposite of a domino. It would use open and covert means to deny this weapon to its competitors and surrogates.
A defensive shield or agreement on the part of Israel would not have this effect, not as far as I can see.
The Iron Dome will only defend against small missiles, and still has but a 80%
interception rate at best.
How convenient! They must not hate Obama as much as everybody thinks after all.
I guess Iran isn't such a clear and present 'existential threat' to Israel after all. Whatcha think?