Israel to attack Iran 'in the spring'

[Guest]

Pox News reports Leon Panetta is saying Israel plans to attack Iran's nuclear installations very soon. Also that the explosion at one of those facilities in November is the site where Iran is building a long-range missile that could reach the US. Sound familiar?

[teamsaint]

Pox News reports Leon Panetta is saying Israel plans to attack Iran's nuclear installations very soon. Also that the explosion at one of those facilities in November is the site where Iran is building a long-range missile that could reach the US. Sound familiar?

Oh, I am not worried, what with having a peace loving Democratic US president .

Oh well, i expect dave and hi mates in the millionaires row cabinet will get some arms sales out of it. So not all bad.

[eighthobstruction]

....and it could all start 40 minutes from....NOW....

Pwsshh !!....

[teamsaint]

....and it could all start 40 minutes from....NOW....

Pwsshh !!....

??

[kernelbogey]

....and it could all start 40 minutes from....NOW....

Pwsshh !!....

If you have any friends in the MoD, recommend they don't go on country walks alone....

[teamsaint]

If you have any friends in the MoD, recommend they don't go on country walks alone....

because...........??
Mossad? MI 6?

The David Kelly thing?

[kernelbogey]

because...........??
Mossad? MI 6?

The David Kelly thing?

We seem to be talking about a similar sexing up, here, to the Iraq dossier - so, yes, I was referring to the mysterious death of David Kelly, to there never having been a formal inquest and to the sealing of the papers on his death for tens of years (50?).

[teamsaint]

too many people with connections to the powerful in our society "commit suicide" in my view.

time we looked at what governments actually do (like the things you mention) rather than their lovely spin.

Iran is no threat at all really.
And if it is, their are better ways than war to deal with them.

Peace isn't too profitable, though.

[Mr Pee]

too many people with connections to the powerful in our society "commit suicide" in my view.

Care to provide a list?

[french frank]

The story seems to have started with the Washington Post.

[Lateralthinking1]

Pox News reports Leon Panetta is saying Israel plans to attack Iran's nuclear installations very soon. Also that the explosion at one of those facilities in November is the site where Iran is building a long-range missile that could reach the US. Sound familiar?

The report emanates from David Ignacius of the Washington Post. He was writing from Brussels where Panetta was attending a NATO meeting as confirmed in french frank's link.

One might ask which Ignacius was writing. The journalist with extensive interests in the Middle East or the novelist who specialises in spy thrillers? The moderator at the World Economic Forum who made the Turks furious by giving twice the speaking time to the Israelis or the trustee of the German Marshall Fund?

The member of the Council of Foreign Relations for 28 years, the ex member of the Governing Board of St. Albans School or the current member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies based in The Temple?

The latter was founded by Denis Healey in 1958 and claims it "was hugely influential in setting the intellectual structures for managing the Cold War." It is both a private company limited by guarantee in UK law and a registered charity and it has branches in the U.S. One almost yearns for Atlantic Bridge.

Anyhow, if it is accurate, Panetta should know. The ex Republican was Director of the CIA. A big question is how it might play in the Presidential election. Israel's ability to act depends on tacit western endorsement. It couldn't do so believing it would be shunned. This may still though just be a war of words for it is hard to see how Lord Sebastian Coe would ever permit it to happen.

[french frank]

What we don't know is:

whether the WP report is correct - that Panetta has ever said what is reported. Where are the sources of the story likely to stand on the issue?

if he did, what was his take on it? Was he expressing extreme concern? Was he saying that intense pressure was being put on Israel not to take such action? Was he assuring Israel that the US would be standing behind them with support if necessary?

do we think that the US is shaping up for yet another war after pulling out of damaging and expensive wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?

is this just a bit more sabre-rattling, and if so, by whom?

[Mahlerei]

Sabre rattling it most certainly is. Pox's take on it? Barely suppressed glee.

[Mr Pee]

Sabre rattling it most certainly is. Pox's take on it? Barely suppressed glee.

This sounds very much like sabre-rattling to me:-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9059179/Iran-We-will-help-cut-out-the-cancer-of-Israel.html

When Israel has to contend with this sort of dangerous fanaticism on its very doorstep, they are surely entitled to take all necessary steps to defend themselves.

[french frank]

When Israel has to contend with this sort of dangerous fanaticism on its very doorstep, they are surely entitled to take all necessary steps to defend themselves.

Not really. I don't imagine many people in the 'democratic West' would support Iran's crazy pronouncements along those lines. But Israel should realise that if it expects support from that 'democratic West' it can't just take any action it likes. It would be a gamble, challenging the rest of the world to support one side or the other, since the repercussions would spread far beyond the Middle East and the two countries involved.