Posted on 01/22/2006 6:49:43 PM PST by blam
Israel 'will not sit back' and let Iran build atomic weapons
By Tim Butcher in Jerusalem
(Filed: 23/01/2006)
Israel issued thinly-veiled warnings yesterday that it was preparing to take direct action to stop Iran, its bitter enemy, acquiring nuclear weapons.
Remarks by Shaul Mofaz, the defence minister, raised the temperature of the worsening international crisis over the Islamic republic's nuclear ambitions and prompted Iran into a swift and strongly-worded response.
The war of words increased the prospect of another pre-emptive strike by Israel similar to that in 1981 when its warplanes destroyed Saddam Hussein's nuclear programme with an attack on the Osirak reactor in Iraq.
Mr Mofaz was reacting to the decision by Iran to restart its uranium enrichment programme earlier this month after a two and a half year moratorium, which prompted European powers to draft a resolution calling for Iran's referral to the UN Security Council.
"We are giving priority at this stage to diplomatic action … but we cannot tolerate a nuclear option for Iran and we must prepare ourselves," Mr Mofaz said. "We must develop the option of our defence with all that implies."
He then issued a rhetorical plea to the Iranian leader.
"You, who are leading your country in an ideology of hatred, terror and anti-Semitism, you had better take a glance at history and see what became of tyrants like you who tried to annihilate the Jewish people," he said.
"They brought only destruction upon their own people."
Mr Mofaz nevertheless added: "Israel's policy is to bring this hot potato to the Security Council to impose sanctions and invasive inspection."
His sentiments were echoed in remarks from Gen Dan Halutz, head of the Israeli armed forces.
Questioned about how Israel's defence establishment was preparing itself for the challenge posed by Iran, Gen Halutz said: "I am not going to deal with the solutions to the Iranian nuclear problem. Israel is not helpless - that is enough of an answer."
Iran offered a swift retort from its foreign ministry spokesman, who said any attack on Iran would be a "fatal mistake". "This is just a childish game by Israel," said Hamid Reza Asefi.
His threats were not limited to Israel. Saying dialogue was the best way to settle the dispute, he issued a harsh warning to European powers to resume talks.
"We advise them [Europe] not to choose any path except dialogue. If there is a retribution to be paid, that will include Europe, too," Mr Asefi said, adding that Iran planned to continue co-operation with the UN.
Relations between Israel and Iran have been hostile since the 1979 Iranian revolution but they worsened considerably last year when the newly-elected Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, called for Israel to be "wiped off the map".
Israel has had its own nuclear arsenal since the 1980s although details remain a closely guarded secret. Government policy is neither to confirm nor deny the existence of its nuclear capability.
My God you mean they can shoot at us ?
I sure hope someone in the Pentagon has thought of this.
Yes its a challenge, yes we can rise to the occasion and handle it.
the "strike" air base should be in complete readiness by now.
Where did you get THAT stat? I just found this one:
In 2003, Persian Gulf countries had estimated net oil exports of 17.2 million bbl/d of oil (see pie chart). Saudi Arabia exported the most oil of any Persian Gulf country in 2003, with an estimated 8.40 million bbl/d (49% of the total). Also, Iran had estimated net exports of about 2.6 million bbl/d (15%), followed by the United Arab Emirates (2.4 million bbl/d -- 14%), Kuwait (2.0 million bbl/d -- 12%), Iraq (0.9 million bbl/d -- 9%), Qatar (0.9 million bbl/d -- 5%), and Bahrain (0.01 million bbl/d -- 0.1%).
-- from THIS Dept. of Energy website
Your numbers add up to ~100%. Your source is counting exports from the Persian Gulf only, not world-wide oil supply. Russia, Venezuela, Canada, Norway, Mexico, the U.S., the U.K., Indonesia etc. account for substantial quantities of world supply.
Not my point. They can shoot at large fat slow CRUDE TANKERS and cut the West's oil.
Aha! Thanks. Got a link for the world-wide stats?
Yes its a challenge, yes we can rise to the occasion and handle it.
HUH? What you said???????
....."This Madman has got to go and fast.".......
Where in the hell is Paladin when we need him???
"Have Gun, will Travel"
We'd better. We won't have a choice.
But it's not going to be cheap or easy, and no matter how well we do it, the global economy might still be wrecked.
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