Israeli Air Force practices for Iranian strike

[Dan D'air]

Or, North to Turkey and hang a right.

Of course, they wouldn't have any plans in place already, would they?

[Dan D'air]

cirrusfrance, You might want to rein yourself in a little there, it was France who gave Israel the capability to build nuclear weapons.

[glad rag]

cirrusfrance, You might want to rein yourself in a little there, it was France who gave Israel the capability to build nuclear weapons.

That has nothing to do with the predicted aggression..

[Beatriz Fontana]

(Places tin hat firmly on head and hides under the table awaiting the heavy clang of a reply unaware of irony)

We could solve the problem by moving the Jewish state to a less contentious place... just as Stalin did in declaring the Jewish Autonomous Region of Birobidjan. Apparently, the place is thriving and the neighbours aren't forever taking pot shots at each other.

If that fails, let's just have a little bit of equality when it comes to UNSCRs. If one country decides to ignore them, why shouldn't another?

[brickhistory]

glad rag, do ou refer to Israel's 'predicted aggression' or Iran's stated intention?

I am very curious as to why the fingers here typically only point one way.

[CirrusF]

Dan D'air

cirrusfrance, You might want to rein yourself in a little there, it was France who gave Israel the capability to build nuclear weapons.

Are you a bit thick? Have you ever noticed that - whichever country you happen to live in - that not all the residents are from that country? Have you never been in - say a minicab? Or bought a kebab? And has it never occured to you that not every resident of a given country can be held personally responsible for the political actions of the government of that country? I think you have been educated by watching Hollywood films....

On the subject of Hollywood history, even the US recognises that Israel probably has chemical and biological weapons (as well as nuclear weapons) in their arsenal, so if crass hypocrisy were not part of the US armoury Israel would have been invaded years ago...

[brickhistory]

Israel probably has chemical and biological weapons (as well as nuclear weapons) in their arsenal, so if crass hypocrisy were not part of the US armoury Israel would have been invaded years ago...

1. Probably? That's it? No proof?

2. If they do, have they used them? And the track record of the neighbors when possessing grown up toys?

3. Invade? As the Israelis would be the first to admit, they picked the one part of the Middle East with no oil.


C'mon, you can do better than this.

[BEagle]

Probably? That's it? No proof?

Perhaps you might direct that comment to that mad idiot who sits in the White House.

[CirrusF]

The US itself estimates that Israel has Chemical and Biological weapons.

If I were Iranian, and lived in Iran with my family, I would certainly vote for a government that intended to build a nuclear deterrent. In case you have forgotten, Iraq invaded Iran in 1987 with US support, and approximately 1,000,000 Iranians were killed, many dying horrific deaths in WW1 style trench warfare using chemical weapons supplied by (guess who) the US. Iran has then had to watch Israel build a substantial armoury of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons while the US and west generally turns a blind eye, then the US invades Iraq on an obviously fabricated pretext, and then invades on the other side of the border in Afghanistan on another flimsy pretext. If I lived in Iran right now, I would be clamouring at my government to get some nukes fast!! It would seem that a nuclear deterrent is the only way to prevent an invasion by the US - after all the US did not invade North Korea, once they declared they had nukes. Suddenly "diplomacy" was the way forward there....

[Flyingblind]

Beatriz Fontana Wrote;

"We could solve the problem by moving the Jewish state to a less contentious place... just as Stalin did in declaring the Jewish Autonomous Region of Birobidjan. Apparently, the place is thriving and the neighbours aren't forever taking pot shots at each other."

Exactly my thoughts!

We have plenty of spare land here in OZ, was looking at my map and i think theres plenty of similar land up in the North Western area, between Port Headland and Broome. Lovely bit of land, surrounded by beach and the Indian Ocean.

Best thing is no neighbors trying to kill you, apart from local rednecks listening to 'achy breaky heart' but we'd move-on all the Riff Raff prior to the chosen ones arrival.

[MAINJAFAD]

Iraq invaded Iran in 1980, not 1987. Well before Ronnie Raygun got into the White House.

As for the US (and almost everybody else's support for Iraq at the time), the rule My Enemies Enemy is My Friend comes into play , unless you would like just to make a profit in the case of the Exocets and Mirage F1's/loaned SuE's that ended up in Iraq. In the US's case, when you storm my embasey and hold its staff hostage, that is usually counted as a act of war. The best line I heard about that war was from a USAF general....'Its a pity that both sides in that war can't lose'

[brickhistory]

BEags, we're not talking about Iraq. It is an "I" country, but not that one.


Do keep up.

------------------------------------------------------------

I'm still waiting patiently for someone who doesn't like Israel saber-rattling to explain why Iran to do so with an explicit, stated aim is accepted.

I'm sure they'll give your boats, guns, and uniforms back.

[MAINJAFAD]

As for the chemical weapons used by Iraqi, most of the equipment and materials used to make the stuff came from Continental Europe, not the US. Weapon cases holding the nasty stuff were in most cases Soviet or Chinese. All the US did was give credits to pay for it.

[glad rag]

brickhistory, the fingers point one way for a reason, the "I" country, as you put it, is, rightfully, running short of friends.

After the US Presidential elections it might well find itself further isolated and a short step, from a pariah state, something no right thinking person would wish.

So what are they to do?

Is it time for social upheaval within Israel to isolate their own religious fanatics and finally put to rest the paranoia of the past and to forge a path of peace with firstly the palestinians as they have done with others already???

[BenThere]

I was speculating on the timing of a possible attack and concluded that if McCain is elected, Bush would trust him to not allow Iranian accession to nuclear weapons, but might feel compelled to take drastic action between the election and Jan. 20 if Obama wins. Just a hunch.

As for Israeli combat range, the presence of bases in Iraq and even logistics and tanker support from US assets in theatre is plausible.

Iran has no friends in the Gulf, and the US hasn't been paid for the perdiem owed its State Department civil servants while unwilling guests of Ahmadinejad and company in 1979-80.

The strategy doesn't need to be to destroy Iran's entire nuclear target set, but to neutralize major Quds/Revguard installations and try to decapitate the ruling regime. An invasion is not in the cards. The people of Iran no longer desire the rule of the mullahs and would be likely to take care of the loose ends themselves. Should the regime survive, could it afford to cut off Hormuz, thus depriving it of its own oil lifeblood? Not if it intends to survive, itself.

I wouldn't go so far as to predict such a scenario, but I think it's more likely than other fantasies I've read on this thread.

[BEagle]

BEags, we're not talking about Iraq. It is an "I" country, but not that one.

Do keep up.

I guess irony (another I word) is lost on Spams....

In any case, Brick, are you sure that the dimwitted Gdubya actually knows the difference between Iran and Iraq? Or Italy... Iceland... Idaho??

An earlier meeting between Tony-the-Poodle and Bush just before Gulf War 2 might clarify things:

“Yo Blair - it’s your buddy G Dubya. How’ya doin’?”

“George. Nice to talk to you. Absolutely”

“Hell, Tiny, what we gonna’ do ‘bout these Iraquois an’ their King Hussein? Seems we need to kick us some butt!”

“George. First we need clear evidence of any Iraqi.....”

“Hell, Tiny. My good buddies of the CBI been gatherin’ plenty of intellectualisatory photographicals. We know what Osama Hussein’s bin up to...”

“Ah yes. Now George. Intelligence. Have your people got any better at that? You told us that there were dozens of Al-Quaeda and Taliban forces still holed up in Afghanistan. That’s not what we’ve found....”

“Afghanistralia? You don’t say? Hell, when I pulled my boys back ‘n sent ‘em to the mountains of Kansas to get more training, why we expected your Marine Corps to go do some serious fightin’. So waddya’ tellin’ me?”

“George. We found nothing. Apart from a few goats with sore bottoms and some posters with rude comments about Queen Victoria..... ”

“Queen Victoria? Is she the new Queen of Englishland?”

“No. When we were last in the North West Frontier, she was the Queen. Actually she was the Empress of India.”

“Really? You don’ say. Was that a while back?”

“Yes. In fact Queen Elizabeth the Second is the daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. She, as Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, married the great grand-son of Queen Victoria, George”

“Yes, Tiny?”

“No - his name was George, George. So was his father’s, George the Fifth, George......”

“Hell, Tiny - ma pappy had thuh same idea! But how come ya didn’t find no Arabistanis? Thought they’d be ten-a-penny over there...”

“Ye-es. Quite. But what proof do you have about Iraq”

“Hell - proof? What’s that? Ma generals say there’s a threat, we go nuke ‘em. Period. Who needs proof?”

“The United Nations?”

“Who?”

[Dan D'air]

cirrusfrance, you may well not be French, but you have certainly developed their proclivity for obfuscation and inaccuracy. It's sad to see that you have immediately resorted to personal insults to try to strengthen your case, so you are now, Sir, on my ignore list. 'Nuff said.

[brickhistory]

Very nice writing, BEags. Perhaps you should add that endeavor to your CV.

But, my point regarding Israel and any suspected chemical weapons is just that. Speculation. As they've not used them on their own people or any neighboring populations, I'm for giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Iraq didn't seem to have that same track record.

I seem to recall the Israeli initial bunch, anyway, had experience with being the end receipent of such things in the past.

Same would go for Israeli nukes. They haven't used them on anyone. Yet.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

glad rag,

the fingers point one way for a reason, the "I" country, as you put it, is, rightfully, running short of friends.

After the US Presidential elections it might well find itself further isolated and a short step, from a pariah state, something no right thinking person would wish.

So what are they to do?

Is it time for social upheaval within Israel to isolate their own religious fanatics and finally put to rest the paranoia of the past and to forge a path of peace with firstly the palestinians as they have done with others already???

Far from it for me to be a cheerleader for Israel. I'm not enamored of everything they've done/do, however, staying alive does seem to be a legitimate goal for me to support.

So, let me get this plain from you. You have no problem with Iran acquiring nuclear weapons?

If so, would you be comfortable with Iran using those weapons on Israel?

Is it your position that Israel 'asked for it?' None of its neighbors have a small part to play in the drama?

Again, a country which very recently shamed the Royal Navy and Britain, and you have no words of condemnation for them?

Interesting.

[glad rag]

You appear confused and require your medication Sir!

So how does this:-

"the fingers point one way for a reason, the "I" country, as you put it, is, rightfully, running short of friends.

After the US Presidential elections it might well find itself further isolated and a short step, from a pariah state, something no right thinking person would wish.

So what are they to do?

Is it time for social upheaval within Israel to isolate their own religious fanatics and finally put to rest the paranoia of the past and to forge a path of peace with firstly the palestinians as they have done with others already???"

Relate to your reply of :-

"Far from it for me to be a cheerleader for Israel. I'm not enamored of everything they've done/do, however, staying alive does seem to be a legitimate goal for me to support.

So, let me get this plain from you. You have no problem with Iran acquiring nuclear weapons?

If so, would you be comfortable with Iran using those weapons on Israel?

Is it your position that Israel 'asked for it?' None of its neighbors have a small part to play in the drama?

Again, a country which very recently shamed the Royal Navy and Britain, and you have no words of condemnation for them?"

Interesting? No you are not.

[brickhistory]

But you don't answer the questions.

Why is that?