Watch out Ahmadinejad. The heat is coming; but the Iran Military is waiting. It’s been reported that Israel has facilitated a major military exercise earlier this month as a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
According to the International Herald Tribune (the global edition of the NY Times), several American officials said the Israeli exercise appeared to be an effort to develop the military’s capacity to carry out long-range strikes and to demonstrate the seriousness with which Israel views Iran’s nuclear program.
According to these officials, more than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighter jets participated in air maneuvers, which were carried out over the eastern Mediterranean and over Greece during the first week of June; which also included helicopter exercises.
In the past, Israel has carried out two preemptive strikes against nuclear sites in the Middle East. In 1981, Israeli jets leveled Iraq’s nuclear plant at Osirak after it was confirmed that it was part of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear weapons program. And more recently, Israel aft bombed a structure in Syria that housed a nuclear reactor built with the aid of North Korea.
Can you really blame Israel for taking a proactive approach in dealing with this issue? Or, maybe they should take a more diplomatic approach. Yeah, that should work. Long live Israel!
Tags: Israel, Iran, Nuclear site, weapons programs, syria, Osirak, military, air strikes, israeli military exercise, israel military exercise, iran comments on israeli air maneuvers, iran military, israel greece military exercise, israel june 19th and military exercise, israel military exercises iran,
Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 3:16 am
But UC, if Israel is attacked, it is because they deserve it for some reason! Just like we did in 9/11! You see, we gave them NO OTHER CHOICE but to kill thousands of non-combatants in the war we weren't having. Israel is doing the same thing, man!
Man, that hurt my head even knowing that I was just being sarcastic. I will never know how people can think like that...
Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 5:49 am
I wonder what will happen to Isreal if Obama is elected...
Check out: http://www.o-bummer.com
Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 7:52 am
okay,
Is the race for the president of israel? or the president of the USA.
I think its telling that y'all conservatives are more concerned with someones Israel policy than their domestic policy or general foreign policy.
Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 9:11 am
@Heathenhater
Can I not talk about issues other than Obama & McCain? I am actually tired of both of them already. Maybe you can put together and editorial calendar for me.
Oh, and I would also argue that whatever happens in the Middle East greatly impacts US foreign policy.
Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Jews truely believe that "practice makes perfect", therefore, the military excersize was not a "warning" but rather it was a "dress rehersal". So the real question becomes, how will Iran retaliate after the Israeli attack destroys its nuclear facilities, given that Israel has hundreds of A-Bombs. The answer is simple: Iran will infiltrate heavily armed militias into Basra to deny all that oil revenue from Baghdad.
Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I wish the Israelies good luck in taking on Iran, because we know that our country is too weak to do waht is necessary.
Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
To weak to do what's necessary... You really think so? First, let me say that I highly doubt anything happens between Iran and Israel. This last exercise was simply Israel's way of sending the message to Iran that they are very much capable of defending themselves in the event of an Iranian attack. And of course if something did happen between the two nations I don't think Israel would need our help to obliterate Iran.
But to the point, if we fight a conventional war we can do so with very little man power and actually rely on our superior technology, something we haven't been able to capitalize on in Iraq and Afghanistan. The reason we are so involved in our current wars is that we are an occupying force, we wouldn't be in Iran. I don't understand how we would be to weak to fight Iran in support of Israel's entire military force.
Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I am not saying our military is weak, it is our politicians that are wanting to talk to Iamanutjob and play footsie with him.
I believe our military would be able to take Iran pretty easily, because the Iranian population would most likely help us overthrow the Mullahs that are in power.
Irael most likely will do something if the Iranians get close to making a bomb. Israel would be the testing ground for the Iranian bomb.
Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
It was enough to drive oil up $4 today.
Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Whatever happens, I'm pretty sure that it will be 'the fault of the Jews' in many parts of the world.
And, that whatever the Richard Falks of this world say will probably be under-reported.
Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I wonder how many starry-eyed Obama supporters even remember the 7-year war. It worries me that the past decade's movement toward democracy in the ME region will ultimately be lost simply because we elect a guy that has absolutely no idea what foreign policy means, much less how to wield the power that we have earned through the lives and blood of our military sons and daughters.
23 years of proud service to this great nation, and a humble backer of John McCain.
Friday, June 20th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I'm sure he'll talk the hell out of those terrorists.
Saturday, June 21st, 2008 at 7:01 am
UC,
My comment was not directed at you but rather the 2 people who made your post about obama. Your post was interesting, and although I disagree with parts, was a legitimate argument.
Apologies for the misunderstanding
HH
Monday, June 23rd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
the situation in israel is getting out of hand. people are fighting for the sake of fighting now. i personally don't support either side over the other, since i would be doing the exact same things in either situation. they just have to get over their differences, as cliche as that is. like in the zohan. they become friends in the end! oops, sorry, i gave it away.
i appreciate the post, uc, much more so than some of the others, but that "long live israel" is exactly the opposite of what they need out there. neither side will ever win unless they sit down and talk.
just out of curiosity, why do you support israel?
†
Monday, June 23rd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
by the way, i asked why you support israel as a general question, not specifically regarding iran.
Monday, June 23rd, 2008 at 8:56 pm
@OhHolyKnight
I said "long live Israel" mainly to piss people off. Why do I support them? Well, I am a Zionist and feel deeply about the oppression they have endured since the beginning of time, by many different societies and cultures (Romans, Egyptians, Germans to name a few). They have shown great poise throughout history; and still choose to live peacefully with the Arab nations that surround them and want to kill them. And the fact that they can essentially annihilate all of them, but choose not to proves my point and solidifies my loyalty to these people.
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 at 7:15 am
It never hurts to support the one meaningful country in the region. Sure, they receive a lot of support from the US; but so does everyone. They manufacture goods, have a thriving agricultural sector (IN THE DESERT), have no reliance on commodities, and are not encouraging texts to be taught to youngin's that are completely racist and dangerous. It's a respectable country in a non-respectable place.
Lebanon used to be the same sort of country, but what other nation in the region can say the same?
Thursday, June 26th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Reaper, you are an ass!
Maybe Britian and France deserve to be bombed by Germany during World War Two.
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 at 9:00 am
Brandon, Reaper was joking..
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 at 5:10 am
Awesome post! Iran is stepping up their exercises as well! People around the world and here in the U.S. need to wake up to an impending danger that is luring around the corner. Could this be the doorway to the next World War? We think so and so do many of our visitor's.
Thursday, July 17th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Israel is our only allies in an area full of Islamic nuts. The rise of Islam has already us the west in grave risk. I will support any attacks on Iran and their hate mongering leaders. Liberals may defend the Islamic world all they want but they can not deny the fact that they want to destroy us in any way shape or form. Israel is an aide in our crusade in the middle east to cleanse out radical Islam wherever it rears its ugly head. Now OPEC is trying to destroy our economy and we must ACT!!! DECLARE OUR INDEPENDENCE FORM OPEC AND THESE MIDDLE EAST NUTS!!! SUPPORT ISRAEL!!!!!!