I suspect that Olmert leaked that thinking that it would prompt Iran to change course and give up it's nukes. It's a really dumb thing to do, if that's true. Now the Iranians are busy moving their nuke material to safer and as yet undetected quarters. And Olmert has basically exposed Israel's strategy.
Do you really believe that the mullah's hadn't figured this out long ago? I'm not 100% sure what the PM had in mind in making this statement public but Israel's contingency plans regarding Iran's nukes came as a surprise to nobody....not in Tel Aviv...not in Tehran...not at UN Headquarters...and not in DC.
"And Olmert has basically exposed Israel's strategy."
Israel would be ill advised to take on any major conflict with Olmert in office.
Some Iranians are also busily considering the quickest way to 'shallow grave' the monkey man, which may also be a motive of the Israeli leak.
>> I suspect that Olmert leaked that thinking that it would prompt Iran to change course and give up it's nukes.
Or, more likely, Olmert broadcast the move so that Iran WOULD move their nuke material to safer digs. Then when a military strike on the old site fails to accomplish anything, Olmert and the peaceniks can claim that there is no military solution and that Israel will just have to compromise.
It might turn out to be a dumb move, or it might turn out to be a smart move. We do know that moderates and "liberals" in Iran are a lot more vocal now in opposition to Ahmadinejad's anti-western stance. Israel's "leaked info" might have helped.
But like I said, I don't think we'll really know until the whole thing plays itself out.
Olmert leaked his intentions in the hopes of garnering US logistical support: air tankers, AWACS & emergency landing strips.
The Iranians will assume that if the Israelis strike that they had tacit as well as physical support from the US. They will be right, of course.
So this dance is all about nudging the US a bit.