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Saudi Arabia says it will intercept Israeli planes en route to Iran
timesofisrael.com ^

Posted on 08/08/2012 10:50:44 PM PDT by tsowellfan

Saudi Arabia will not permit Israeli aircraft to cross its territory on the way to strike Iran, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Thursday. The message was passed to Jerusalem via Obama administration officials during recent talks in Israel.

Senior Israeli officials reportedly see the move as a warning message from the US not to launch a unilateral strike, according to the paper .

Saudi Arabia is supplied with US military equipment and aircraft, and some estimate that if an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities were carried out in cooperation with the US, Saudi Arabia would permit an overflight.

But if Israel acts alone, Riyadh told the US it would intercept any Israeli plane that tried to cross its territory on the way to Iran.

If Israel were to strike Iran, the logistical obstacles are formidable, as the New York Times reported in February. It is estimated that Israel would have to use at least 100 planes to strike Iran’s four main nuclear sites, and travel over 1,000 miles over hostile territory to reach them.

Netanyahu reportedly prefers the US to lead, or at least help in a possible strike on Iran

The closing of Saudi Arabian airspace removes from Israel’s options one potential route to get to Iran, but others exist: north over Turkey, or straight east through Jordan and Iraq. However it is unclear whether those countries would allow Israel to use its airspace as well.

US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, in Israel last week, said that “all options” were on the table for dealing with a potential Iranian nuclear weapon, including the military option.

“If they continue and if they proceed with a nuclear weapon,” he said, “we have options that we are prepared to implement to ensure that that does not happen.”

The US, though, has expended much effort trying to hold Israel back from a unilateral strike, saying there is still time for diplomacy and sanctions to thwart Tehran’s nuclear plans.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bombbombbombbombiran; iran; iraniannukes; israel; saudiarabia; waronterror
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Comment #61 Removed by Moderator

To: Netz

We hope they would anyway.

Sure would have been nice if the Obama Administration hadn’t leaked information about Turkey’s cooperation with Israel...

And it would be nice if we had somebody in Iraq who supported the US and her allies...

I hate having this foreign enemy combatant in our White House. Makes it really hard to serve the interests of ourselves and our allies when we’ve got a communist-Islamist saboteur acting as Commander-in-Chief.


62 posted on 08/09/2012 2:35:41 PM PDT by butterdezillion
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To: moonshot925
Saudi Arabia purchased 84 F-15SA fighter aircraft from the United States in December 2011.

Is there a reverse gear on the planes? Muzzies are not known for their bravado when it comes to confronting Israel. The Saudi pilots will be scared to death sh_tless, and will likely eject from their planes the moment Israeli jets turn towards any of the Saudi jets. Just like the Egyptians bolted out & ran away from their tanks in both 1967 and 1973.

1 1/2 billion muzzies against 7 million Jews in Israel, and Israel leaves them quaking in their robes, sandals & ridiculous headgear.

63 posted on 08/09/2012 2:57:08 PM PDT by rcrngroup
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To: Southack

Somebody knows something and ain’t telling? Wonder if Iran already has nukes and a way to deliver them via Russia’s help, and the Saudi’s already know this.?


64 posted on 08/09/2012 6:39:03 PM PDT by Quickgun (Second Amendment. The only one you can put your hands on.)
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To: F15Eagle

Let’s not forget that Saudi pilots are best at flying larger planes into stationary targets that are undefended and full of civilians.


65 posted on 08/09/2012 6:42:13 PM PDT by vetvetdoug
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To: F15Eagle

I’ve read that the Russians have a couple of carrier groups either close to Iran, or headed there. Is that true? Israel is in trouble if the Russians decide we are going to wimp out and let the chips fall as they may. Russia has some interest in protecting Iran, or at least it’s oil.


66 posted on 08/09/2012 6:50:42 PM PDT by Quickgun (Second Amendment. The only one you can put your hands on.)
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To: moonshot925

Saudi Arabia purchased 84 F-15SA fighter aircraft from the United States in December 2011. ......................................OK, but they forgot to purchase the Israeli pilots to fly them for them.


67 posted on 08/09/2012 9:01:09 PM PDT by Bringbackthedraft ( WHO WE ELECT AS PRESIDENT IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS WHO THEY APPOINT.)
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To: tsowellfan

Wow, didn’t realize the Saudis were THAT stupid.


68 posted on 08/09/2012 9:19:23 PM PDT by Fledermaus (Democrats are dangerous and evil. Republicans are useless and useful idiots.)
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Comment #69 Removed by Moderator

To: muir_redwoods
It’s noisy blather for public consumption to create cover for SA.

Exactly.

70 posted on 08/10/2012 3:14:08 AM PDT by Fresh Wind ('People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook.' Richard M. Nixon)
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To: libh8er

The Saudis, like all hypocrite Muslim politicians, publicly are against Israel, while privately encourage the to bomb Iran.


71 posted on 08/10/2012 6:49:35 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: libh8er

They are. But if they outright say so, they’re looking for an Arab spring to sproing right in their face. There’s also the Arab obsession with “face”. Their actual response will resemble No. 2 above, along with a lot of gnashing of teeth, condemning Israeli “aggression” and threats of retaliation that will come to nothing.


72 posted on 08/10/2012 8:22:01 AM PDT by Eleutheria5 (End the occupation. Annex today.)
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To: tsowellfan
SA does not like the Jews but they know with Israel they will always have a live and let live relationship. With the Iranians, it's another matter. SA is as distrustful of Imanutjob and the Shia Mullah's almost as much as Israel is.
73 posted on 08/10/2012 8:28:25 AM PDT by JPG (Mount your steeds. Nov '12 is for all the marbles.)
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To: Marcella
Based on what I know, I believe Israel will use the military airport in Greece.

Greece is in the opposite direction from Iran, so that would make the flight even longer, and would still require them to fly over either Turkey, Saudi Arabia or Jordan and Iraq - I don't see the benefit to your idea.

74 posted on 08/10/2012 9:48:08 AM PDT by CA Conservative (Texan by birth, Californian by circumstance)
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To: tsowellfan

Israel needs to develop a carrier fleet or a long range stealth aircraft.


75 posted on 08/10/2012 9:50:27 AM PDT by taxcontrol
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To: Netz
Are you saying that what the House of Saud says may not in some way not be in, or be in agreement with what they might or might not do in some given or ungiven situation?

Or do you mean that The House of Saud might use one prince to say one thing, while another equal prince says the opposite?

Perhaps the Saudi National Guard will bring down the aircraft of the Zionists, while the Royal Saudi Army defends them, and the Royal Saudi Air Force remains neutral? The Royal Saudi Navy is in Kuwait for a paint job?

Your cynicism in regard to the word of an esteemed ally is just typical of many Infidels such as yourself. Or perhaps not. We shall pray to Allah The All Wise for guidance and let you know one way or the other tomorrow or the day after, Allah willing.

Bookrah, pa bookrah, Inshallah!

76 posted on 08/10/2012 10:32:04 AM PDT by Kenny Bunk (Choose: Ineligible Marxist Mad Dog or Mild-Mannered Mormon Milquetoast)
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To: CA Conservative
"Attack Iran" are militarily foolish words. Iran is larger than all of Western Europe. It contains vast deserts, remote mountain ranges, scattered cities a thousand miles apart. The thought that an airstrike ... even a nuclear air strike ... is going to ...quickly ... knock out Iran ... or even its nuclear capability ...is bullshiite. ICBM's, Cruise Missiles, one-way drone attacks might get their attention, but neither would this strategy knock out Iran. For example, look how long a military joke like Libya resisted NATO air attacks. And that was with a full blown rebellion on the ground, which we certainly would be foolish to count upon in Iran.

While this putative "attack" is underway, 15 or twenty missiles a day would be on their 15 minute ride to Israel's major population centers. "Attacking Iran" is the 21st Century equivalent of the Allied attack on Germany. It is not some Air Force operation that will be over in a week.

The place to be based for an air attack on Iran is Afghanistan or Turkmenstan, or Azerbaijan. Israel has no bases there. We do. But that could still be a 3,000 mile round trip for some missions in NW Iran. That's work for aerially refueled B-1, B-2, and B 52 squadrons, which Israel does not possess.

Attack Iran? Not bloody likely by anyone because it would be an all-out effort requiring Ground, Air, and Naval Forces, in addition to ICBM's and Cruise Missiles by the hundreds. The Iranian Shiites would be happy to sacrifice a million KIA. We are not.

77 posted on 08/10/2012 11:01:49 AM PDT by Kenny Bunk (Choose: Ineligible Marxist Mad Dog or Mild-Mannered Mormon Milquetoast)
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To: Kenny Bunk

Are you sure you directed your comment to the right person? Your comments did not even remotely relate to anything I posted.


78 posted on 08/10/2012 11:04:50 AM PDT by CA Conservative (Texan by birth, Californian by circumstance)
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To: CA Conservative
Actually, I was attempting to amplify your answer to the geographically challenged poster to whom YOU were responding. Sorry.

My comments did not even remotely relate to anything you posted

I do go stupidly ballistic when Iran "war talk" surfaces, because (present company excepted) many FReepers seem to think it's some kind of weekend exercise, when IMO, it's a bit more like WWIII.

Please excuse me .... this time.

79 posted on 08/10/2012 11:40:25 AM PDT by Kenny Bunk (Choose: Ineligible Marxist Mad Dog or Mild-Mannered Mormon Milquetoast)
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To: tsowellfan

*cough*tankers*cough*


80 posted on 08/10/2012 12:06:00 PM PDT by pabianice (washington, dc ..)
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