To hear Israeli officials talk, the war on Iran is more a matter of “if” than “when.” But new reports today in the Israeli press are throwing doubt into what the war will look like and what role the US will play in it.
The Obama Administration keeps talking up the idea of adding more and more sanctions against Iran, and Israel’s Channel 2 News is now quoting unnamed US sources saying that while they are committed to Israel’s defense they wouldn’t necessarily join into a war just because Israel starts it.
Unlikely as that seems, Vice Premier Silvan Shalom’s got an even more unlikely hypothetical today, saying in his own interview on Israeli Radio that he doesn’t think Iran would necessarily do anything if attacked, but might just let it slide.
Israeli officials have been trying to compare this to the quick in-and-out air strike on Iraq’s nuclear reactor in 1981, but attacking Iran’s civilian nuclear program is expected to be a protracted bombing campaign targeting several sites nationwide. It seems unthinkable that Iran is simply going to sit back and let such an attack happen without any reaction.
One would hope that the Iranians would treat an Israeli attack the same way Bismark said he'd respond if Britain landed troops on the coast of Germany. Asked what he'd do he answered, "send for the police".
Israel doesn't have the assets to do much damage to the Iranian nuclear facilities. They can hardly damage Natanz and they complain bitterly that Fordo is inside a mountain where they can't get at it. Their only hope is to trick the US into joining in.
The leadership of Iran were around and endured much more protracted and damaging bombing during the Iran-Iraq war. There's every possibility they could in fact ignore a one-time Israeli attack, avoid giving the US an excuse to join in, and leave Israel dangling with the fury of the entire world landing on their doorstep. It's likely that possibility that Shimon Peres was talking about when he said that an Israeli attack on Iran could be the end of Israel.
Iran may yet prove to be playing chess to the Israeli checkers.
“Iran would necessarily do anything if attacked, but might just let it slide”.., to answer this is very simple.., give it a chance, let see if the Iranian missiles will slide or hit Israel and US army bases in Afghanistan, The Turkish NATO military base, the Saudis army, the Qatari US navy bases and whatever is out there for the Iranian to hit, lets just try for one or two months and see what is going to be left of the world economy, or what is left of it. Here no drama about how many cities are distroyed and humans are killed.., we will get back to you on that. Meanwhile I think this guy working for Chevron or Shell or perhaps Exxon or other Oil companies getting paid by the words and how effective it might be.
Of course the US should join in the fray and put a stop to the lunacy of this zionist Nutty-yahoo. Enough is enough. Going to war with Iran would vitiate against anything neo-cons can conjure to justify the criminal act. Hello, Iran has done nothing wrong in pursuing to develop nuclear enery for peaceful purposes. It is a signatory to NPT and has granted access to IAEA inspections. You would think the US would side with Iran against the unprovoked threats from the illegitimate zionist colony in Palestine, with its clandestine nuclear arsenal. It also happens to be the only nuclear-armed entity in the region, which refuses to sign the NPT and bankrolls its existence on the largesse of American tax-payers! Not a chance – so long that the US leadership fails to work up the courage to stand up for US, and not Israeli interests. Nutty has shown more than once just who the boss is!
Do the israelis think that Iran will just sit back and let it slide. One way to find out even if you give it your best shot together with america`s the blowback will far exceed your expectations.If you are to exist on stolen lands you must also live with nuclear Iran.
Premier Silvan Shalom is dead wrong….Aggression against Iran, illegal sanctions and endless kind of Goebless propaganda lies from Zionist criminals, Iran MUST!!!! defend itself and "go" after aggressors all the way to final victory…
If Iran was to lose or surrender, then Zionists would for decades!!! exploite whole Iranian Nation, its riches etc.. exatly just like they created Holocaust industry and till this day exploite and blackmail Nations, Corporations, Banks …you name it.
Iranians are brave and UNITED with great leaders and their fight with Zionist satanists would be either way "fight for their survival, fight for their childern, fight for everything these people and their culture build over towsends of years". Temporary regime occupaing Jerusalem, province of Palestine called Israel with its rasist, unhuman, fanatical ideology brought nothing good to mankind, only destruction, peoples sufering and terrorism. It was UN and Mankind worsest ever and tragig mistake and correction will be for Planet people very painful …. Nobody is safe from these arroogant warmongers and I trust many Muslims first, and many members of another religions from around the globe will later keep joining battle on all fronts against this "Enemy of Humanity" for this Destructive Ideology is behind missery througout the whole WORLD…. Rich and importent religion Judaism based on Torah has nothing to do with blashemes, political, colonial and brutal ideology Zionism, Iran cornered like Japan before WW2 has advantage and lessons from history. peter czech
Lets hope the US does not lcontinue to let Israel lead us into another war.
Let's hope that you quit ripping on Israel for wanting to survive.
What good came from Israel?, tell us Roger! What ever made Israel for ME? From its begining ME is in wars and pernament preparednes for wars! Why can Israel have illegal, undeclared arsenal of WMD? Tellus, /but please not some bul….it about God as Realestate Agent or Chosen race etc. – we are not sheep audience of CNN/..thank you Peter vojta
Tell me, when was there ever peace in that region unless is was given by a Jewish King?
Was there ever peace in the world ever? I think not.
There was the "Pax Romana".
If they would turn off their war machine they would be able to survive
If islam would step down there would be peace tomorrow.
If Israel steps down they would be gone tomorrow.
See that subtle difference?
Nothing subtle about that, Rog.
Well the plan is for israel to be gone tomorrow.
The God of Israel might have something to say about that.
You might as well leave. Nobody will agree with you on this site. This site has rational people posting here.
Did wee approve that comment?
The way you two coordinate off forum I was just curious….
It's kind of hard to think of the US not following Israel into Iran like a lapdog, given the enormous number of Congressmen and Senators owned by AIPAC and the dozens of pro-Israel organizations it represents.
Besides, Washington can't resist interfering in someone else's wars.