Israeli military goes off message on Iran nuclear talks (+video)

Christian Science Monitor ^ | November 21, 2013 | Joshua Mitnick

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu fiercely opposes a deal with Iran, but the Israeli military puts a more positive spin on how a deal could bolster regional stability.

Tel Aviv Even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues his diplomatic offensive against what he calls a "dangerous" compromise on Iran’s nuclear program, Israel’s military intelligence seems open to a deal, even one that relaxes the Western sanctions on Iran that Mr. Netanyahu has vocally supported.

According to an unclassified assessment shared by a senior Israeli officer, military intelligence is focused on the implications of a potential compromise between Iran and the P5+1 (the US, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany).

A deal would boost President Hassan Rouhani, whose surprise victory in June appeared to herald a political shift in Iran – although he is up against hardliners who oppose a deal.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Some people favor a prudent lowering of tensions with Iran because they think it best for world stability, including being best for Israel. I don't think you can consider Israeli military intelligence as being anti-Israel.

[volunbeer]

Israel is no different than the United States and you can find opposing views in every agency. The left-right divide is quite strong there despite our belief that they are more unified than we are.

With that said, I think the red line for Bibi has always been nuclear proliferation because both the “elected” leader and powerful clerics have called for the annihilation of the “satans”. In fact, the most influential leaders believe their purpose is to hasten the return of their messiah.

You can take Iran at their word - or you can choose “hope and change” and pray for the best. It’s a mess either way over there and no amount of meddling by the UN or the US will fix it.

[Marcella]

Israel and the Saudis already have their act together to attack Iran. It is going to happen soon perhaps before December is over.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

It isn't “loving Iran”. It's choosing between the least objectionable of imperfect alternatives. It's recognizing that Iran is much less a security risk to the USA than is al-Qaeda. And tension between the US and Iran plays into al-Qaeda's hands.

[marron]

If you are going to hit Iran openly, you need to make your case that its life and death and do so quite publicly.

If you are going to hit them covertly, you have to make your public position that its no big deal, we’re not concerned.

If Israel starts to claim that they are happy with the outcome of the negotiations, I’ll take that to mean they are planning a covert response.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Israel considered their biggest danger from Iran to be located in Lebanon in the form of Hezbollah and not the nuclear weapons. And their worry about an Iranian bomb wouldn’t be that the mullahs would want to commit suicide but that the bomb would make Iran that much harder to contain in Lebanon.