Posted on 03/11/2012 4:55:49 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Meir Dagan has been described as "hard-charging" and "stops at nothing." For more than eight years, Dagan made full use of those qualities as chief of Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, where he focused on keeping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. When that job ended, Dagan did something unheard of for an ex-Mossad chief: he spoke out publicly, voicing opposition to Israel launching preemptive airstrikes against Iran's nuclear facilities anytime soon. Dagan believes the Iranian regime is a rational one and even its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - who has called for Israel to be annihilated - acts in a somewhat rational way when it comes to Iran's nuclear ambitions. Lesley Stahl reports.
The following script is from "The Spymaster Speaks" which aired on March 11, 2012. Lesley Stahl is the correspondent. Shachar Bar-On, producer.
When President Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this past week, the subject was how, when and if to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, Netanyahu saying Israel can't afford to wait much longer; Mr. Obama arguing there's still time to let sanctions and diplomacy do the job. And he said some top intelligence officials in Israel side with him.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
No wonder Bibi fired him.
I wouldn’t call them rational. Calculating, perhaps, but not rational.
Israel wanting to stake their existence on that kind of rationalism is as suicidal as expecting Obama to have their back.
expecting Obama to have their back. ....is downright irational all right!
fyi
Yes, I think he took “rational” to mean “reasonable”, which the Mullahs are anything but.
Mr. Dagan is a complex man and an Israeli patriot. This interview has been done with the sole purpose of enhancing Israel’s position.It may be intended to confuse the Iranians. If an attack on Iran is the only way to stop or significantly delay them from acquiring nuclear weapons, then it will happen. Facts will determine Netanyahu’s ultimate decision. Rhetoric be it dovish or hawkish won’t mean anything. If Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel is the secular leader and defender of the Jewish people. He will do what needs to be done however difficult.
“No wonder Bibi fired him.”
Agree, this ex spy chief is yapping now because he was canned. He is making it harder for Israel to defend itself and giving ammo to weenies like Obama. He says he walks and travels alone. Some radical Muslim militants will soon take him out for his past works.
Such a coincidence! /s
It really is a miracle that so many journalists' lips can fit on 0bama's skinny, black, commie a$$.
“Mr. Dagan is a complex man and an Israeli patriot”
Agree
Agree.
I watched most of it, & she’s an idiot
I watched the video. I was not aware of his position within the Mossad. It is interesting that he even considered the interview.
To be calculating you must be capable of rational thought . The philosophical framework that exists for the Iranians is not that of “Western civilization” . If you take this simple fact into account & can get some idea of exactly the Iranians think you can understand that in their way they are in fact rational.
If youd like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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The timing of Israeli pre-emption does not depend exclusively on WHEN they expect the Iranian A-bomb becomes a reality. There are other factors, too. The Israelis may calculate that they presently have maximum political leverage over the US for instance.
An Israeli first-strike may require the USAF to sustain & widen the air assault. It Israel calculates that they can achieve that result now, but not later, then they may move now.
Well, maybe they are “rational” by some measure, but they accept false assumptions as givens, so they don’t arrive at rational results. Garbage In, Garbage Out.
Agreed GI=GO
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