Israeli officials say they won't warn the U.S. if they decide to launch a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, one U.S. intelligence official familiar with the discussions told the Associated Press. The pronouncement, delivered in a series of private, top-level conversations, sets a tense tone ahead of meetings in the coming days at theWhite 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.The U.S. has been working with the Israelis for months to persuade them that an attack would be only a temporary setback to Iran's nuclear program.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak delivered the message to a series of top-level U.S. visitors to the country, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House national security adviser and 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.But the apparent decision to keep the U.S. in the dark also stems from Israel's frustration with the White House.After a visit by National Security Adviser Tom Donilon in particular, they became convinced the Americans would neither take military action, nor go along with unilateral action by Israel against Iran. The Israelis concluded they would have to conduct a strike unilaterally -- a point they are likely to hammer home in a series of meetings over the next two weeks in Washington, the official said.
Israeli officials have made it clear they won’t warn the U.S. if they decide to launch a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, a U.S. intelligence official told The Associated Press on Monday.
The official said the pronouncement was delivered in a series of private, top-level conversations.
Netanyahu is widely believed to back Barak, who believes a pre-emptive military strike on Iran's nuclear program must be made before Tehran enters "the immunity zone."
Barak's so-called "immunity zone" is a theoretical point of no return after which Iran's nuclear program would be so diffuse and well protected that an Israeli strike could not sufficiently delay Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The remarks seem to back recent reports, according to which Israeli officials told Dempsey that Israel would give President Barack Obama no more than 12 hours notice if and when it attacks Iran.
The report said that the Netanyahu government also will not coordinate with the United States an attack on the Islamic Republic.
The secret warning is likely to worry US officials and begin the high level meetings with Israel and the US far apart on how to handle Iran.“I got the sense that Israel is incredibly serious about a strike on their nuclear weapons program,” Rogers told CNN on Monday. “It’s their calculus that the administration … is not serious about a real military consequence to Iran moving forward.
Harvard law professor, Alan Dershowitz, a staunch Democrat and ardent supporter of Israel, said on Monday that he has declared a personal war on the liberal media watchdog, Media Matters, for its harsh and biased coverage of Israel.Dershowitz’s campaign comes as a result of presidential officials holding regular meetings and weekly conference calls with Media Matters on campaign strategy.“I will speak to every Jewish group that invites me, and I think it’s fair to say I speak to more Jewish groups than probably any other person in the world. I spoke to over a million Jews over the years,” Dershowitz said. “You know, just last Thursday I spoke to 1,200; just in the next weeks alone I’ll be speaking — and in the past weeks — to thousands of American Jews. And believe me, I will not let them ignore this issue.”“I don’t know whether President Obama has any idea that Media Matters has turned the corner against Israel in this way,” Dershowitz told the “Aaron Klein InvestigativeRadio” program on New York’s WABC Radio, on Sunday.
“I can tell you this: He will know very shortly, because I am beginning a serious campaign on this issue and I will not let it drop until and unless Rosenberg is fired from Media Matters, or Media Matters changes its policy or the White House disassociates itself from Media Matters,” he asserted.
Lebanon's Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn on Monday warned Israel against “any foolishness in attacking Lebanon.”
Ghosn, who is currently on an official visit to Tehran, met Sunday with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who told him that Lebanon and Iran "should work toward unity to confront the West and Israel."
Military analysts say an Israeli strike on Tehran's nuclear program could result in Iran pushing Hizbullah to use its vast arsenal of rockets against the Jewish state.
Hizbullah denies its actions are dictated by Tehran, but the group is deeply beholden to Iran and would likely find itself with little choice but to spark a new war with Israel.
That has left regional observers – and Lebanese officials – wondering if Israel will launch a pre-emptive strike on Hizbullah even as IAF pilots striking in Iran radioed "bombs away."
The Christian pastor sentenced to death in Iran last week for leaving Islamand converting to Christianity was confirmed alive as of early Sunday, sources close to his attorneys told Fox News.Supporters fear Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old father of two who was arrested more than two years ago on charges of apostasy, fear he may be executed at any time, as death sentences in Iran can be carried out immediately or dragged out for years.Others fear Nadarkhani will be used in broader political negotiations as Iran endures crippling sanctions and international pressure in response to its nuclear agenda and rogue discourse. The number of executions in Iran has increased significantly in the last month.
“If a human being becomes a bargaining chip for the ayatollah, that’s not a situation that will lead to anything positive,” said Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a human rights advocacy group that has led international campaigns to free Nadarkhani.
16 comments:
The last few days news has been incredible. wow.
Those camps disturb me. Wonder what they are really for.
1) a regime change in iran makes NO difference, the ayotollah runs iran not the president 2) if Israel tipped of america of an attack, the U.S. would tip off iran. smart move for Israel
Hart
When I say "regime change" I'm referring to the ayotollah being replaced as well. I think its possible politically, but maybe not prophetically
You can bet that the "supreme" leaders of Iran are indeed a target for an Israeli attack.
Regardless of whom ever is taken out, replaced etc in Iran, they will limp along and follow Gog...
This news of Israel not speaking to the U.S. before an attack on Iran is HUGE! Not a word, on the JP which speaks volumes!
This, while Barak is arriving from Israel, and then Bibi in a week or so. After obummer’s open mic awful comments about Bibi, this will be an interesting face to face meeting to say the least. Lets see if the coward in chief will allow Bibi in the FRONT DOOR this time, instead of the back door.And lets see if the coward in chief, rudely walks away in the middle of a meeting with Bibi like he did before. Hnmmm…maybe he’ll be his typical deceiving self and play nice to the cameras this time, after all, there is an election and he needs votes!
Bibi once again is brilliant, and runs circles around this idiot WH occupier!
Another thing at the same time, we have Putin. Whew...ALL the characteristics of Gog! A headline, that there was an assassination plot to kill him the day after their election! By whom? Men that came in from the UAE, and apparently took orders from a Chechen leader.
Who funds the Chechens? Iran. Is Iran upset with Putin? maybe? or as some have suggested Putin arranged all this to help with his reelection.
Putin is very, very scary! The Russians of course had the two men that were behind this "plot" give confessions on Russian TV. I saw the very disturbing video of one of these men, and he had many wounds on him, and what appeared to be broken hands that were wrapped. They beat the heck out of this guy. Putin, is no less that a KGB thug…the hook in jaw coming quickly to him…
Scott,
If you have addressed this elsewhere, I missed it.
What happened to the viewing of the "last comments" that was on the right hand side of the blog?
I found it so much easier to read them when it was listed there. Plus I could make sure I didn't miss anything. :)
Now I have to go back through each one and check it and often I miss things. (lol, don't want to do that)
Thank you for all you do....
Helen
I forgot to add that I love all of the changes you are making to the blog. It is becoming very "eye friendly" to read.
Thanks again....
Helen
Well, I am , as in not looking forward to, but expecting, some sort of m.e. Craziness around Purim. Its a historic day where Jews always seem to get attacked from the enemy while celebrating the book of Esther. Bibi can not wait much longer. And no, he cant count on the u.s. To help him unfortunately :( which of course means we in this nation better get ready for whats coming! Because Iran will punish us wether or not we are involved.
The only thing our dude cares about is trying to delay this stuff till after the elections, or does he? Hmm maybe not helping Israel and the after effects might play right into his well laid plans. I believe there us an article in todays blog that might fit in well with that theory.
Im not worried. I used to be. But God has it all under control. Our job is to pray and stand strong in our faith! And keep looking up! And if ever a time to be screaming "Maranatha" woohoo its gonna be soon! I still think we will see some pretty amazing things before we are outta here though. Much love! Ally
Agree Ally.
Great to see you getting back in here once in a while. You are missed.
Yepper, agreed. I think we are going to see many signs of the Lord's hand moving in many different ways this year.
What am amazing time to be alive.
OK, finally getting a few minutes to get on here. Been a long, long day....but this lead story has been hanging with me all day.
If Bibi's defense minister is just now getting to DC and Bibi himself to follow in just a few short days then there is a message in this "leak". Well, it seems to me.
Israel must have given up any hopes and attempts to get the US to assist in any way. The announced excuse for not informing the US has to be a not so veiled public slap to Obama's face. In fact, they must have concluded that, at this point, there is absolutely nothing to loose by this public humiliation. In fact, this could save many Israeli lives by Obama not being able to warn Iran or even try to stop the air assault.
Worst case, Obama could even try and have the military feed Iran intelligence from radar and other Intel gathering devices.
Not throwing stones here. Far from it.....given the trust of Obama, this is a very prudent move. But to do it publically as they have......its payback time for Obama's humiliation of Bibi and Israel. To do it publically followed up by eye ball to eye ball personal meetings is akin to the sandbagged ambush Obama set for "Bibi before his last UN speech.
There is a huge message here....IMHO.
Just Wow! Da boy got guts. Coming right into the snake pit and spitting in the slimy serpent's eye...just wow!
Mrs C....I agree in terms of the magnitude of this situation and I couldn't agree more about Putin. He is really the 'perfect' Russian leader at this time in history.
Ally - Good thoughts - thanks
Helen - the problem with the comments like that was - one individual could dominate the comments section with a single focus and keep an old thread "alive' at his/her whim. It was becoming a problem IMO. We may bring it back.
Mr C - Agree completely. And the March 5 meeting should be VERY interesting
WHEW... dear Brother Scott...just saw this!
"We Will Strive to Ensure a New World Order’: Vladimir Putin Outlines Plans for the EU"
"...we intend to be consistent in proceeding from our own interests and goals rather than decisions dictated by someone else."
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/we-will-strive-to-ensure-a-new-world-order-vladimir-putin-outlines-plans-for-the-eu/
"New World Order" huh......As they say: "Things are getting real" aren't they?
Yes INDEED! Gods Word is so TRUE and we are SO PRIVELAGED, SO BLESSED TO WITNESS ALL OF THIS BEING FULFILLED! Ok...caps off...back to my Shiatsu machine...
God Bless...
Scott and all- I am here every day several times lol but the old blog wouldnt let me post anymore. And boy did I have a lot I wantef to say. Love you guys so very much! I have a friend building a crazy new roller coaster and he posts new pictures every day. I can see it coming together from seperate pieces and it teminds me of whats going on in the world today! Ally
Thank you Scott,
it is a shame that some just have to make mischief no matter what.
I do appreciate your work.
Helen
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