Posted on 06/21/2008 12:24:38 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
DUBAI (AFP) - The UN atomic watchdog chief warned on Saturday that an attack on Iran over its controversial nuclear programme would turn the region into a fireball, as Tehran rejected any Israeli strike as "impossible."
Mohamed ElBaradei also warned that he would not be able to continue in his role as International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general if the Islamic republic were attacked.
His stark comments came as Iran stressed yet again that it will not negotiate with world powers over its nuclear programme if it is required to suspend its controversial uranium enrichment.
"A military strike (against Iran) would in my opinion be worse than anything else ... It would transform the Middle East region into a ball of fire," ElBaradei said in an interview with Al-Arabiya television.
A report by the New York Times on Friday cited US officials as saying a major Israeli military exercise earlier this month seemed to be a practice for any potential strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.
In Athens, an official with the Greek air force's central command confirmed the substance of the US media report, stating that it had taken part in "joint training exercises" with Israel off the Mediterranean island of Crete.
The manoeuvres, code-named "Glorious Spartan 08," took place on May 28 and June 12, and consisted of aerial exercises and knowledge exchange, said the Greek source, who requested anonymity.
The goal was for more than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighter jets to prepare for long-range strikes and demonstrate Israel's serious concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions, the Times reported.
ElBaradei said any attack would simply harden Iran's position in its row with the West over its nuclear programme.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Just blow the b@stards up.
I am so freaking sick of the Mohammeds telling us what to do. No one remembers that Mohammed was a liar, thief, rapist and murderer who founded a cult intent on destroying civilization as we know it. Yet, suddenly we are expected to listen to his followers?
Paint "Mohammed was a vicious murderer, child molester and false prophet" on all MOABs, and drop them on Iran now.
I am so sick of their crap.
If he’s a watchdog he must be a deaf, dumb and blind Teacup Poodle. The word that sums up this guy is “Watch”.
This guy is worried that the Middle East will turn into a fireball if Iran is deservedly attacked?
Hey, better that area of the world turns into a fireball,
than waiting for Iran to get the bomb and have them turn Tel Aviv, New York, London and Rome into fireballs.
Something tells me that ElBaradei (pronuonced I’ll bury a Jew) doesn’t have Israel’s best interest at heart.
Yup!
...and someone thinks this is a bad thing?
This whole attack idea is sounding better each day.
Alert! Jerry Lee Lewis warning!
What an interesting choice of code name.
I guess this means that the Israelis are planning to come and take them.
Mr. Potatohead is ALMOST right. There will be mushroom clouds over the Middle East, but they will be Israeli devices and all that will remain of Iran — and any other idiot over there who wants the action — will be a glass covered parking lot that glows in the dark.
Israel MAY take some hits IF any of the bad guys survive and, so far, the IDF has a pretty good record of getting that job done when they tell the rest of the world to bite them.
And I suspect that THIS one will be a major survival situation and they’ll do whatever it takes to hang in there.
When — not IF — but WHEN the balloon does go up over there, get ready for $10 a gallon — and higher — gas prices until radiation levels drop.
You go!
Better Iran a fireball than New York, Chicago, Washington,
SanFRan or Atlanta..
I think he actually means, “If Iran is attacked, their payments to me will stop, and I will be left with only my UN salary to live on, so I will have no alternative but to leave the UN and get a job as a lobbyist for Hugo Chavez and Kim Jong-Il.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.