US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta believes there is a "strong possibility" that Israel will strike Iran's nuclear installations this spring, it was reported today.
Reports claimed the defence secretary anticipates an attack in the spring
A column in the Washington Post newspaper claimed the Pentagon chief believes that a Israeli strike could go ahead within months.
When asked about the opinion piece by reporters travelling with him to a Nato meeting in Brussels, Mr Panetta did not deny the claim.
"I'm not going to comment on that. David Ignatius can write what he will but with regards with what I think and what I view, I consider that to be an area that belongs to me and nobody else," he said.
"Israel indicated they're considering this (a strike), we've indicated our concerns," he added.
The Post columnist said Mr Panetta "believes there is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June before Iran enters what Israelis described as a 'zone of immunity' to commence building a nuclear bomb."
President Barack Obama and Panetta are "said to have cautioned the Israelis that the United States opposes an attack, believing that it would derail an increasingly successful international economic sanctions program and other non-military efforts to stop Iran from crossing the threshold," he said.
"But the White House hasn't yet decided precisely how the United States would respond if the Israelis do attack."
Mr Panetta said Sunday in an interview with CBS that Iran needed "about a year" to produce enough enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon, and one or two more years to "put it on a deliverable vehicle."
Iran insists its nuclear project is peaceful and has threatened retaliation over the fresh sanctions, including possibly disrupting shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli media reported in October last year that the option of pre-emptive air strikes on Iran was opposed by the country's intelligence services but favored by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak.
Israeli television said Mossad chief Tamir Pardo raised the possibility of a unilateral strike on Iran during a visit last week to Washington.
4 comments:
you mean nazi israel could attack Iran in the spring. an unprovoked war of aggression, the highest war crime according to the nuremberg laws.
just threatening a peaceful, non aggressive nation like Iran is alraedy a war crime in itself. netanyahu (polish name-Mileikowsky, a non semitic polish name) is a war criminal in the highest order. a low life bastard if there ever was one.
Hey if Israel wants to attack another nation I say let them. We supplied Israel with massive arms to attack Lebanon in 2006 and they had their nose bloody. Iran is not a defenseless place like Lebanon so I hope Israel understands in 1973 they lost every jet air craft in their air force. They might look at the possible cost and decide they do not need to do this. If not I wish them the best but please leave our kids out. Israel has never provided any help in our military efforts so I feel no obligation to help when they are the aggressor.
Panetta admitted a few weeks ago that Iran is not trying to develop nuclear weapons. Now he admits that Israel is about to attack Iran.
So who is the real villain here?! Maybe the U.S. should pre-emptively strike the country they KNOW is about to commit violence----ISRAEL!
I don't wanna bomb anybody, but Israel deserves it a whole hell of a lot more than does Iran!
They'll do it anyhow. Who replaced all those jets lost, and will again this time even newer. They need newer stuff start a war lose em. Our Criminal employees will give em better. and call it a humanitarian donation or some such BS
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