NETANYAHU TELLS U.N. IRAN COULD HAVE NUKES BY SPRING

Is war imminent?

Joel C. Rosenberg
(Washington, D.C., September 26, 2012) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told world leaders Thursday that Iran is 70 percent of the way to building its first nuclear bomb, and could complete its work by spring 2013, or by summer at the latest.

In a powerful, sobering address to the U.N. General Assembly, Netanyahu said it was getting "very late" to stop Iran's "apocalyptic leaders" from getting The Bomb. He called for the world to impose a clear "red line" on Iran, stating precisely at what point Iran's actions would provoke a military response. He said he did not have confidence that even the best intelligence agencies would know exactly when Iran had built its first nuclear warhead. The goal, he insisted, has to be to stop Iran from enriching enough uranium to be able to build its first warhead. Time to accomplish that, he made clear, is running out fast.

Does this mean war is imminent? It depends, I guess, on one's definition of imminent. Israel may or may not launch an "October Surprise." But by indicating Iran could have the Bomb by next spring, it does appear as if the Israeli leader was laying down what could be a final marker before he orders his forces into battle.

Reports the New York Times: "Netanyahu of Israel told the United Nations on Thursday that he believes Iran's ability to make an atomic weapon will be irreversible by next spring or summer -- a far more specific time frame than he had asserted before -- and he argued that a "clear red line" must be drawn to warn the Iranians they must halt their nuclear fuel enrichment before then."