Posted on 04/18/2009 4:08:14 PM PDT by kellynla
TEL AVIV, Israel–The Israel Defense Forces is carrying out drills to practice for a possible massive aerial assault on Iran's nuclear facilities within days - or even hours - of being given the go-ahead by its new government, according to a report today in the Times of London.
"Israel wants to know that if its forces were given the green light they could strike at Iran in a matter of days, even hours. They are making preparations on every level for this eventuality. The message to Iran is that the threat is not just words," one unnamed senior defense official was quoted telling The Times.
The British newspaper quoted other unidentified defense sources explaining any Israeli attack on Iran would entail flying over Jordanian and Iraqi airspace, where U.S. forces have a strong presence.
Previous drills have included the use of F15 and F16 fighter jets, helicopters and refueling tankers, practicing bombing raids at long distances, according to the Times. Those drills took place last year, according to IDF sources speaking to WND.
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
Me too, but that is why it’s not going to happen. I doubt BiBi would push the button.
Yeah, well. There’s still a Bibi Picture Rule, so if you’ve ever looked at Ann Coulter or Catherine Zeta-Jones, you owe it to the women!
Thank you for serving! My daughter is going into the Coast Guard in mid-June.
>>”VP Cheney may have had a good idea how distributed and hardened the Iranian program was.”
I hope both sides are sharing intelligence. maybe that is a false hope.
One thing to consider is where they would do the in-air refueling. The available airspace is not in areas controlled by nations who would allow them access, including Iraq.
It also has disasters and embarrasssments like Lebanon 06 and Gaza.
Iran would be a catastrophe of the first order for Israel. Iran will bury them in Cobolt60 dust.
Better that they follow their own credo:
"By means of deception shall we wage war"
I seem to remember these kinds of discussions last summer right before Israel sent in the troops.
This could be a disinformation campaign or trial balloon. Rest assured though, one day it will happen and I'm betting sooner rather that later
I don’t know - probably nobody knows - whether Israel *can* strike a decisive blow against Iran’s nuclear program. Mr. Cheney’s opinion is certainly an informed and thoughtful one, but it’s still only one man’s opinion.
The only way to find out is to try, and sooner rather than later.
Yes. If you want to examine how it might go down to some degree read about Israels mission to take out the Osirik reactor in 1981.
>>I don’t know - probably nobody knows - whether Israel *can* strike a decisive blow against Iran’s nuclear program. Mr. Cheney’s opinion is certainly an informed and thoughtful one, but it’s still only one man’s opinion.
The only way to find out is to try, and sooner rather than later.<<
He may also have been trying to move public opinion to accept American action that never came....
Good point. I was very disappointed all along in the Bush Adminstration's stance on the Middle East, but it was Bush's policy, not Cheney's.
That is all they can hope for - to DELAY the threat.
Because Islamists will NEVER give up the dream of destroying or enslaving the Jews... It's in their DNA. It is the task their "religion" assigns to them... It is Israel's eternal struggle until one side or the other is destroyed or discouraged...
No sane man will sit and wait for a mad man to make good on threats made against him EVERY DAY.... If the world won't muzzle the Islamists in Iran, Syria, Pakistan, etc...... someone else MUST.
I only wonder if the Jews of today are made of the same stuff as the Jews who turned back the Muslim hoards of the past.
Thanks, I will.
And FR suffers embarrassing posts such as yours
As a matter of fact, yes. My company imports certain raw materials from Israel that would be difficult to process and procure from anywhere else.
I hope Israel knocks Iran back to the stone age. We've owed them for 30 years and done nothing. And that's why we've been terrorist targets ever since.
The only way it would work is if they use nukes on Iran.
****
That will be the one thing that brings all the nations against Israel. I say go Israel but oh my...little ole me can’t come to their rescue!!
I just have to believe God will and the blood will run to the horses bridles.
Where can we donate to cover the cost of this massive strike?
Israel lost the last two. I hope they catch up.
20,000 rockets will rain down from Lebanon. Katushas will fly in from Gaza. It will be all out Arab vs Jew and the Saudis will be deliciously happy that Iran was slapped.
I think the important point is *how* Israel will do it, and what tactical response Iran is likely to make. To start with, here is a map of the ME.
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/txu-oclc-192062619-middle_east_pol_2008.jpg
The Israeli air force recently conducted a major long range refueling exercise, which is essential in this case, as this will be one of their critical mission demands for many of their aircraft. Depending on circumstances, they will most likely fly via Jordan and Iraq. However, they may also get limited permissions from either Turkey or Saudi Arabia.
US Forces PAC-3 missiles, both ground based and naval, are in the region, unless Obama has ordered them to stand down. This is unlikely in Iraq, because Iranian missiles would have to fly over US positions to get to Iraq, and could easily be designed to fall short to hit US bases.
Once Israeli aircraft enter Iranian airspace, the first echelon will be concerned with reducing Iranian SAM and C&C, much like how the US conducted the first Gulf War. This will likely be augmented with the use of conventional submarine based cruise missiles fired from Israeli submarines. They will likely be tasked to destroy the Iranian surface fleet and three Russian built Kilo class attack submarines.
When hostilities commence, Iran will demand that both Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon attack Israel. This will likely mean a barrage of Syrian missiles, that will be to some extent mitigated by Israel’s short range missile defenses. But this time, Israel will not play games with retaliation, and may severely damage targets in both Syria and Lebanon.
During the reduction of Iranian anti-aircraft defenses, Iran will likely launch dozens of SHAHAB-3 class missiles towards Israel. Israel will then be sending in cargo aircraft to use numerous bunker buster munitions that president Bush provided them some time ago.
Based on the success of the Israeli, and possibly American anti-missile defenses against Iranian missiles, Israel can choose to initially target either Iranian missile installations, or attack the main nuclear facilities.
The primary nuclear targets are based on delaying the Iranian nuclear weapons program as long as possible, instead of totally destroying it, which is unlikely. The biggest targets would be the Bushehr reactor on the coast, uranium enrichment and heavy water facilities, and electrical power generation and well as petroleum refining.
In many cases, entire targets would not need to be destroyed, as long as there is significant nuclear contamination.
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