Israels to brief George Bush on options for Iran strike

[followerofchrist]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/worl...icle3137521.eceISRAELI security officials are to brief President George W Bush on their latest intelligence about Iran’s nuclear programme - and how it could be destroyed - when he begins a tour of the Middle East in Jerusalem this week. Ehud Barak, the defence minister, is said to want to convince him that an Israeli military strike against uranium enrichment facilities in Iran would be feasible if diplomatic efforts failed to halt nuclear operations. A range of military options has been prepared. Last month it was revealed that the US National Intelligence Estimate report, drawing together information from 16 agencies, had concluded that Iran stopped a secret nuclear weapon programme in 2003. Israeli intelligence is understood to agree that the project was halted around the time of America’s invasion of Iraq, but has “rock solid” information that it has since started up again. While security officials are reluctant to reveal all their intelligence, fearing that leaks could jeopardise the element of surprise in any future attack, they are expected to present the president with fresh details of Iran’s enrichment of uranium - which could be used for civil or military purposes - and the development of missiles that could carry nuclear warheads. In an interview with the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot this weekend, Bush argued that in spite of the US intelligence assessment, Iran still posed a threat. “I read the intelligence report carefully,” Bush said. “In essence, what the report said was that Iran had a secret plan to develop nuclear weapons. “I’m saying that a state which adopted a nontransparent policy and had a secret plan for developing nuclear weapons could easily develop an alternative plan for the same purpose. So to conclude from the intelligence report that there is no Iranian plan to develop nuclear weapons will be only a partial truth.” Israeli security officials believe the only way to prevent uranium enrichment to military grade is to destroy Iranian installations. Many Israelis are eager to know whether America would give their country the green light to attack, as it did last September when Israel struck a mysterious nuclear site in Syria. Bush refused to be drawn when asked whether he would support an Israeli attack. “My message to all countries in the region is that we are able to solve the problem in a diplomatic way,” he said, “but all options are on the table.”

 

[BernieEOD]

For the 4th time, Enriched uranium does not make for a nuclear weapon! You will need to either buils a facility to extract the U-235 or a plutonium processinf facilty which you neocns have yet to produce any evidence of. The Isreali Air Force, as good as it is is only the size of one of our states Air Gueard units and s not cpable of conducting the prolonged air war needed to wipe out all 3,000 plus units. The only thing the IAF can do is to agrivate the situation.

 

[prayerfulsoul]

Looking at our messy our situation is at home, I don't see how the US can afford to attack another country at this point. Morale is low at home, economy is shaky, not to mention that Iraq is still in a mess. Plus, gas prices are high already; I don't think that attacking Iran will prevent those prices from increasing double at least. Besides this is not our problem. The UN should be working on preventing this from happening, not the US. When did we start becoming the world police? That is why the UN was formed; to prevent countries from causing war and annihilation. We need to stay out of it.

 

[Wakka]

Not another war :,(. I'm sick and tired of wars already! We all are!