Posted on 02/24/2007 12:59:47 AM PST by HAL9000
Cleared as requested: call exiting the restricted area....
Let's roll !
Not true: one French technician was killed.
The Israelis deliberately chose to bomb the facility on a Sunday when it was presumed that few, if any, workers would be there.
One Frenchman went in on his day off and lost his life.
If Israel is involed, we would most likely have to use our KC-135's to refuel their F-16I's for a round trip.
I think it unlikely Israel will be directly involved. Too messy politically. We are looking for Arab allies to stick with us - ones that also are worried about Iran agression if they get nukes. There are a bunch of them.
It's amazing that more people don't realize this simple fact! A quick check of the Maps-of-the-Region (post#11) would make it clear ............. FRegards
Correction...F-15I's
Thats only two out of three. (3) Do it ourselves.
If you think that there are three carrier groups, two Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU's), and a wing of B-1 (recently moved from DG to Oman) just to wave at the Israeli Airforce as they fly by on their way to Teheran...I can't help you.
It would be awkward to do it ourselves. That would bring in the Russians and only make the thing bigger. Israel can do the job and the world won't explode politically. It will be condemned by the UN and EU and forgotton in a few weeks.
If Israel is involved, the Arab world, which is almost as afraid of Iran as Israel, would explode. That is what we are trying to avoid. We have many Arab countries quietly hoping we take care of Iran.
From my post #171 on this same thread. If you think that there are three carrier groups, two Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU's), and a wing of B-1 (recently moved from DG to Oman) just to wave at the Israeli Airforce as they fly by on their way to Teheran...I can't help you.
One mistake in the above... I now have heard the B-1's are in Qatar, at Al Udeid airbase. They have been seen flying over Baghdad recently. (see Iraq the Model blog on Feb 15th).
I think any belief that Israel will be involved flys in the face of the evidence.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) chose to acquire the latest version of the world renowned Lockheed Martin F-16 over additional purchases of the more expensive twin engine Boeing F-15I - for which the IAF placed an order for 25 in 1997. The estimated $4.5 billion dollar F-16I deal ($45 million per aircraft) will be financed by the annual U.S. military aid package and concludes the largest Israeli military purchase in history. Each F-15 cost approximately $84 million.
The F-16I is a heavily modified two seat version of the U.S. Air Force's F-16D Block 50/52-series fighter. In addition to the new and more powerful Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine, the F-16I boasts numerous internal and external advancements and modifications. For example, the Sufa has been customized with new avionic technologies, internally mounted FLIR (forward looking infrared) viewers, and cutting edge weapon system hardware provided by the Israeli defense company Lahav - a division of Israel Aircraft Industries.
You make a good point. Regardless of whether it might be more palatable to "let" Israel do the attack, any overflight of American controlled territory will still be regarded as hostile action by America and there will be blowback. Not that I mind, because I believe the Iranians must be confronted, the sooner the better. It just seems pointless to make a charade out of it: OH! we had no idea those crazy Israelis were gonna fly right over here and bomb you all! Not.
Very good. Just left one thing out that gave you away as the true author:
W woulda said: Jes the same, thank you ver' much.
My, my...
Now this is good news.
.... Drudge: Israel to have a nation wide nuclear attack drill.
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