Home > Israel Plans Strike on Iran (brought to you by the makers of ’Strike on Iraq’)

Israel Plans Strike on Iran (brought to you by the makers of ’Strike on Iraq’)

by Open-Publishing - Sunday 15 May 2005
16 comments

Wars and conflicts International

Revealed: Israel plans strike on Iranian nuclear plant
Uzi Mahnaimi

ISRAEL has drawn up secret plans for a combined air and ground attack on targets in Iran if diplomacy fails to halt the Iranian nuclear programme.

The inner cabinet of Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, gave “initial authorisation” for an attack at a private meeting last month on his ranch in the Negev desert.

Israeli forces have used a mock-up of Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment plant in the desert to practise destroying it. Their tactics include raids by Israel’s elite Shaldag (Kingfisher) commando unit and airstrikes by F-15 jets from 69 Squadron, using bunker-busting bombs to penetrate underground facilities.

The plans have been discussed with American officials who are said to have indicated provisionally that they would not stand in Israel’s way if all international efforts to halt Iranian nuclear projects failed.

Israel presents aerial photos of Iran nuclear sites to Bush

Tehran claims that its programme is designed for peaceful purposes but Israeli and American intelligence officials - who have met to share information in recent weeks - are convinced that it is intended to produce nuclear weapons.

The Israeli government responded cautiously yesterday to an announcement by Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, that America would support Britain, France and Germany in offering economic incentives for Tehran to abandon its programme.

In return, the European countries promised to back Washington in referring Iran to the United Nations security council if the latest round of talks fails to secure agreement.

Silvan Shalom, the Israeli foreign minister, said he believed that diplomacy was the only way to deal with the issue. But he warned: “The idea that this tyranny of Iran will hold a nuclear bomb is a nightmare, not only for us but for the whole world.”

Dick Cheney, the American vice-president, emphasised on Friday that Iran would face “stronger action” if it failed to respond. But yesterday Iran rejected the initiative, which provides for entry to the World Trade Organisation and a supply of spare parts for airliners if it co-operates.

“No pressure, bribe or threat can make Iran give up its legitimate right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes,” said an Iranian spokesman.

US officials warned last week that a military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities by Israeli or American forces had not been ruled out should the issue become deadlocked at the United Nations.

Additional reporting: Tony Allen-Mills, Washington

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/articl...

Forum posts

  • Well I hope Israel is successful; France, Germany and Britain with all their talk have been ineffective in dissuading the mad mullahs of Iran from executing the nuclear program.

  • I hope Iran strikes back. The phony Nazi coalition: America, Britain and Israel must learn it the hard way. And why shouldn’t Iran have a nuclear bomb? America has proven its evil in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Iran is not threatening the world by using a bomb! Guess who is: USA.

  • Dream on. But if they (Israel) do and Iran hits back dont cry foul...We poor poor Israelis those bad bad Persians are trying to kill us. Another Tax paying American, who know where his taxes are going.

  • It is so cute that people believe that Israel could even fathom a plan like that without any of the tools necessary. Their jets can barely make it to Iran’s border and back without refueling in mid-air (which Israel cannot do). The best part is the ground commandos. If their best jet cannot make it to Iran and back, how do you get ground commandos with the necessary gear on the ground and back out!

    There is a line that propaganda crosses when it becomes a joke and a plausible Israeli strike is that joke.

    As a side note, Israel only took out the Iraq reactor DURING the Iran-Iraq war and AFTER Iran took out Iraqi radar and and ground defenses in a previous failed raid to destory the reactor.
    It is easy to take out a reactor when the country is at war and has already been weakened. Funny how no news agencies mention that tid-bit.

  • I don’t give a shit about mullas. But don’t forget that Iran is my country. I will defend it in any way that I can.
    Since when israel has become the big boy thinking that he can do anything he wants specially when it is about IRAN? What a joke! Israel need to be wise, sit there and don’t make a mistake, unless they want to start WWIII and be wiped off the map.
    A word to those who want to see Iran go down. Dream on.
    Iran has not and will not be an agressor, but don’t make a mistake; Iran will defend itself and take care of the business. Whomever or whatever that business is.

    • well..everytime i look at iranian tv all i see is death to israel..and USA/ISrael flags burning..death to isreal..DEATH TO ISRAEL!!!!!!!

      and you guys want nukes?. now israel is very small..and iran thinks it can wipe it out with one blow..
      not hapening..land of israel will not fall...USA will fall before israel will... if leader of israel and USA were animals like the ones in tehran..it would take one hour to put BIG IRAN back into the stone age.

  • Unfortunately the Iranian leaders are so caught up in the belief that Israel is the devil and must be destroyed at all costs that they would probably launch a nuclear stirke against Israel regardless of what the response from Israel would be. As most people know the cornerstone of their belief is that should they die in battle they will go on to a much "better" world, so what have they got to lose by being killed in a nuclear reprisal.

    To summarise: If Iran launches a nuclear strike against Israel and Israel is forced to strike back, the number of civilian casualties on both side would be unimaginable.

    To conclude: If Israel takes out Iran’s nuclear capability they are in effect saving not only countless Israeli lives but also millions of Iranian civilian lives too.

    Brian
    South Africa

    • Iran won’t attack Israel, not with Zioland having 200-300 nukes to strike back,
      not to mention that thousands of Arabs would die right along with Jews.

      I can’ blame Israel for being worried. Still didn’t the Iranians agreed to Russian demands that spent fuel would be returned to Russia and isn’t the AECL still able to investigae IRanian plants?

      Gee this issue is confusing!

  • Iran should take out the country so called isNotReal or doesNotExist and solve the world’s age old problem once and for all. Israel knows what is ganna come if it takes a wrong move. I suggest Israel don’t move at all.

    Remember, Iran once saved Israel a long time ago, and then let you live there. This time around Iranians may not be so generous. So think twice.

    • Israel should think hundard times before attacking Iran. Iran does not need a nuclear bomb to destroy Israel, but only the hundards of Shahabs missiles. I do not like our Mullahs but beleive me, we persians will make sure that you dirty bastards are tought a lesson so you never forget how we persian helped you in the past, and how we can cause untinkable damage to your phony nation.

  • Why would anyone trust these people and any so called evidence they present? Who are they fooling? No one thinks they are protecting anyone. But they go on, not realizing or not caring that everyone can see what they are doing.

    I’m glad that they press on in this manner because I am sure that whatever they try will backfire on them and all will be exposed. Israel(the government) needs to come down with the U.S. It is time for everyone to see what is happening to the Palestinian people.

    I do not believe that the good people of Israel or Palestine want to live in the hell that the Israeli/Sharon government has created.

  • A strike on Iran right now would cause hell on earth. I hope Israel and the U.S. are prepared for the consequences of defending themselves against the entire middle east, Russia, and whoever else takes the side of Iran. Israel does have the capacity for destroying the reactor, they do have long range missles and will, most likely, be provided the necessary weapons and strategies by the U.S. military, if nothing else.

    This would be world war IV and the end of life on earth as we know it.

    Here’s my advice: Invite all the worlds leaders to a giant ecstacy party.

  • This is the utmost in lunacy. Should Israel or the US strike Iran the price will be very high. Sharon and Bush need to be replace immediately if not sooner.

  • It’s biggoted comments like the one above that shows just how much the Jews need a country like Israel.

  • A nuclear war is not a "I strike you, You strike me, who survives wins the war!". One such war would affect the whole planet globally for many many years to come and every one of us (inhabitants of planet earth) would suffer the consequences very dearly. If any of us would look back at the record of nuclear development up to this date it won’t be hard to see that apart from Hiroshima, Nakasaki, and Chernobil; the pollution that nuclear waste creates is unbearable and unacceptable. I am an Iranian, The levels of pollution of all Iran’s big cities are very high. I distrust the Leaders of Iran regarding their programs of nuclear development as I assume that they are not aiming for making atomic bombs. The unprofessional and ambiguous government of my country could not even handle fossile fuel properly. To whom should I propose hydrogen fuel and the clean Hydrogen engine technology as an alternative?

    • Iran would make Vietnam look like a cakewalk. If you really want your kids put through a meatgrinder like that on the evidence supplied by Sharon and the Bush administration then you are crazy.
      They have lied to you repeatedly and you’re willing to believe them again? You fools. As your dopey pres tried to say - Fool me once, shame on you - fool me twice, shame on me.