1. Israel Has 'Amber Light' from US on Iran Strike, But No Support
by Ze'ev Ben-Yechiel
Israel will have an “amber light” from the U.S. to launch a strike on Iran
if other measures fail, according to a source in the Pentagon. The statement,
appearing Sunday in Britain’s Sunday Times, said that American President George
Bush has given Israel conditional approval for an attack on the Islamic Republic
if current diplomatic initiatives fail in stopping the latter’s nuclear weapons
program.
According to the source, a high-level defense official in the Pentagon, the President has given Israel the go-ahead on an Iran strike if sanctions and other non-military means fail, reports JPost. The unconfirmed report acknowledged that the “amber light” came in spite of opposition among top brass in the U.S. armed forces, and despite American worries over the political and economic consequences that such an attack would carry.
'Amber means get on with your preparations, stand by for immediate attack and tell us when you're ready,' said the official.
However, Israel will not be able to count on U.S. military support for the strike, according to the official. Despite hopes that Israel will carry out the onerous task of eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat, the official added that the Israeli Air Force would not be permitted to refuel at American air bases in Iraq. This contradicts recent reports indicating a willingness to allow Israel to use American bases as a staging area for the operation.
According to a Friday report from officials in the Iraqi Defense Ministry, there is already an IAF presence in Iraq, with Israeli war planes landing on U.S. air bases and practicing in Iraqi airspace. The report, published in a local Iraqi newspaper, said that IAF activity in Iraq is believed to be part of Israeli preparations for a possible strike on Iran.
America, as the leading Western nation, expects Israel to take on the Iranian threat single-handedly, despite the global nature of the threat, according to the Pentagon official,.
'It's really all down to the Israelis,' said the official. 'This administration will not attack Iran. This has already been decided. But the president is really preoccupied with the nuclear threat against Israel and I know he doesn't believe that anything but force will deter Iran.'
However, the official added, 'if there is no solid plan, the amber will never turn to green,' noting that Israel has yet to offer Bush a convincing military proposal.
He admitted that the prospect of American support for an Israeli strike has met considerable resistance within the Pentagon, mainly from officers who fear a counterattack from Iranian. 'The uniform people are opposed to the attack plans, mainly because they think it will endanger our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan,' said the official.
As recently as Saturday Iranian leaders repeated their threat to destroy Israel. Mojtaba Zolnour, an aide to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, added that his country would also wipe out the 32 US army bases in the region in response to an attack on the Islamic Republic.
'If Israel and the US fire a bullet or a missile at Iran, its forces will attack the heart of Israel and 32 American bases in the region before the dust from such an attack has settled,' threatened Zolnour, according to Iran's Fars news agency. He warned that such targets would be 'destroyed' by the Iranian counterstrike.
Shalom,
BettyAccording to the source, a high-level defense official in the Pentagon, the President has given Israel the go-ahead on an Iran strike if sanctions and other non-military means fail, reports JPost. The unconfirmed report acknowledged that the “amber light” came in spite of opposition among top brass in the U.S. armed forces, and despite American worries over the political and economic consequences that such an attack would carry.
'Amber means get on with your preparations, stand by for immediate attack and tell us when you're ready,' said the official.
However, Israel will not be able to count on U.S. military support for the strike, according to the official. Despite hopes that Israel will carry out the onerous task of eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat, the official added that the Israeli Air Force would not be permitted to refuel at American air bases in Iraq. This contradicts recent reports indicating a willingness to allow Israel to use American bases as a staging area for the operation.
According to a Friday report from officials in the Iraqi Defense Ministry, there is already an IAF presence in Iraq, with Israeli war planes landing on U.S. air bases and practicing in Iraqi airspace. The report, published in a local Iraqi newspaper, said that IAF activity in Iraq is believed to be part of Israeli preparations for a possible strike on Iran.
America, as the leading Western nation, expects Israel to take on the Iranian threat single-handedly, despite the global nature of the threat, according to the Pentagon official,.
'It's really all down to the Israelis,' said the official. 'This administration will not attack Iran. This has already been decided. But the president is really preoccupied with the nuclear threat against Israel and I know he doesn't believe that anything but force will deter Iran.'
However, the official added, 'if there is no solid plan, the amber will never turn to green,' noting that Israel has yet to offer Bush a convincing military proposal.
He admitted that the prospect of American support for an Israeli strike has met considerable resistance within the Pentagon, mainly from officers who fear a counterattack from Iranian. 'The uniform people are opposed to the attack plans, mainly because they think it will endanger our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan,' said the official.
As recently as Saturday Iranian leaders repeated their threat to destroy Israel. Mojtaba Zolnour, an aide to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, added that his country would also wipe out the 32 US army bases in the region in response to an attack on the Islamic Republic.
'If Israel and the US fire a bullet or a missile at Iran, its forces will attack the heart of Israel and 32 American bases in the region before the dust from such an attack has settled,' threatened Zolnour, according to Iran's Fars news agency. He warned that such targets would be 'destroyed' by the Iranian counterstrike.
Shalom,
Trust in the LORD and
do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land; and verily thou shalt be fed.
Psalm 37:3 