Loppan Torkel
Deity
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2004
- Messages
- 4,756
Spoiler :
...
Successive Israeli governments have made it clear they will not "allow" Tehran to develop and possess a nuclear weapon.
In anticipation of the latest report from the IAEA, the Israeli media was full of rhetoric and opinion about whether or not Israel, and its allies, should bomb the Iranian sites.
Israel, of course, is widely believed to have its own nuclear arsenal but says that a nuclear device in the hands of the Tehran regime would destabilise the entire region and cannot be tolerated.
...
In a radio interview about the military "option", Mr Barak acknowledged there would be Israeli casualties.
"There is no way to prevent some damage. It will not be pleasant," said the defence minister.
But, he added: "There is no scenario for 50,000 dead, or 5,000 killed and if everyone stays in their homes, maybe not even 500 dead."
Israel says it supports the idea of an even tougher regime of economic and political sanctions against Iran but suspects that would not stop Tehran's by now advanced nuclear programme.
Any military response would, ideally, be a united attack by the United States and other Western countries against Iran.
Failing that, Israeli leaders say they are prepared to go it alone if they have to.
It is a stance that opinion polls suggest is supported by a large number of Israelis, even though it could be constituted as an "act of war".
Recent sabre-rattling statements by Israeli officials could just be rhetoric, but they are alarming - the idea of a new conflict in the Middle East between two regional powers, even more so.
Successive Israeli governments have made it clear they will not "allow" Tehran to develop and possess a nuclear weapon.
In anticipation of the latest report from the IAEA, the Israeli media was full of rhetoric and opinion about whether or not Israel, and its allies, should bomb the Iranian sites.
Israel, of course, is widely believed to have its own nuclear arsenal but says that a nuclear device in the hands of the Tehran regime would destabilise the entire region and cannot be tolerated.
...
In a radio interview about the military "option", Mr Barak acknowledged there would be Israeli casualties.
"There is no way to prevent some damage. It will not be pleasant," said the defence minister.
But, he added: "There is no scenario for 50,000 dead, or 5,000 killed and if everyone stays in their homes, maybe not even 500 dead."
Israel says it supports the idea of an even tougher regime of economic and political sanctions against Iran but suspects that would not stop Tehran's by now advanced nuclear programme.
Any military response would, ideally, be a united attack by the United States and other Western countries against Iran.
Failing that, Israeli leaders say they are prepared to go it alone if they have to.
It is a stance that opinion polls suggest is supported by a large number of Israelis, even though it could be constituted as an "act of war".
Recent sabre-rattling statements by Israeli officials could just be rhetoric, but they are alarming - the idea of a new conflict in the Middle East between two regional powers, even more so.
Spoiler :
Seventeen soldiers have been killed in an explosion at a military base near Iran's capital Tehran, officials say.
The blast occurred when weapons were being moved inside a Revolutionary Guards depot, a spokesman for the elite unit told state TV.
Windows in nearby buildings were shattered and the blast was heard in central Tehran, 40 km (25 miles) away.
Two hours after the explosion a fire still raged and there were traffic jams on nearby roads, a local reporter said.
The death toll was revised down from an earlier figure released by the Revolutionary Guards of 27.
The blast occurred when weapons were being moved inside a Revolutionary Guards depot, a spokesman for the elite unit told state TV.
Windows in nearby buildings were shattered and the blast was heard in central Tehran, 40 km (25 miles) away.
Two hours after the explosion a fire still raged and there were traffic jams on nearby roads, a local reporter said.
The death toll was revised down from an earlier figure released by the Revolutionary Guards of 27.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15705948
Could there be an attack on Iran next year? How would you see the following events play out in such case?
What's your current opinion on a pre-emptive strike on Iran?