Posted on 07/04/2002 7:51:59 AM PDT by truthandlife
A United States Air Force report asserts that Israel is building a nuclear naval force meant to respond to any nuclear strike by such countries as Iran or Iraq.
It is the first time a U.S. military institution has stated that Israel has produced a hydrogen bomb. The number of purported Israeli nuclear weapons cited in the report is double that of previous assessments.
The report, sponsored by the air force's Counterproliferation Center, asserts that the navy can deploy any of what it asserts is Israel's 400 atomic and hydrogen weapons, Middle East Newsline reported. The center is located in the Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.
In a report entitled "The Third Temple's Holy of Holies: Israel's Nuclear Weapons," U.S. Army Col. Warner Farr said Israel's nuclear arsenal has grown from an estimated 13 nuclear bombs in 1967 to 400 nuclear and thermonuclear weapons. Farr said Israel's navy could deploy nuclear weapons on the fleet of three German-built Dolphin-class diesel submarines.
"Israel will then have a second strike capability with nuclear cruise missiles, and this capability could well change the nuclear arms race in the Middle East," the report, which Farr said is based on unclassified sources, read. "Israeli rhetoric on the new submarines labels them 'national deterrent' assets."
The report said these nuclear missiles could have a range of 350 kilometers. Israel would try to base its nuclear naval force near Oman, with which Israel has informal relations, the September 1999 report, which was recently published by the center, said.
"The first basing options for the new second-strike force of nuclear missile capable submarines include Oman, an Arab nation with unofficial Israeli relations, located strategically near Iran," the report said.
The U.S. Air Force Counterproliferation Center was established in 1998. The center is meant to help prepare air force commanders counter the threat from weapons of mass destruction. The report did not deem Israel's purported nuclear arsenal as a direct threat to the United States.
The report said Israel's Defense Ministry has requested from the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon authorization for a retaliatory nuclear strike. Israel could also use Jordanian air space for a nuclear strike on Iran, which the report said could produce a nuclear warhead as early as 2004.
Leni
There might be a few unusual things involved here and there in the creation of the State of Israel, but was there another Parting of the Red Sea? Did the sun stand still in the sky for three days? We are capable of much while acting autonomously on our own; the Creator needn't do everything for us.
Of course in the case of Israel it is simply ^^ bombs away. Utter hypocrisy."
I did'nt see any hypocracy - did Israel invade Kuwait and threaten an invasion of Saudi Arabia? No, it was Iraq! That's why we went to war with them and forced them to agree to get rid of WMD. If Israel had used WMD without just cause on another nation then you just know that the entire world would've wiped Israel off the map. To date Israel has not used nukes on anyone (yet). But Iraq has used their WMD arsenal, and are planning on using it against other nations.
We get closer to Israel. We get a link to their Command, Control, Communication. We coordinate with them.
It can be done.
You're welcome.
Ara(pig)fat isn't worth the cost of a nuke. One hellfire missle from a predator drone would do the job.
Saddam is another equation. He will be hiding in the deepest hole in Iraq. A mini-nuke (0.3KT) would make him a bad memory.
FReegards, FRiend.
Amazing. Someone makes what is most likely a true statement about espionage and theft from OUR country by a FOREIGN power,and is automatically called a "Klanner". It would probably be more correct to call YOU a "JDL/Israeli-Firster",which is the Jewish equivalent. Then again,I have no doubt you are a American who sees nothing wrong with Israel stealing from us,spying on us,and even selling our secrets to our enemies. Hey,after all,it's Israel,right? Or am I totally off base here,and you would think the same way if it had been Palestinians who had stolen this material?
And why don't you go back to your JDL meeting? Or is your pawn shop and the ACLU meetings keeping you too busy,Mr.Stereotype?
True,but not all of his top generals and others are insane enough to allow him (ANY him,including Saddam)to commit national suidice,which is what a WMD attack on Israel or the US would end up being. If a leader gave a order to launch the nukes in a first strike,his own top people would have no choice but to assassinate him in self-defense.
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