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Former Mossad Head Yatom: Israel Can't Afford Not to Strike Iran
Arutz Sheva ^ | 25/11/11 | BESA staff

Posted on 11/26/2011 3:53:54 PM PST by Eleutheria5

The Begin Sadat Center, a respected think tank based at Bar Ilan University, held a conference on November 23, 2011 on the subject of "Israeli Security in a New Regional Envornment", which focused on the so-called "Arab Spring" and its implicatons. Its experts concluded that the Arab Spring is not going to result in democracy, despite original hopes in the West, and may make things even worse for Israel. "As steep as the price for hitting Iran may be, a military strike on Iran will be less painful than the cost of living with an Iranian nuclear weapons threat," argues former Mossad head Maj. Gen. (res.) Danny Yatom. "The backlash from a strike on Iran's nuclear sites will not be as bad for Israel as will an Iran armed with nuclear weapons," he says. "I don't think that those predicting apocalyptic repercussions of a strike on Tehran are correct, and even if they are, Israel can't afford to wonder if Tehran will go crazy and bomb us."

Yatom's position is diametrically opposed to that of former Mossad head Meir Dagan, who sparked significant controversy earlier this year by stating that an attack on Iran would be a foolish move that would lead to a war with an unknown outcome.

.....

(Excerpt) Read more at israelnationalnews.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: diplomacy; economy; facilities; gogetem; iran; israel; mossad; oil; strike
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I'd say that both Yatom and Dagan are right. 1. We must strike Iran. 2. There is no doable plan for striking Iran. Therefore, to strike Iran would be foolish, and to not strike Iran would be foolish. Solution? Find a pardner with a carrier and navy pilots. The US is out for the foreseeable future. England? What would Churchill do?
1 posted on 11/26/2011 3:53:59 PM PST by Eleutheria5
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To: Eleutheria5
as long as Obama is pres, forget no.1.
2 posted on 11/26/2011 3:57:47 PM PST by brivette
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To: Eleutheria5

Obama is golfing.


3 posted on 11/26/2011 3:59:14 PM PST by Berlin_Freeper (For years the Left protested "the occupation of Iraq"- now they want to "Occupy" all across the US)
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To: Eleutheria5

AKA...”MY former Mossad guy is smarter than YOUR former Mossad guy..”


4 posted on 11/26/2011 3:59:16 PM PST by ken5050 (Support Admin Mods: Doing the tough, hard, dirty jobs that Americans won't do...)
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To: brivette

We need to make a parking lot out of mecca.


5 posted on 11/26/2011 4:00:00 PM PST by ronnie raygun (V)
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To: Eleutheria5

attack on Iran would be a foolish move that would lead to a war with an unknown outcome.

All wars have an unknown outcome.

The question is do you want to go into it prepared
or let it be a surprise?

I hate surprises.


6 posted on 11/26/2011 4:00:37 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: Berlin_Freeper
Obama is golfing.

That means for now Iran can't depend upon him.

7 posted on 11/26/2011 4:01:34 PM PST by EGPWS (Trust in God, question everyone else)
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To: Eleutheria5

“Its experts concluded that the Arab Spring is not going to result in democracy, despite original hopes in the West...”

A reasonably intelligent fifteen-year-old would know this right off the bat.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any fifteen-year-olds in the White House; the resident-in-chief is far more stupid than that..


8 posted on 11/26/2011 4:03:12 PM PST by Jack Hammer
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To: Eleutheria5

What if - after Israel attacks Iran, Pakistan gives Iran several nukes?

Step one for the US should be to secure the 100+ Pakistan nukes...


9 posted on 11/26/2011 4:08:39 PM PST by GOPJ ( Democrats are the only reason to vote for Republicans.... Will Rogers)
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To: tet68

Not attacking Iran will probably result in a war.


10 posted on 11/26/2011 4:18:24 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: tet68

Of course Israel’s position regarding hitting Iran would change completely if Iran or their proxy army struck first. It’s certain both sides know this, so Israel making strong moves now is only to their advantage (as Nasrallah will show restraint (to the extent these barbarians can)) and Iran will play for time and continue fortifying and assembling. IMO time is not on Israel’s side.. so assuming this, they should push security positions with Hezbollah as hard as they can.. and maybe a little drilling in the Dome of The Rock basement wouldn’t hurt either. They need to turn it up but in a way they can claim impunity. Then crush them into dust. Of course this tactic would not be a surprise to either side but barbarians are not always rational and Israel should use this.


11 posted on 11/26/2011 4:31:48 PM PST by Track9
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To: driftdiver

Agreed.. and the longer the wait, the worse for Israel.


12 posted on 11/26/2011 4:33:22 PM PST by Track9
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To: Eleutheria5

Give ‘em the atom, Yatom!;)


13 posted on 11/26/2011 4:36:05 PM PST by Frank_2001
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To: Eleutheria5

Strike Iran’s oil facilities. That’ll take care of the problem of international cowardice. Iran threatens the nations as much as Israel.


14 posted on 11/26/2011 4:38:15 PM PST by familyop (We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of rotten politics smelled around the world.)
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To: Eleutheria5

To fight WWII the UK borrowed 5+ billion US$ (circa 1945-46 US $) from US and Canada.

That plus the social upheaval of all the young men gone and
being besieged on that little island, and the Fabian socialist experiment pretty well ended the UK as a global power.


15 posted on 11/26/2011 4:41:36 PM PST by RitchieAprile (Precious little in your life is yours by right and won without a fight..)
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To: Eleutheria5

The confusing cacophony of opinion, spin, counter-spin, reverse-counter spin, denial of counter spin, of one branch of the Israeli military saying it is inevitable, another saying it is not inevitable that is inevitable, denial of blah, blah , blah is in IMHO a deliberate effort by the Israelis to drive the Mullahs so batty as to have them abandon nuclear weapons if only Israel would stop driving them crazy the way they have.


16 posted on 11/26/2011 4:45:19 PM PST by lbryce (BHO:The bastard offspring of Satan and Medusa.)
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To: Eleutheria5

Let Iran fear the word Jericho!


17 posted on 11/26/2011 4:47:11 PM PST by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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To: ronnie raygun

We’ve been in Afghanistan for what, ten or eleven years hunting down a bunch of cave dwellers, but scoff at the notion of stopping Iran’s nuke capabilities.

Priorities priorities.


18 posted on 11/26/2011 4:54:32 PM PST by servantboy777
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To: Eleutheria5; SJackson

Ping.


19 posted on 11/26/2011 5:05:31 PM PST by Silentgypsy (If this creature is not stopped it could make its way to Novosibirsk!)
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To: servantboy777

Yep. Iran will redefine 9-11 single handedly in 2012. In the meanwhile we will have wasted billions in Iraq, Afghanistan , Pakistan in cash let alone other resources. We need to deal with the kernel.


20 posted on 11/26/2011 5:23:54 PM PST by himno hero (Obamas theme...Death to America...The crusaders will pay!)
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