“...with the United States providing the retaliatory strike capability should Israel suffer from an Iranian or Saudi first strike. “
I agree, Israel needs to be included in NATO. With regard to the above, AFTER a strike (particularly Iranian) is too late. Our only hope to stop an irreversible chain reaction for the planet is to pre-emptively prevent Iran from getting to this point.
I fear that NATO would further hamper Israel’s security policy. I can just imagine the mess in Brussels every time Israel wants to make a move. Just great... with France, Germany and Turkey on board. IOne may hint that Turkey also pretty freely deals with PKK in and outside of Turkey, but we know the hypocrisy on Israel. Also what if Israel has to deal with another nation, like Iran or Syria? don’t think that this is what Israel needs.
The prospect of a nuclear armed Middle East is the worst case scenario. It wouldn’t stop with Iran and Saudi Arabia. Egypt, Lybia, Syria and certainly Turkey would want nukes too. I don’t have to mention what happens if one of the countless terrorist organizations gets hold of them.
Israel and President Bush have reiterated that they won’t accept and won’t forgive a nuclear Iran. Look at what Israel did with Syria’s nuke facility. This is business.
Israel will never let it happen.