CNN: U.S. concerned Israel could strike Iran

[Poll_Blind]

From http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/04/u-s-concerned-israel-could-strike-iran/">CNN:

The United States has become increasingly concerned Israel could be preparing to strike Iran's nuclear program, a senior U.S. military official told CNN on Friday.

The U.S. military and intelligence community in recent weeks have stepped up "watchfulness" of both Iran and Israel, according to the senior U.S. military official and a second military official familiar with the U.S. actions. Asked if the Pentagon was concerned about an attack, the senior military official replied "absolutely." Both officials declined to be identified because of the extreme sensitivity of the matter.

--snip--

The military official told CNN that the United States is watching any Israeli military movements closely as well as those inside Iran. In the past, the U.S. officials felt they had assurances from Israel that it would give warning to the United States of any attack.

"Now that doesn't seem so ironclad," the official said.

That is interesting in itself but combine it with http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/peres-i-believe-israel-world-approaching-military-option-on-iran-nuclear-threat-1.393801">this story from Haaretz in Israel:

President Shimon Peres said Friday that he believes that Israel and the world may soon take military action against Iran. Despite this, Peres added that a distinction must be made between the public discourse and what happens in practice.

In comments to Israel Channel 2, Peres said "Intelligence services of all countries understand that time is running out and they are warning their leaders."

--snip--

"It would seem that Iran is getting closer to having nuclear weapons," Peres said, adding, "In the time that remains, we must urge the other nations of the world to act, and tell them that it is time to stand behind the promise that was made to us, to fulfill their responsibility, whether that means serious sanctions or whether it means a military operation."

Responding to the recent media uproar over Israeli leaders publicly disagreeing in comments to the press as to the relative wisdom of a military attack on Iran, the president said, "It may well be that comments on the topic serve their own function. We must make a distinction between what is done and what is said. I don’t think any decision has been made, except to hold the world to their duty to respond, and we want to see what they will do."

What the...?

PB

[dipsydoodle]

1. This is going round in circles.

I think they should call on Alfred E. Neuman for some advice.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Saber rattling and tail wagging. Just say no.

[TheWraith]

3. Nope. Same story we've had every month since 2005 or so.

Still not very likely.

[xchrom]

4. They're afraid Israel will do it before they will. Nt

[leveymg]

5. If we want to stop Israel, it's simple: tell them we'll shoot down their planes that enter Iran

If it came to that. But, it won't.

BTW: The threat would certainly work, but the IAF would surely be able to shoot down some of ours. Pretty evenly matched, since they mostly use our equipment.

The Iranians know that too, which is why if the Israelis attacked first, they would feel justified in retaliating against US targets in the region, as well. So, we really should communicate our true intentions to all parties, and stop this dangerous game of provocation.

[joeybee12]

6. Typos...I think you meant US is HOPING Israel WILL strike Iran

So we look like we didn't have any part in it.

[slipslidingaway]

7. Report: Obama Administration Sold Bunker Busters To Israel

http://thinkprogress.org/security/2011/09/23/327172/report-obama-administration-sold-bunker-busters-to-israel/

"Previewing an upcoming story on the U.S.-Israeli military relationship, Eli Lake reports for Newsweek that while publicly pressuring Israel to halt settlement activity in the West Bank in order jump start peace negotiations, the Obama administration sold the Jewish state dozens of deep earth penetrating bombs, known as bunker busters. Lake reports that “U.S. and Israeli officials tell Newsweek that the GBU-28 Hard Target Penetrators—potentially useful in any future military strike against Iranian nuclear sites—were delivered to Israel in 2009, just several months after Obama took office.”