Israel Tells the U.S. It Will Retaliate if Attacked by Iraq

The New York Times ^ | 9/21/2002 | Michael R. Gordon

[ex-Texan]

Israel Tells the U.S. It Will Retaliate if Attacked by Iraq

By MICHAEL R. GORDON

JERUSALEM, Sept. 21 — Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has informed the Bush administration that he plans to strike back if Iraq attacks Israel, according to Israeli and Western officials.

Mr. Sharon's statements, made privately to senior American officials in recent weeks, represent a major shift in Israeli thinking since the 1991 Persian Gulf war, when 39 Iraqi Scud missiles struck without any Israeli response.

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The prime minister's position reflects a widespread belief among Israeli politicians and generals that Arab leaders perceived Israel's restraint in 1991 as weakness. Throughout his military and political career, Mr. Sharon has always held that any attack on Israel must be promptly and powerfully punished.

"I don't think there is a scenario in which Israel will get hit and not strike back," a senior Western official said. "I think the evolving strategy will be commensurate response."

Mr. Sharon's position has significant implications for the Pentagon, which fears that an Israeli entry would stir up Arab public opinion and make it harder for the Pentagon to maintain cooperation from the Arab states where Washington hopes to base American forces

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[bonesmccoy]

You have split loyalties... YOU ARE NOT AMERICAN. Sending US troop movements and transponder codes to Israel is tantamount to subjugation of US national interests to ISRAEL's. THAT IS NOT CORRECT.

RENOUNCE YOUR DUAL CITIZENSHIP!

[Robert_Paulson2]

Deal with the facts boneyone... US INTERESTS GO BEFORE are virtually identical to ISRAEL'S point for point.

[bonesmccoy]

Although there is great alignment between US and Israeli interests, they are not one in the same. This thread began because Israel wanted to interfere with the coalition building the Bush Administration is clearly doing. Yehuda didn't read any of my comments and then calls me a "jew basher"... what utter nonsense!

[bonesmccoy]

And when you and Yehuda calm down enough... go get a Starbucks and read this thread...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/755337/posts

[Robert_Paulson2]

Sending US troop movements and transponder codes to Israel is tantamount to subjugation of US national interests to ISRAEL's. THAT IS NOT CORRECT.

Yet that is EXACTLY what our cia, our commander in cheif and joint cheifs INTEND to do, or have already done, in the even Iraq attacks. THAT is the policy of allies with one another in battle. We store spare weapons and fuel in Israel... and have for a long while. EVERYBODY KNOWS IT... especially arabs. Why would we leave materiels for war under their keep, and not give them proper friend or foe encoding?

No member of an alliance would do that. And Israel has already told us how far they could go, and protect their own borders, plus a few of their arab neighbors... they will do their part. WE will do ours.

And if Iraq steps out of line, they will fry instantly... And there are several other arab nations, that will applaud it privately, whether we do it, or the Israelis do it with our silent consent. Count on it.

And please don't waste your time with "Israel is NOT our ally" baloney either.

[bonesmccoy]

When Israel can't handle things and distinctly fails to bring stability to the region, it is the American people who are forced to run to the aid of Israel. You would think after 3000 years of repeating history, Israel would wisen up.

Alas, the reverse is so.

Advice from a doctor to you... go call a counselor... you have alot of problems to work out.

You are a racist... how sad that you haven't read the Torah enough to realize it.

[bonesmccoy]

Renounce Islam? Hell, I'm not Islamic... if you read... you'd know.

But, then again, New York has always had a problem with getting facts straight... your state voted for Clinton how many times????

You're just plain anti-american... Israel's interest is not our interest.

Face it... you've got split loyalties and you need to rethink them. YOU SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGING US INTERESTS AS FIRST AND PRIMARY.

[Robert_Paulson2]

BUT... but... Islam is my religion... cannot I have my "kill all jews and christians" faith and still be a good american?

What happened to your tolerance YEHUDA??
Bad jew... bad...

The funny thing is, there are plenty of Arabs, and Islamics who LOVE and SUPPORT jews, christians, the USA and the ZIONIST entity, across the board. They just aren't allowed to admit it. The islamakazi fascists who have seized power in their homelands, will kill their kids and rape their women for even countenancing it.

AS we get democracy going in Iraq, THEY will recognize Israel, as well as trade with them... JUST like Turkey does... and Jordan... and Egypt... and yes, even others.

Iran is ready to jump ship too.

[Robert_Paulson2]

YOU SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGING US INTERESTS AS FIRST AND PRIMARY.

And you should unlock your cap key... folks might think you were going to pop a vein or something.

US interests ARE Israel's... and vice versa...

Get over it.

[bonesmccoy]

Yes... you are correct... in that order.. UNITED STATES interests are Israel's and not vice versa.... WE give the orders... and Israel should comply!

[dfwgator]

Just send in the Mossad to take care of Saddam, one bullet, it's all over.

[bonesmccoy]

No, just reminding you of the facts... people who can not comply with US citizenship requirements are deported.

[dread78645]

War does decide things. If you don't believe me, ask the citizens of Carthage.

Are you going to return that to Rob Heinlein or just keep it ? ;->