JPost: Pentagon examining chances of Israeli strike against Iran

[sabra]

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1139395596422

Pentagon examining chances of Israeli strike against Iran

The Pentagon is looking into the possibility of Israel launching a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. In the past months there were several working-level discussions trying to map out the possible scenarios for such an attack, according to administration sources who were briefed on these meetings.

The discussions, which were describes as intelligence-oriented and not policy-oriented, examined the likelihood of an Israeli pre-emptive attack against Iran and the method in which such an attack could be carried out. One of the main questions presented in these discussions was whether Israel would inform the US in advance in case such an attack is to take place and when would such an advance notice be given.

The sources pointed out that it is clear that Israel would have to coordinate with the US forces air control any attempt to fly over Iraq on the way to Iran, if Israel chooses to attack using the shortest route.

Last week, former Israeli Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon said in Washington that the West does have a military option against Iran and that a joint US-NATO-Israeli air strike against dozens of nuclear facilities in Iran could set back Teheran's nuclear programs for several years.

[ugarte]

1. How many Iranian civilian casualties would these raids cause?

Thousands? Tens of thousands? Funny how this number is never mentioned and does not even seem to be a component in the Israeli/Bush equation.

[lovuian]

2. Its been on the table for months

this is no surprise!!!

[IndianaGreen]

3. The sooner they attack Iran, the sooner the empire will collapse

Iran can inflict more pain on the West than we can on them!

All we can do is bomb their cities.

They can shut off the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf.

They can get the Iraqi Shias to give our troops lots of grief.

Israel will be hit, either directly by Iranian missiles, or indirectly through Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon and the Occupied Territories.

Yes, my Fueher, if you invade Russia in late summer, the war will be over by early fall. No need to bring along winter clothing!

[yurbud]

4. and China, and Russia...we will be depending on them being more sane

than Bush and prevent World War III.

[OneBlueSky]

5. I smell bullshit . . .

whatever's going on relative to Iran, you can be sure that the Pentagon is not "examining chances" . . . they're planning them, probably in close consultation with Israel . . .

the only question remaining is likely who will do the bombing -- us or the Israelis . . . or both . . .