Though it may seem strange in the US, where the question of selling the public on a war is more of an afterthought, in Israel it is serious business. That’s because Israeli civilians fear that an attack on Iran would spawn a retaliatory strike and a major regional war that would have them in the crosshairs.
To that end, Israeli officials continue to downplay the seriousness of that retaliatory strike, with military officials today claiming that if Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas launched a coordinated missile attack across Israel, they would cause “less than 300 Israeli casualties.”
This statement is nothing short of incredible, particularly since Israeli officials often visit the West with stories of Iran’s massive missile arsenal threatening the entire planet. It is the least casualties predicted yet, and a considerable drop-off from the “500 killed” predicted by Ehud Barak as a result of an Iran-only retaliatory strike.
The claims are designed, of course, to convince the average Israeli civilian that they won’t be too likely to be killed in the ensuing war that the government plans to start. Yet the statement must also raise questions about not just the case for war, but why the United States feels to need to hurl billions of dollars in additional weaponry at Israel annually, if the “worst case scenario” is truly so tame.
wow so the threat of iran, hezzbolah and hamas combined are almost as big an existential threat to israel as Arteriosclerosis,
and almost a third of the existential threat that pneumonia poses to the state of israel.
http://www.cbs.gov.il/hodaot2010n/05_10_188e.pdf
Can these people be honest at least with their own, then again this is an estimated number of killed people, but then again the word “estimation" is from “estimated” is hypothetical it can also be a delusional matter pretending that is true. Then again, people, we are dealing with Zionism estimation, estimating that one day the USA – EU is going to be theirs, only theirs and they wont share it not even with the English.
mojo, maybe not much of EU, but the US is already theirs–lock, stock, and barrel.
The inhabitants and leaders of the rogue state of Israel are becoming crazier by the day. Apparently 80% of Israelis believe they are "chosen people". Does this exclusivity also suspension of powers of reason? The world really needs to take note of this violent tribe, I think they are capable of destroying us all.
israel will be the end of the human race. they will use their nukes on us once we cut ties and stop sending money and arms….
Israel is pretty lame to point out their own propaganda is a lie, and expect everyone to still believe the lie.
Not a very credible 'existential threat' to even the tiniest of nations.
However if it is ONLY 300 to be killed let them be the fools of the Knesset, and the Generals who give the orders!
Hopefully, the 300 souls that must be sacrificed would consist of Netanyahou, Lieberman, hawkish Knesset members, other Likud Party officials and/or "settlers".
Only Chtulhu can destroy souls.
Generally, earthly religions invent stuff about transmigration, afterlife or some other permanence in the face of death of whatever the "soul" concept encompasses (clearly an animistic concept; how can any material structure have "soul"? beats me. People can't even agree on whether it retains memories or any computational power whatsoever)
So no sacrifice.
Even one death is too many…especially if you're the one getting killed…human life means nothing to extremists. What a sad, sad world we live in. Its the only one we got, not like we can jump on a ship and move to another planet. Fools have far too much say in how countries on this planet are governed. Leaders need to lead for each countries population instead of wanting death and laying down policies of death. Maybe we don't deserve this planet.
Any bets on whether Obama or Clinton or Panetta calls Bibi and asks for clarification on the numbers – because here in DC all the Israel Firsters are claiming that Israels' fate and continued existence are completely dependent on US aid to thwart the massive missile attacks fro the Iranians.
I also wonder if Bibi has told the Israeli people personally that it's OK for those "300" to die – it's for the good of the country. Sounds kinda cold and calculating to me…but, that's just this old Curmudgeon's opinion…
So the next thing they'll tell the world that 300 of em have already volunteered.
Gee only 300 will get killed. I wonder how that they will meet us with roses worked out. I suspect that none of the 300 will be war mongers like Bolton or bibi. Getting harmed in conflict is not something that will happen to those that profit selling war toys. It is amazing that someone will even try to make a statement about what will happen in a day when thousands of rockets can come falling on a major city. I suspect the fact that thousands and possible close to 1/2 million dual citizen have not been to home in Israel in over a year tells a different story. Those dual citizens will just enjoy the good life provided by the over taxed people of New York.
Regime change in Tel Aviv next. The United States cannot afford to have a nuclear-armed "friend" in the ME led by crazies like Netanyahu and Lieberman.
israels nukes are used to prevent just that…..
they are protection against any possible efforts by the US and Europe to end the racist zionist project
they were never intended to protect against some phantom muslim threat
the ZIONIST ENTITY is a GANGSTER STATE founded by a bunch of wanted TERRORIST (THE STERN GANG). they are the paid MERCANARIES. if the USA stopped the supply of cash and weapons they would all go home to USA or EUROPE.
more like 300,000.
That they'd be so flippant about their own citizens deaths should tell everyone including their own just how much they value their lives.
Iran is an existential threat to Israel
Iran is so weak that its safe to attack Iran as Iran can't hurt Israel
Iran is an existential threat to Israel
Iran is so weak that its safe to attack Iran as Iran can't hurt Israel
war is peace
peace is war
freedom is slavery
slavery is freedom
Ignorance is strength
strength is ignorance
Iran is an existential threat to Israel
Iran is so weak that its safe to attack Iran as Iran can't hurt Israel
Praying for world peace post war, I am personally hoping the number is more like 3,000,000.
That would neutered the warmongering, racist nation of Israel.
I wonder why my comment as follows was not published when the two comments by “the lion” and “richard” basically say the same thing?!
Israeli Military: Enemy Attack Would Kill “Less Than 300″
Good. Then start the war tomorrow. Hopefully all the crazy war mongers in Israel would be the only batch to be blown to hell.
[moderator’s note: And I wonder why you still don’t have it through your head — how many times have we gone over this now? — that when, for whatever reason, your comments get caught in the AUTOMATED moderation filters, I rescue and publish them as soon as I find them. I was sick today, and got a few hours behind. When are you going to stop imagining evil censors hiding behind every short wait? – TLK]
for the zionists, it does not matter how many people die, only that more goyim and muslims die AND the racist zionist project continues to expand
SOmeone is very dumb
Obviously a tongue-in-cheek reference to the movie "300", where "King Leonidas and a force of 300 men fight the Persians at Thermopylae in 480 B.C."
Where else would the number "300" come from? A hole in the wall? A horse's mouth?
Yes, only 300 casualties. Hear that, Diaspora Jews? Better make aliyah because Israel is the only safe place for Jews on the planet.
Israel says: "blah blah blah…oi! blah blah blah, Iran…blah blah blah…anti-semitism…blah blah blah jew hater…blah blah blah send more money…blah blah blah, blah blah, blah blah, blah"
And if this is the case, then, why all the talk about Iran wanting to annihilate them, then? They shouldn't even be mentioning that. Gawd I hate these bastards!
Any volunteers?
300 at the wost case senerio??? That's like a mild earthquake…how can Israel lose on this? Will there be flower throwing as well?
If I was an israeli tourist, I'd be pretty scared right now.