53 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 17 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds   

In Spite Of The Recent NIE, War With Iran May Be Inevivitable

By       (Page 1 of 3 pages)   4 comments
Follow Me on Twitter     Message William Cormier

Unfortunately, unless something drastic changes with US and Israeli foreign policy, based on Israel’s veiled threats toward Iran, even though the Congress is half-heartedly attempting to hold Bush at bay from attacking Iran - an attack by Israel would draw us into the war whether we liked it or not, and this change of direction on Israel’s part stinks to high-heaven of collusion with the hawks (Darth Cheney, Wolfowitz, etc.) in the Bush administration:

US intelligence report heightens danger of Israeli strike on Iran

By Peter Symonds
6 December 2007

The Israeli government has bluntly rejected the conclusion of the US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), released on Monday, that Iran currently has no nuclear weapons programs. The NIE report directly contradicts previous Israeli claims that Tehran represents an imminent nuclear threat to Israel and the world. While government ministers continue to call publicly for greater diplomatic efforts, there are obvious signs that a discussion is underway in Israeli political and military circles about possible air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni set in motion a diplomatic counteroffensive with a briefing for Israeli ambassadors on Tuesday. Dismissing the NIE, she declared: “Iran’s desire to gain nuclear weapons has been proven, and it is clear to all that it is continuing with its efforts to achieve the technology.” Speaking yesterday in Slovenia, Livni called for “more effective sanctions” to force Iran to halt its uranium enrichment, adding: “Iran with a nuclear weapon is something that the world cannot afford.”

Livni simply ignored that fact that the NIE added weight to Iran’s repeated insistence that its uranium enrichment program is to provide fuel for its power reactors, not to manufacture an atomic bomb. While continuing to claim that Iran had previously had a weapons program, the NIE said it had been halted in 2003. Even if Iran decided to do so, the NIE concluded, the country was “very unlikely” to have the technical capacity to produce enough highly enriched uranium for one bomb before the timeframe 2010-2015. MUCH MORE

It’s well-known that Israeli security is legendary, and they have censors and systems throughout their transportation system(s) to detect nuclear material. A covert nuclear attack would most likely originate from the sea in a container ship or oil tanker, carefully hidden in the bowels of the ship. Our security is far behind that of the Israeli’s - which means that we are more vulnerable to nuclear attack than Israel by the means as stated above. Also, we have a porous southern border, complete with tunnels where terrorists could and have gained entry into the United States, so we are vulnerable on land as well as by sea. The threat of a terrorist sponsored nuclear attack is not specifically unique to Israel, and even though Iran’s President stated “Israel should be wiped from the face of the earth,” the anti-American rhetoric is also ever present – and these threats from Iran have to be taken seriously, but also in consideration that Iran is grandstanding just as North Korea did, and they know that the nuclear material can be traced to where it originated from – making a covert nuclear attack against either of us an act of suicide, an act I would not expect from Iran unless they were attacked.

Israel has to know that if Iran fired a nuclear armed ballistic missile at Israel, retaliation would be swift and fatal to the Iranian’s from a number of sources. The International community would not tolerate such an attack, just as they wouldn’t tolerate an attack against one of ours or Israel’s port cities. If such an attack was mounted I suspect the originators would try to remain anonymous unless it was orchestrated by Al Qaeda, who would quickly claim responsibility and find that a counter-attack was instigated soon after we knew for sure where the attack originated from; nuclear weapons may be the terrorists ultimate choice to attempt and place the world in terror – but make no mistake, such an event would galvanize the global community and Al Qaeda would find itself rapidly being hunted-down decimated until we were satisfied there was little or none of the leadership and structure of the organization left alive – and no international boundary would stop the ultimate end of those who orchestrated the attack.. (This is a matter of my personal opinion; whereas Al Qaeda and the Taliban were allowed to escape into Pakistan from Tora Bora, the detonation of a nuclear weapon would receive a far greater response by the global community to insure the perpetrator’s were not allowed to decimate other areas of the world.)

Even as I’ve been writing, more information is pouring in, the situation remains fluid, and unfortunately, seems to be getting worse. Even France and Germany are still committed to keeping-up the pressure on Iran, which may serve to embolden Israel to conduct the initial strike themselves:


Despite Report, France and Germany Keep Pressure on Iran

By Katrin Benhold
The New York Times

Friday 07 December 2007

Paris — The leaders of France and Germany said Thursday that Iran remained a danger and that other nations needed to keep up the pressure over its nuclear program despite a United States intelligence report’s conclusion that Tehran was no longer building a bomb.

Speaking at a joint news conference at the Élysée Palace, President Nicolas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel said they had not changed their minds despite the findings of the American intelligence estimate released Monday, which some believed would have eroded support for tougher new sanctions.

Their remarks came as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice won the backing of NATO foreign ministers on Thursday for new United Nations sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

“The threat exists,” said Mr. Sarkozy, one of the staunchest defenders of the new sanctions. “Notwithstanding the latest elements, everyone is fully conscious of the fact that there is a will among the Iranian leaders to obtain nuclear weapons.” MUCH MORE

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Rate It | View Ratings

William Cormier Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

My Bio is as varied as my life. In 2012, my twin sons murdered a Journalist in Pensacola, Fl., for 100K worth of "Magic The Gathering" playing cards and buried the body in my backyard. I was once a regular writer here, but PTSD from my son's (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Follow Me on Twitter     Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Pew Research Center Shows Elites Have Destroyed America's Middle-Class

International Concern Over Iceland's Katla Volcano Erupting Soon Is Justified

Have Americans Forgotten The True Meaning Of Patriotism?

This Isn't Politics -- It's A Crime Being Perpetrated Against The American People

Gas Shortage and Gas Lines in Georgia

The Russian Conflict In Georgia Could Make War With Iran More Probable

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend