Posted on 10/23/2007 12:16:23 AM PDT by Schnucki
Israel obtained detailed photographs from inside an alleged Syrian nuclear facility prior to carrying out an air strike on September 6, ABC News reported over the weekend.
An unnamed senior source in the US told the news network that the Mossad had discovered in the summer that Syria was constructing a nuclear facility and proceeded to either place a mole inside the plant or convince one of the workers to supply Israel with intelligence.
Through the mole, the source said, Israel received pictures from the ground that showed a large cylindrical structure, trucks, and a pumping station - all of which would be necessary components for a nuclear facility. Since the site was not yet operating, the official said, no evidence of fissionable material was found.
Also significant, ABC reported, was the site's design, which the official identified as "North Korean."
After obtaining the photos, the official said, Israel approached the CIA. The US looked up satellite coordinates for the site - which the official said was located some 160 kilometers from the Iraqi border in a remote part of the Syrian desert - and helped Israel pinpoint possible "drop sites."
Israel urged the US to carry out the attack, the ABC report said, and US officials began examining options for a strike. Possible tactics were assessed, including scenarios involving a helicopter raid and placing special forces on the ground.
However, word came from the White House that the US preferred not to attack, as it had no concrete proof that the facility was built to produce nuclear material. According to the report, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates attempted to convince Israel "to confront, not attack."
(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ...
Wonder what this leaker’s agenda is?
Yep. Replicate the success we've had "confronting" Iran. Sigh.
State Department. They're mad at Israel for not "negotiating".
According to the report, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates attempted to convince Israel "to confront, not attack."
Whew. Hurry up, 2009.
fedora? is still around?
Dear ABC - did we need to know this?
More useful idiots in the media and subversive elements within our Intelligence services, dropping the dime on an ally’s capability yet again. Ask yourselves who is served by releasing this information...and who is harmed.
IMHO there is a lot more going on here than anyone is talking about, or wants to talk about. Even President Bush refused to speak of it at his press conference a couple of weeks ago. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
They should named and then jailed and then maybe hung.
“But IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming indirectly rebuked Washington earlier this week, saying the agency “expects any country having information about nuclear-related activities in another country to provide that information to the IAEA.”
Yeah....riiiiight! So the IAEA can warn said country that the secret is out. It should be obvious that upon receipt of said information, the IAEA, UN and the media would be demanding to know just HOW this information was gleaned.
Give me a break!
With that said, Syria damn well knows there was a security breach already.
Ask yourself, why would the Jerusalem Post quote ABC’s report?
If the IAEA was worth anything, wouldn’t THEY know what the heck was going on? Don’t get me started on El Baradei.
Spit.
No kidding!
And to think I used to be so impressed with Condi.
Not any more. She’s just another career State Department hack.
Now if only we had a mole inside ABC...
There was no way we could attack them w/a Rat congress. Could you imagine the political firestorm if we did no matter how successful?
Pray for W and Our Troops
Like all UN agencies, the IAEA is a collection of ‘make work’ no-show jobs for third world elites (criminals) and hangers on. If the IAEA were to evaporate from the face of the planet, the only people who would notice are those who get their pay checks from it.
Is there really somebody in there or do they just say so and let the Syrians go paranoid? Imagine the easy-mannered tactics the Syrians would use to locate such a leaker, with ALL workers being suspect.
Diplomacy is a subtle game. Israel was criticized for blowing up Osirak, but only mildly -- by the US, and even by the other Arab states. Interest trumps ethnicity, and none of Iraq's Arab neighbors wanted Iraq to build a nuke. Remember that, at least in part, the current War on Terror is rooted in the US effort to defend the Saudis against the Iraqis.
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