Posted on 12/10/2005 6:48:44 PM PST by rhainw
ISRAEL’S armed forces have been ordered by Ariel Sharon, the prime minister, to be ready by the end of March for possible strikes on secret uranium enrichment sites in Iran, military sources have revealed. The order came after Israeli intelligence warned the government that Iran was operating enrichment facilities, believed to be small and concealed in civilian locations.
Iran’s stand-off with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over nuclear inspections and aggressive rhetoric from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, who said last week that Israel should be moved to Europe, are causing mounting concern.
The crisis is set to come to a head in early March, when Mohamed El-Baradei, the head of the IAEA, will present his next report on Iran. El-Baradei, who received the Nobel peace prize yesterday, warned that the world was “losing patience” with Iran.
A senior White House source said the threat of a nuclear Iran was moving to the top of the international agenda and the issue now was: “What next?” That question would have to be answered in the next few months, he said.
Defence sources in Israel believe the end of March to be the “point of no return” after which Iran will have the technical expertise to enrich uranium in sufficient quantities to build a nuclear warhead in two to four years.
“Israel — and not only Israel — cannot accept a nuclear Iran,” Sharon warned recently. “We have the ability to deal with this and we’re making all the necessary preparations to be ready for such a situation.”
The order to prepare for a possible attack went through the Israeli defence ministry to the chief of staff. Sources inside special forces command confirmed that “G” readiness — the highest stage — for an operation was announced last week.
Gholamreza Aghazadeah, head of the Atomic Organisation of Iran, warned yesterday that his country would produce nuclear fuel. “There is no doubt that we have to carry out uranium enrichment,” he said.
He promised it would not be done during forthcoming talks with European negotiators. But although Iran insists it wants only nuclear energy, Israeli intelligence has concluded it is deceiving the world and has no intention of giving up what it believes is its right to develop nuclear weapons.
A “massive” Israeli intelligence operation has been underway since Iran was designated the “top priority for 2005”, according to security sources.
Cross-border operations and signal intelligence from a base established by the Israelis in northern Iraq are said to have identified a number of Iranian uranium enrichment sites unknown to the the IAEA.
Since Israel destroyed the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq in 1981, “it has been understood that the lesson is, don’t have one site, have 50 sites”, a White House source said.
If a military operation is approved, Israel will use air and ground forces against several nuclear targets in the hope of stalling Tehran’s nuclear programme for years, according to Israeli military sources.
It is believed Israel would call on its top special forces brigade, Unit 262 — the equivalent of the SAS — and the F-15I strategic 69 Squadron, which can strike Iran and return to Israel without refuelling.
There will be public posturing from the Arabs, but behind the scenes they will be encouraging Iran to tone it down.
uh...according to the polls, well we do have to consider where the polls come from (the media) 80% of Iranians do want to go nuclear.
So, where is the FR Pool for start dates?
I'm picking Valentine's Day
Its from a show called Family Guy. You can see it either by watching Adult Swim on Cartoon Network or watch it on Fox (not Fox News) at I think like at 9 o'clock. I don't watch it that often, I only watch it once in a while so I can't give you the Political bias of it or not. But I know conservatives and liberals both watch it. Simply because its hilarious, very crude, but hilarious.
Beats me, but soon it appears.
Main thing is to be stocked up with pop corn and Coors when it happens.
OK, I understand. I'll change my comment to:
"NOBODY wants the Iranians to go nuclear except the Iranians. NOBODY"
Could be their testing the waters to see how much resistance/heat they will get from the Russians and Chinese.
I would hope they do this sooner than later.
The release of information at this time is for a reason. It is not absent minded babble. It is designed to elicit a response, or it is disinformation designed to throw panic into Iran for a strategic reason.
What the truth of the matter is, we will probably not know until the moves are made. Remember, Israel purchased something like 500 of the JDAM deep penetrating bombs a year or so ago. It is all part of one of their carefully constructed plans. Remember last week when asked how far Israel was willing to go to counter the Iranian threat, that the Israeli minister replied "2000 miles". The Israelis have a plan and it will be expensive for Iran.
C
uh...you might want to add...
or maybe the media who issued the information wants the iranians to go nuclear....you see (LOL) the media was that unclear about the nuclear part..
and BTW you could have been correct with the original statement....
I don't know.....excuse me....
it's time for me to go take my doctor prescribed medication now.
Interesting times indeed. Israel will NEVER ALLOW such a thing come to pass.
Iran’s stand-off delaying tactics with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over nuclear inspections and aggressive rhetoric from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, who said last week that Israel should be moved to Europe wiped off the face of the earth, are causing mounting concern.
The crisis is set to come to a head in early March, when Mohamed El-Baradei, the head of the IAEA, will present his next report on Iran. El-Baradei, who received the Nobel peace prize yesterday, warned that the world was “losing patience” with Iran.
....but the 'world' and the UN will do nothing but issue meaningless resolutions.
A senior White House source said the threat of a nuclear Iran was moving to the top of the international agenda and the issue now was: “What next?” That question would have to be answered in the next few months, he said.
Many cruise missiles taking out these facilities, I hope.
Defence sources in Israel believe the end of March to be the “point of no return” after which Iran will have the technical expertise to enrich uranium in sufficient quantities to build a nuclear warhead in two to four years.
A completely intolerable situation. Those mullahs will threaten Israel and anybody else once they have them. Israel in particular will not allow themselves to be fried by Iran. They will strike first, make no mistake about it.
“Israel — and not only Israel — cannot accept a nuclear Iran,” Sharon warned recently. “We have the ability to deal with this and we’re making all the necessary preparations to be ready for such a situation.”
....and I'll bet he truly means 'all'.
Gholamreza Aghazadeah, head of the Atomic Organisation of Iran, warned yesterday that his country would produce nuclear fuel. “There is no doubt that we have to carry out uranium enrichment,” he said.
Then there is no doubt that you have to be destroyed.
But although Iran insists it wants only nuclear energy, Israeli intelligence has concluded it is deceiving the world and has no intention of giving up what it believes is its right to develop nuclear weapons.
....any right thinking person can only conclude that Iran is deceiving the world.....why not. Although Saddam was overthrown, they learned quite a bit about buying time with impotent UN 'inspectors'.
A “massive” Israeli intelligence operation has been underway since Iran was designated the “top priority for 2005”, according to security sources.
Iran is playing a most deadly game, and Israel is on to them.
If a military operation is approved, Israel will use air and ground forces against several nuclear targets in the hope of stalling Tehran’s nuclear programme for years, according to Israeli military sources.
It is believed Israel would call on its top special forces brigade, Unit 262 — the equivalent of the SAS — and the F-15I strategic 69 Squadron, which can strike Iran and return to Israel without refuelling.
....and hopefully the world would be smart enough to applaud; I know I will be.
I think it would be better if we did it than Israel. IF we do it, they hate us already, so what. If Israel does it, it may lead to broader war in the ME if Russia/Syria/Iran etc retaliate.
? this touches off Ezekiel 37-38 for you prophecy buffs
Lose they will.
It needs to be noted that Israel is a Major Nuclear Power.
Right behind Texas and North Dakota and a few others.
If Israel turns loose on Iran Iran will be a smoking hole.
There was a Family Guy compilation video that was there, too. Hilarious- especially the 'Bewitched' spoof!
Dang:
That pix puts a whole new meaning to the term "Bad A$$es"
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.