Amid lingering talks of war on Iran, Israel's prime minister-designate raises the alarm about a major military conflict in the coming months. The soon-to-be prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes that "a national emergency" such as Israel's involvement in a major war would help him in his frantic attempts to form a new ruling coalition. Netanyahu, who is known as "Mr. Iran" in Israeli circles, has so far failed to gain the trust and support of opposition parties of Kadima and Labor. "A national emergency" would then compel Israeli rivals to join Bibi's government, unnamed political sources were quoted as saying. "His main consideration is that Israel expects to be embroiled in a major military confrontation in the next few months with Iran, Hamas or Hezbollah -- or all three at once," read the Debka report. Following the inconclusive February 20 elections, Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu, the hawkish leader of Likud, was tasked with piecing together a new Israeli government. The military conflict prediction by the Israeli prime minister-designate comes as earlier on February 16, an annual defense work plan presented to Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi for the year 2009 described Iran as "the No.1 threat the IDF is now preparing for." The report tasked the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) with reinforcing its strategic aerial capabilities, while zooming in on the development of "remote-piloted vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles", as well as "infrastructural investments in intelligence and communications devices." Israel, believed to be the only possessor of a nuclear arsenal in the Middle East, describes Iran's nuclear activities as a threat to its existence. Israeli officials claim that considering the pace at which Iran is moving ahead with its nuclear program it would become a nuclear power by the end of 2009 and argue that a military attack is a legitimate option for taking out the country's nuclear infrastructure. As a response to long-standing Israeli war rhetoric, Iran has moved to upgrade its defenses and has reportedly opted to clinch a deal with Russia to acquire a sophisticated air defense system -- the S-300. Earlier on Tuesday, however, a report revealed that Moscow might take a step and shelve the delivery of the controversial air defense system to Iran as Russia is currently seeking to turn a "new page" in its ties with the US. "Such a possibility is not excluded. The question [of S-300 delivery] must be decided at a political level, especially as the contract was worked out on a purely commercial basis," Russia's Interfax news agency quoted an unnamed source as saying. The freeze in the delivery of the Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile is expected to help ensure the success of an Israeli airstrike on Iranian nuclear sites. Western military experts have estimated that the controversial system would rule out the possibility of any such strike on Iranian facilities. "If Tehran obtained the S-300, it would be a game-changer in military thinking for tackling Iran," says long-time Pentagon advisor Dan Goure. http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=88605§ionid=351020104
The new admin just might get tougher with the Israelis and force them to adhere to UN resolutions or be dumped. An ailing USA can't afford such "allies" any more, they have been a a dead weight on the US and The West since WW2. Strangely they don't seem particularly bothered and go on building in occupied territory etc. Could get really rough ! Make the Gaza episode look fairly harmless by comparison imho
Israel is NO ally of the United States. Our allies include Britain, Aussie, Canada, Saudi, Bahrain, & some prominent Euro nations. Israel does NOTHING for us except ruin our image abroad & drag us into THEIR WARS. Who doesn't know this? $150 crude? Go ahead you maniacs....I have margin accoutns & I'll be okay. I worry about everyone else, however.
If USA dumps Israel, they will attack Iran immediately next day. Only USA is stopping Israel from attacking Iran. This will start World War III.
Agreed. They need the airspace over Iraq to successfully execute any bombing raid. It's a rabid pit bull we keep on a leash.
are you nuts? saudi's where 15 out of 19 were terrorists on 9/11. Do you know how much military and tech. info Israel and America share with each other. What war did they drag America into? Iraq? Afg?
How come? Russians and other Arabs need not come to the help of Iran. Remember, Iran is not Arab it is persian and Iran was main force behind the terrorism in Russian province of Chechenya. If Iran tries to capture territory in Iraq then US will step on and crush any fighting capability the Mullahs have. Iran's better bets are to give up nuclear ambitions on the scale of WMDs and focus on civilian energy use of the nuclear power.
Occupied territory? You watch too much bbc. When I take your trading profits then you'll tell me that I'm occupying your cash too, right? They were in a war and won, period. Give them credit for giving any land back. You should have visited the entire middle east during the 90's and see the standard of living bet. Palestinians and the rest of the Arab world. Besides the Arabs want the land bec. they want to be next to the jews. Look at the neighborhoods in Ny. I grew up in Borough Park, and church ave used to be Hispanics and Chinese. The more Jews came in the more Arabs follow.
Inv, This is surely an inappropriate forum to honestly answer your question. Do you have any friends in the intelligence community? You may want to figure things out for yourself. Many have been fooled. YOu're not the only one. GL trading. Let's pray we see no new wars.