Check out this article from today's Times UK
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/...
What are we to make of this?
First off, you will notice that many of the details in the piece resemble Sy Hersch's reporting for the New Yorker last year at this time, which saw preparations for a summer 2005 attack on reactor sites. That never happened, but is this still on the table?
The obvious answer may be yes, but I'm still holding onto some caution, as the sources here are awfully loose-lipped about the intentions. I just don't know how credible this all is. And I'm not naive enough not to be on the lookout for the old double cross, ie, that the story is a plant, meant to scare the Iranians for example.
But taking it at face value does anyone foresee a scenario in which Iran does not respond militarily to such an action? What happens then? One thing we should realize is that Israel, for all its strength, is not going to be able to face Iran in a military confrontation all alone. Yes, they have nukes, but that threat is barely credible as it may even force public condemnation from the US, and threaten the money pump. So who will be there to defend them? Look in the mirror.
We know that Cheney has already given the green light for an attack on Imus in early 2005:
"Well, one of the concerns people have is that Israel might do it without being asked," Mr. Cheney said. "If, in fact, the Israelis became convinced the Iranians had a significant nuclear capability, given the fact that Iran has a stated policy that their objective is the destruction of Israel, the Israelis might well decide to act first, and let the rest of the world worry about cleaning up the diplomatic mess afterwards."
This was yet another example of Cheney "getting out in front" of policy, which also led to the Iraq war. Despite the usual ideological drivers in place here, there is a practical political matter for the GOP, which believes that as long as we are fighting someone, the public is with them and not the Democrats. So you need to keep finding new enemies. Its an old Reaganite trick that the old Reaganites in office have honed to perfection.
Time will tell. Input?