Israel launches 'Iran Command' for war

[Howlingwolf]

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=59400&sectionid=351020104

Israel launches 'Iran Command' for war
Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:48:04


Israeli soldiers testing the Arrow missile system
Israel has reportedly started to set up an 'Iran Command' within its air force as part of preparations for a possible war against Iran.

According to reports by unnamed Israeli military sources, the regime's air force has launched 'Iran Command' to coordinate operations to 'confront the growing threat from Tehran'.

The command's operations are aimed at improving coordination among Israeli ballistic missiles and air and missile brigades which deploy the Arrow and Patriot missile systems.

The report comes amid ramped up Israeli rhetoric against Tehran over the country's nuclear program.

Earlier this week, Israeli deputy prime minister Shaoul Mofaz accused Iran of running a nuclear weapons program and threatened to launch a military strike on Iran with the help of US if Tehran continues with its nuclear program.

This is while Iran insists that it is conducting its nuclear program under the regulations of the UN nuclear watchdog and insists that its program is aimed at generating electricity for a growing population.

Israel, believed to be the sole possessor of 'at least 150 nuclear warheads' in the Middle East, seeks to persuade US President George W. Bush to halt Iran's nuclear program by military rather than diplomatic means before the end of his term in office.

[soberups]

On the one hand, I firmly believe we have no business attacking Iran.
On the other hand...if we dont take out Iran's nuclear capbility, the Israelis will do it themselves.
We have the ability to do it with conventional weapons and surgical airstrikes. The Israelis don't. They lack the capability to sustain a prolonged air war over Iran. Their only choice will be to use their own nukes pre-emptively.
I would not be surprised if the Israelis try to force our hand by threatening to nuke the Iranians unless we get involved. Thats going to be a pretty tough dillemna to deal with.

[SteveK]

Their only choice will be to use their own nukes pre-emptively.
I would not be surprised if the Israelis try to force our hand by threatening to nuke the Iranians unless we get involved. Thats going to be a pretty tough dillemna to deal with.

I cannot envisage any scenario where Israel would threaten/employ a nuclear first strike. Multiple hits on Iranian facilities with "bunker buster" munitions absolutely! Any Israeli nuclear capability is there as a deterrent factor, just as the US inventory is. Just mho.

[soberups]

I cannot envisage any scenario where Israel would threaten/employ a nuclear first strike. Multiple hits on Iranian facilities with "bunker buster" munitions absolutely! Any Israeli nuclear capability is there as a deterrent factor, just as the US inventory is. Just mho.
Israel doesnt have "bunker buster" mutinitions, nor do they have the ability to engage in a protracted air war over Iranian airspace. Their F-16's lack the range to attack Iran without air-to-air refueling, for which they have very limited capabilities, especially when you consider that any such refueling would have to take place over hostile airspace.
The 1982 attack on the Osirak reactor in Iraq was a sneak attack on a single target, and the Israeli jets were grossly overloaded on takeoff and were barely able to make it home. Iranian facilities are scattered over a wide area and are many hundreds of miles futher away. The Iranians are also expecting and have prepared for an Israeli attack.
Israeli pilots are among the best in the world, but the fact is that Israel simply lacks the firepower and sustained, long-range strike capability to do the job without nukes.

[SteveK]

Israel doesnt have "bunker buster" mutinitions

My mistake, I thought they did. I do however stand by my belief that Israel will not resort to a first strike use of nuclear weapons.

[soberups]

My mistake, I thought they did. I do however stand by my belief that Israel will not resort to a first strike use of nuclear weapons.

Israel will do whatever is necessary to insure their own survival, and if that means a preemptive nuclear strike then I wouldnt put it past them....nor would I even blame them.
Iran is technically at war with Israel, and the Iranian government has repeatedly called for the complete and utter destruction of Israel as a nation and as a people. Iran is a huge sponsor of the terror groups that launch rocket attacks against Israel almost daily. While I beleive in peace and negotiations, you can't "negotiate" with someone whose only position is that you must be destroyed and wiped off of the map. Nor can you allow such an entity to possess the weapons of mass destruction that would make this possible.
The sad part in all of this is that we in the USA have been screwing the Iranians over for the last 60 years or more, so we bear some of the blame for the current state of affairs. I am hoping that we are able to negotiate some sort of agreement to prevent Iran from accquiring nukes...because if we dont, Israel WILL take care of it themselves, by whatever means necessary.

[kowalski]

Agreed. But I'm not looking forward to the $50 jump in oil prices when they do it.