Netanyahu and his government have demonstrated that they no longer regard the United States as a true ally. Allies consult with one another. Allies don't treat their allies interests with total disregard, and its leaders with contempt. But that is how the Netanyahu government now treats the United States. Israeli officials have indicated that they will NOT inform the U.S. before launching an attack Iran.
AP source: Israel will keep US out of the loop if it decides to strike Iran’s nuclear program
WASHINGTON — Israeli officials say they won’t warn the U.S. if they decide to launch a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, according to one U.S. intelligence official familiar with the discussions. The pronouncement, delivered in a series of private, top-level conversations, sets a tense tone ahead of meetings in the coming days at the White House and Capitol Hill.
Israeli officials said that if they eventually decide a strike is necessary, they would keep the Americans in the dark to decrease the likelihood that the U.S. would be held responsible for failing to stop Israel’s potential attack.
Of course this is a flimsy pretest, trying to paper over a major rift between the two governments on how best to deal with Iran, and its nuclear program.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak delivered the message to a series of high-level U.S. visitors to the country, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House national security adviser, the director of national intelligence and top U.S. lawmakers, all trying to close the trust gap between Israel and the U.S. over how to deal with Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Netanyahu delivered the same message to all the Americans who have traveled to Israel for talks, the U.S. official said.
An Israeli surprise attack on Iran would be likely to put a number of American citizens into perilous situations. Given the huge amount of military assistance the US gives Israel, Iran would probably react as if it were a joint attack by Israel and the United States. Throughout the Middle East such an attack would be likely to be regarded as a joint attack by the U.S. and Israel on Iran.
An Israeli attack on Iran would send oil prices skyrocketing and would be likely to extinguish any economic recovery in the US, and could sent to world's economy into a tailspin. That could result in the US and Israel facing diplomatic isolation unlike anything the two countries have ever experienced before.
On top of all of that an Israeli attack on Iran isn't likely to be very effective in destroying Iran's nuclear facilities, creating only a temporary setback for Iran's leaders. Also an Israeli attack on Iran is sure to greatly strengthen Iran's leaders hold on power, uniting the country against external threats.
Any other US ally treating this country with such disregard would lead to a sober reassessment of the relationship between the two countries. Unfortunately the Israel Lobby makes that long overdue reassessment a political impossibility in Israel's case.