Source-Times of India/Israel will need at least 100 Jets to attack Iran!
'Israel will need 100 jets for attack'
Elisabeth Bumiller,NYT News Service | Feb 21, 2012, 05.58AM IST
WASHINGTON: Should Israel decide to launch a strike on Iran, its pilots would have to fly more than 1,000 miles across unfriendly airspace, refuel in the air en route, fight off Iran's air defences, attack multiple underground sites simultaneously - and use at least 100 planes.
That is the assessment of American defence officials and military analysts close to the Pentagon, who say that an Israeli attack meant to set back Iran's nuclear program would be a huge and highly complex operation.
They describe it as far different from Israel's "surgical" strikes on a nuclear reactor in Syria in 2007 and Iraq's Osirak reactor in 1981. "All the pundits who talk about 'Oh, yeah, bomb Iran,' it ain't going to be that easy," said Lt Gen David A Deptula, who retired last year.
'Israel will need 100 jets for attack'
Elisabeth Bumiller,NYT News Service | Feb 21, 2012, 05.58AM IST
WASHINGTON: Should Israel decide to launch a strike on Iran, its pilots would have to fly more than 1,000 miles across unfriendly airspace, refuel in the air en route, fight off Iran's air defences, attack multiple underground sites simultaneously - and use at least 100 planes.
That is the assessment of American defence officials and military analysts close to the Pentagon, who say that an Israeli attack meant to set back Iran's nuclear program would be a huge and highly complex operation.
They describe it as far different from Israel's "surgical" strikes on a nuclear reactor in Syria in 2007 and Iraq's Osirak reactor in 1981. "All the pundits who talk about 'Oh, yeah, bomb Iran,' it ain't going to be that easy," said Lt Gen David A Deptula, who retired last year.
Times of India.com/Netanyahu to Visit Obama March 5th
Israeli PM Netanyahu to visit Obama on March 5: White House
AFP | Feb 21, 2012, 03.14AM IST
WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the White House for talks on March 5, Obama's office said on Monday.
The visit, which comes amid rising tensions with Iran, was arranged during a three-day trip to Israel by US national security adviser Tom Donilon for talks with Netanyahu, defense minister Ehud Barak and other top Israeli officials.
"Mr Donilon relayed to Prime Minister Netanyahu that the president looks forward to meeting with him at the White House on March 5," the White House said in a statement.
Netanyahu's office said earlier this month the prime minister would visit the United States at the beginning of March, but this was the first time a date had been set and the Obama talks confirmed.
The visit will come after several rounds of so-called exploratory talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, and amid increased speculation over whether Israel is planning to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.
During his visit to Washington, Netanyahu was also to deliver a speech at the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) lobby group.
Israeli President Shimon Peres is also to speak at the conference in Washington, which runs from March 4-6, according to AIPAC's website.
US politicians flock to AIPAC, in large part to air their pro-Israel positions, and with the November election approaching, this year's event is set to be even more hotly political than usual.
In 2008, the main presidential candidates including Obama, fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton and then-Republican candidate John McCain all addressed the conference.
Netanyahu's last visit to the United States was in late September, when he attended the UN General Assembly as the Palestinians presented a bid for full UN membership, which the Jewish state and Washington opposed.
Netanyahu met Obama on the sidelines of that meeting.
Israeli PM Netanyahu to visit Obama on March 5: White House
AFP | Feb 21, 2012, 03.14AM IST
WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the White House for talks on March 5, Obama's office said on Monday.
The visit, which comes amid rising tensions with Iran, was arranged during a three-day trip to Israel by US national security adviser Tom Donilon for talks with Netanyahu, defense minister Ehud Barak and other top Israeli officials.
"Mr Donilon relayed to Prime Minister Netanyahu that the president looks forward to meeting with him at the White House on March 5," the White House said in a statement.
Netanyahu's office said earlier this month the prime minister would visit the United States at the beginning of March, but this was the first time a date had been set and the Obama talks confirmed.
The visit will come after several rounds of so-called exploratory talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, and amid increased speculation over whether Israel is planning to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.
During his visit to Washington, Netanyahu was also to deliver a speech at the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) lobby group.
Israeli President Shimon Peres is also to speak at the conference in Washington, which runs from March 4-6, according to AIPAC's website.
US politicians flock to AIPAC, in large part to air their pro-Israel positions, and with the November election approaching, this year's event is set to be even more hotly political than usual.
In 2008, the main presidential candidates including Obama, fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton and then-Republican candidate John McCain all addressed the conference.
Netanyahu's last visit to the United States was in late September, when he attended the UN General Assembly as the Palestinians presented a bid for full UN membership, which the Jewish state and Washington opposed.
Netanyahu met Obama on the sidelines of that meeting.
Jerusalem Post-Ehud Barak says Israel will attack Iran alone
Source-Jerusalem Post/McCain warmonger
United States Senators' John McCain and Lindsey Graham want Iran Destroyed.
McCain decries 'daylight' between Israel, US over Iran
By HERB KEINON02/21/2012 21:30After meeting Netanyahu, US senator says there is tension between Washington and J'lem over the Iranian threat; McCaine takes issue with Gen. Dempsey's appraisal of Iran as rational.
Just hours after meeting Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, US Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) said Tuesday there was “daylight” and “tension” between Jerusalem and Washington over the Iranian issue.
“There should be no daylight between America and Israel in our assessment of the [Iranian] threat,” McCain said at a Jerusalem press conference.
“Unfortunately there clearly is some.”
McCain, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is the head of a five-member bipartisan senate delegation touring the region. His comments came just two days after Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a CNN interview it would not be prudent for Israel to attack Iran at this point, and added that Iran is a “rational” actor.
McCain took strong issue with Dempsey’s appraisal of Iran, saying that by pursuing nuclear weapons despite mounting international isolation, growing sanctions and the “very real threat of conflict, it is hard to see this as rational behavior.”
“Any regime with an abiding concern for its own security, self-interest and self-preservation would not engage in such deeply provocative conduct,” he said.
His colleague Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) was even blunter in his criticism of Dempsey.
“I admire General Dempsey,” he said. “But I don’t think it is helpful to say that Iran is a rational actor given their behavior.” Anyone who denies the Holocaust, as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has done, and plotted to kill the Saudi Arabian ambassador in Washington should not be considered rational, he said.
In reference to a spate of reports claiming that Washington was pressing Israel not to take action against Iran now, Graham said: “People are giving Israel a lot of advice here lately from America. I just want to tell our Israeli friends that my advice to you is never lose control of your destiny. Never allow a situation to develop that would destroy the Jewish state.”
Graham also referred to the current impasse with Iran as a “never again” moment.
McCain, acknowledging that he was not privy to the content of the meetings that White House National Security Adviser Tom Donilon held in Israel over the weekend, said there was “significant tension on how to approach the whole issue.”
McCain sided with Jerusalem in the debate with the US over the time to act against Iran – whether it was only when the Iranians made the political decision to assemble a bomb, as Washington seems to maintain, or before they could fortify all their nuclear installations against military attack, as Israel argues.
“There is no doubt that Iran has so far been undeterred on the path of acquiring nuclear weapons,” McCain said.
United States Senators' John McCain and Lindsey Graham want Iran Destroyed.
McCain decries 'daylight' between Israel, US over Iran
By HERB KEINON02/21/2012 21:30After meeting Netanyahu, US senator says there is tension between Washington and J'lem over the Iranian threat; McCaine takes issue with Gen. Dempsey's appraisal of Iran as rational.
Just hours after meeting Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, US Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) said Tuesday there was “daylight” and “tension” between Jerusalem and Washington over the Iranian issue.
“There should be no daylight between America and Israel in our assessment of the [Iranian] threat,” McCain said at a Jerusalem press conference.
“Unfortunately there clearly is some.”
McCain, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is the head of a five-member bipartisan senate delegation touring the region. His comments came just two days after Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a CNN interview it would not be prudent for Israel to attack Iran at this point, and added that Iran is a “rational” actor.
McCain took strong issue with Dempsey’s appraisal of Iran, saying that by pursuing nuclear weapons despite mounting international isolation, growing sanctions and the “very real threat of conflict, it is hard to see this as rational behavior.”
“Any regime with an abiding concern for its own security, self-interest and self-preservation would not engage in such deeply provocative conduct,” he said.
His colleague Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) was even blunter in his criticism of Dempsey.
“I admire General Dempsey,” he said. “But I don’t think it is helpful to say that Iran is a rational actor given their behavior.” Anyone who denies the Holocaust, as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has done, and plotted to kill the Saudi Arabian ambassador in Washington should not be considered rational, he said.
In reference to a spate of reports claiming that Washington was pressing Israel not to take action against Iran now, Graham said: “People are giving Israel a lot of advice here lately from America. I just want to tell our Israeli friends that my advice to you is never lose control of your destiny. Never allow a situation to develop that would destroy the Jewish state.”
Graham also referred to the current impasse with Iran as a “never again” moment.
McCain, acknowledging that he was not privy to the content of the meetings that White House National Security Adviser Tom Donilon held in Israel over the weekend, said there was “significant tension on how to approach the whole issue.”
McCain sided with Jerusalem in the debate with the US over the time to act against Iran – whether it was only when the Iranians made the political decision to assemble a bomb, as Washington seems to maintain, or before they could fortify all their nuclear installations against military attack, as Israel argues.
“There is no doubt that Iran has so far been undeterred on the path of acquiring nuclear weapons,” McCain said.
Source-RussiaToday/Netanyahu attacks General Dempsey
NeoCon Warmongers John McCain and Lindsey Graham
Netanyahu attacks Brave U.S. General Dempsey
US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin Dempsey made news over this week by calling an Israeli-led attack on Iran foolish if attempted anytime soon. Israeli officials aren’t impressed, however, and are responding with words of their own.
Gen. Dempsey denounced a strike on Iran in the near future as “destabilizing” and “not prudent” over the weekend while speaking to CNN in regards to America and Israel’s effort to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear warhead. Israel Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has now addressed that statement himself, calling into question the US official’s intentions.
Netanyahu is now suggesting that the US is adopting policies that will favor Iran, and not their historical ally: Israel.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz (“The Land”) is reporting that PM Netanyahu had harsh words for the JCOS commander, saying that his on-the-record comments over postponing any strike are remarks that “served the Iranians.”
“The Iranians see there’s controversy between the United States and Israel, and that the Americans object to a military act. That reduces the pressure on them,” a senior Israeli official adds to the paper.
Over the weekend, Gen. Dempsey discussed allegation of war against Iran, which have only escalated as of late. Over the past few months, the US has mobilized its military around Iran and has made plans for a massive missile exercise in conjunction with Israel for later this year. As Iranian/Israeli hostilities continue to amount, however, Israeli officials have repeatedly stated concern over America’s reluctance to act already on Iran.
American intelligence believes that, if Iran is indeed developing a nuclear weapon as rumored, they do not stand to finish their research anytime soon. In the interim, the US hopes that diplomatic talks and negotiations will thwart that research before it matures. Israel, however, appears much more concerned and has condemned the US for not acting on the offensive already. Last month, Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon explicitly called the Obama administration "hesitant” in their unwillingness to attack, which was followed by a warning only a day later by the nation’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, in which he urged the US to "move from words to deeds.”
Discussing whether an attack on Iran seems worthwhile for the US military right now, Gen. Dempsey told CNN on Sunday, “A strike at this time would be destabilizing and wouldn’t achieve their long-term objectives.”
Separately, US Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lieutenant General Ronald Burgess said last week that Iran was more than likely act on the offensive anytime soon. “Iran is unlikely to initiate or intentionally provoke a conflict," Burgess told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, adding that an Iranian-led military action against the US would only be likely if the United States fired first.
The missile drill scheduled by American and Israeli forces was originally scheduled for this spring, only to be postponed and then rescheduled for later this year. Israeli sources speaking to foreign news outlet Debka alleged that the decision to put the program on hold was a move made by Netanyahu based on ongoing worries that the US will back-out of an otherwise-coordinated joint strike on Iran.
NeoCon Warmongers John McCain and Lindsey Graham
Netanyahu attacks Brave U.S. General Dempsey
US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin Dempsey made news over this week by calling an Israeli-led attack on Iran foolish if attempted anytime soon. Israeli officials aren’t impressed, however, and are responding with words of their own.
Gen. Dempsey denounced a strike on Iran in the near future as “destabilizing” and “not prudent” over the weekend while speaking to CNN in regards to America and Israel’s effort to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear warhead. Israel Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has now addressed that statement himself, calling into question the US official’s intentions.
Netanyahu is now suggesting that the US is adopting policies that will favor Iran, and not their historical ally: Israel.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz (“The Land”) is reporting that PM Netanyahu had harsh words for the JCOS commander, saying that his on-the-record comments over postponing any strike are remarks that “served the Iranians.”
“The Iranians see there’s controversy between the United States and Israel, and that the Americans object to a military act. That reduces the pressure on them,” a senior Israeli official adds to the paper.
Over the weekend, Gen. Dempsey discussed allegation of war against Iran, which have only escalated as of late. Over the past few months, the US has mobilized its military around Iran and has made plans for a massive missile exercise in conjunction with Israel for later this year. As Iranian/Israeli hostilities continue to amount, however, Israeli officials have repeatedly stated concern over America’s reluctance to act already on Iran.
American intelligence believes that, if Iran is indeed developing a nuclear weapon as rumored, they do not stand to finish their research anytime soon. In the interim, the US hopes that diplomatic talks and negotiations will thwart that research before it matures. Israel, however, appears much more concerned and has condemned the US for not acting on the offensive already. Last month, Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon explicitly called the Obama administration "hesitant” in their unwillingness to attack, which was followed by a warning only a day later by the nation’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, in which he urged the US to "move from words to deeds.”
Discussing whether an attack on Iran seems worthwhile for the US military right now, Gen. Dempsey told CNN on Sunday, “A strike at this time would be destabilizing and wouldn’t achieve their long-term objectives.”
Separately, US Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lieutenant General Ronald Burgess said last week that Iran was more than likely act on the offensive anytime soon. “Iran is unlikely to initiate or intentionally provoke a conflict," Burgess told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, adding that an Iranian-led military action against the US would only be likely if the United States fired first.
The missile drill scheduled by American and Israeli forces was originally scheduled for this spring, only to be postponed and then rescheduled for later this year. Israeli sources speaking to foreign news outlet Debka alleged that the decision to put the program on hold was a move made by Netanyahu based on ongoing worries that the US will back-out of an otherwise-coordinated joint strike on Iran.
Source-PressTV
Top US general: Iran not after nukes
A top US military official has described Iran as a rational actor in the international arena, stating that the Islamic Republic is not after producing nuclear weapons.
Speaking in a nationally televised interview with the CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS” show on Sunday, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey said, “We are of the opinion that Iran is a rational actor.”
Dempsey pointed out that US officials aren't convinced Iran has decided to build atomic armaments.
“We also know, or we believe we know that Iran has not decided to make a nuclear weapon,” General Dempsey said.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the top US general also described any Israeli attack on Iran as “destabilizing.”
“It’s not prudent at this point to decide to attack Iran,” General Dempsey said, adding that the US government is confident the Israelis “understand our concerns.”
The remarks come as Israeli officials have ramped up their war rhetoric over the past few weeks, threatening Iran with military strikes in case the US-led Western sanctions against the country fail to force Tehran to halt its civilian nuclear program.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on February 9 that, “Israel has a large selection of ways, when the world of international sanctions fails to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program.”
There is growing worry in Israel, however, about the grave consequences of any Israeli attack against the Iranian nation.
“The whole region will go up in flames. Thousands of rockets will fall on Israel. In the initial days, hundreds of them will fall on Tel Aviv. Then we'll be in a war that goes on for months. The economy will crash. Tel Aviv will become a frontier town,” reported leading Israeli daily Ha’aretz on February 11, quoting a senior opposition member of the regime.
Despite the widely publicized claims by the US, Israel and some of their European allies that Iran's nuclear program may include a military aspect, Iran insists on its civilian nature, arguing that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
The IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence indicating that Tehran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted towards nuclear weapons production.
This is while the Israeli regime is widely known to possess between 200 and 400 nuclear warheads. Furthermore, Tel Aviv refuses to allow its nuclear facilities to come under international regulatory inspectors and rejects any international nuclear regulatory agreements.
MP/ MB/HJL
U.S. National Security Advisor Tom Donilon
Ehud Barak
Top US general: Iran not after nukes
A top US military official has described Iran as a rational actor in the international arena, stating that the Islamic Republic is not after producing nuclear weapons.
Speaking in a nationally televised interview with the CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS” show on Sunday, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey said, “We are of the opinion that Iran is a rational actor.”
Dempsey pointed out that US officials aren't convinced Iran has decided to build atomic armaments.
“We also know, or we believe we know that Iran has not decided to make a nuclear weapon,” General Dempsey said.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the top US general also described any Israeli attack on Iran as “destabilizing.”
“It’s not prudent at this point to decide to attack Iran,” General Dempsey said, adding that the US government is confident the Israelis “understand our concerns.”
The remarks come as Israeli officials have ramped up their war rhetoric over the past few weeks, threatening Iran with military strikes in case the US-led Western sanctions against the country fail to force Tehran to halt its civilian nuclear program.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on February 9 that, “Israel has a large selection of ways, when the world of international sanctions fails to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program.”
There is growing worry in Israel, however, about the grave consequences of any Israeli attack against the Iranian nation.
“The whole region will go up in flames. Thousands of rockets will fall on Israel. In the initial days, hundreds of them will fall on Tel Aviv. Then we'll be in a war that goes on for months. The economy will crash. Tel Aviv will become a frontier town,” reported leading Israeli daily Ha’aretz on February 11, quoting a senior opposition member of the regime.
Despite the widely publicized claims by the US, Israel and some of their European allies that Iran's nuclear program may include a military aspect, Iran insists on its civilian nature, arguing that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
The IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence indicating that Tehran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted towards nuclear weapons production.
This is while the Israeli regime is widely known to possess between 200 and 400 nuclear warheads. Furthermore, Tel Aviv refuses to allow its nuclear facilities to come under international regulatory inspectors and rejects any international nuclear regulatory agreements.
MP/ MB/HJL
U.S. National Security Advisor Tom Donilon
Ehud Barak
Source-Debka.com
Obama to try and talk Netanyahu out of Iran strike after his advisers failed
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report February 20, 2012, 9:14 PM (GMT+02:00) Tags: US-Israel Iran nuclear Barack Obama Binyamin Netanyahu
Natanz nuclear site air defenses
After a high-ranking US delegation headed by White House National Security Adviser Tom Donilon failed in three days of tough talks (Feb.18-20) to dissuade Israeli leaders to back off plans for a military strike against Iran’s nuclear sites, the White House invited Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for talks with President Barak Obama on March 5. He will try and break the stalemate which ended his advisers’ talks with Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz.
The defense minister, addressing his Independence Party later Monday praised Israel’s security relations with the US as very good and very important for a strong Israel. The dialogue between the two governments, he said, is marked by openness, mutual respect, understanding and attentiveness. At the same time, Barak hinted at discord by adding, “Both are sovereign nations which are ultimately responsible for their decisions in relation to themselves and their future.”
DEBKAfile reported earlier Monday, Feb. 20:
White House National Security Adviser Tom Donilon faced an acrimonious Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in two hours of stormy conversation in Jerusalem Sunday, Feb. 19, according to updates reaching senior US sources in Washington. The main bones of contention were Iran’s continuing enrichment of uranium and its ongoing relocation of production to underground sites.
Israeli officials declined to give out any information on the conversation. Some even refused to confirm it took place.
According to DEBKAfile’s sources, Netanyahu accused the Obama administration of drawing Iran into resuming nuclear negotiations with world powers by an assurance that Tehran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium up to 5 percent in any quantity, provided it promised not to build an Iranian nuclear weapon. The prime minister charged that this permit contravened US administration guarantees to Israel on the nuclear issue and, moreover left Tehran free to upgrade its current 20 percent enrichment level to 90 percent weapons grade. This Israel cannot tolerate, said Netanyahu, so leaving its military option on the ready.
He warned the US National Security Adviser that no evidence whatsoever confirms Washington’s claim that Tehran intends suspending enrichment and other nuclear advances when negotiations begin. Quite the contrary: Even before the date was set, Iran started working at top speed to build up its bargaining chips by laying down major advances in its nuclear program as undisputed facts.
Tehran now claims to have progressed to self-reliance in the production of 20 percent-enriched uranium, the basis for the weapons grade fuel, in unlimited quantity. Once the talks are underway, Netanyahu maintained, there would be no stopping the Iranians without stalling the negotiating process. Going by past experience, Tehran would use dialogue as an extra fulcrum for its impetus toward weapon production without interruption.
Monday, Donilon and his delegation meet Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
The mission of this high-powered US delegation in Israel takes place to the accompanied of a resumed US media campaign for discouraging Israeli military action against Iran’s nuclear installations.
Sunday, Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint US Chiefs of Staff, offered this opinion to CNN: “Israel has the capability to strike Iran and delay the Iranians probably for a couple of years. But some of the targets are probably beyond their reach.”
Monday’s New York Times carried an assessment by “American defense officials and military analysts close to the Pentagon” under the caption, “Iran Raid Seen as a Huge Task for Israel Jets.” DEBKAfile’s military sources report the main argument, dredged up from the past and long refuted, is that Israeli Air Force bombers cannot cover the distance to Iran without in-flight refueling.
That array of “analysts” apparently missed the CNN interview and therefore contradicted the assessment of America’s own top general that “Israel has the capability to strike Iran…”
Reality has meanwhile moved on. Four events in the last 24 hours no doubt figured large in the US delegation’s talks with Israeli leaders:
1. Monday, the IAEA sent to Tehran its second team of monitors this month for another attempt to gain access to nuclear facilities hitherto barred by the Iranians. The inspectors will also demand permission to interview scientists which according to a list drawn up at the agency’s Vienna headquarters hold key positions in their nuclear program.
2. The Russian Chief of Chaff Gen. Nikolai Makarov estimated that the attack on Iran would be “coordinated” by several governments and “a decision would be made by the summer.”
3. Moscow recalled Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kutznetsov from the Syrian port of Tartus to its home base at Severomorsk on the Kola Peninsula.
4. Turkey is beinding over backward to assure Iran that data collected by the US missile shield radar stationed at its Kurecik air base will not shared with Israel. It is especially anxious not to annoy Tehran after foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi announced that the resumed nuclear talks with the five Permanent Security Council members and German (P5+1) would be held in Istanbul.
However, the Iranians certainly know exactly what is going on after watching the recent joint US-Israeli radar test which demonstrated that Israel is fully integrated in the missile shield radar network and that the US radar station in the Israeli Negev interfaces with its station in Turkey and Israel’s Arrow missile Green Pine radar.
When he visited Ankara last week, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen assured his Turkish hosts that “Intelligence data collected within the missile defense system will not be shared with third countries. It will be shared with the allies within our alliance.”
His statement was quite accurate – except for the fact that the radar stations collecting the intelligence data are not controlled by NATO but by US military teams, both of which, including the Turkish-based radar, are integrated and coordinated with Israeli radar and missile interceptors.
Obama to try and talk Netanyahu out of Iran strike after his advisers failed
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report February 20, 2012, 9:14 PM (GMT+02:00) Tags: US-Israel Iran nuclear Barack Obama Binyamin Netanyahu
Natanz nuclear site air defenses
After a high-ranking US delegation headed by White House National Security Adviser Tom Donilon failed in three days of tough talks (Feb.18-20) to dissuade Israeli leaders to back off plans for a military strike against Iran’s nuclear sites, the White House invited Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for talks with President Barak Obama on March 5. He will try and break the stalemate which ended his advisers’ talks with Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz.
The defense minister, addressing his Independence Party later Monday praised Israel’s security relations with the US as very good and very important for a strong Israel. The dialogue between the two governments, he said, is marked by openness, mutual respect, understanding and attentiveness. At the same time, Barak hinted at discord by adding, “Both are sovereign nations which are ultimately responsible for their decisions in relation to themselves and their future.”
DEBKAfile reported earlier Monday, Feb. 20:
White House National Security Adviser Tom Donilon faced an acrimonious Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in two hours of stormy conversation in Jerusalem Sunday, Feb. 19, according to updates reaching senior US sources in Washington. The main bones of contention were Iran’s continuing enrichment of uranium and its ongoing relocation of production to underground sites.
Israeli officials declined to give out any information on the conversation. Some even refused to confirm it took place.
According to DEBKAfile’s sources, Netanyahu accused the Obama administration of drawing Iran into resuming nuclear negotiations with world powers by an assurance that Tehran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium up to 5 percent in any quantity, provided it promised not to build an Iranian nuclear weapon. The prime minister charged that this permit contravened US administration guarantees to Israel on the nuclear issue and, moreover left Tehran free to upgrade its current 20 percent enrichment level to 90 percent weapons grade. This Israel cannot tolerate, said Netanyahu, so leaving its military option on the ready.
He warned the US National Security Adviser that no evidence whatsoever confirms Washington’s claim that Tehran intends suspending enrichment and other nuclear advances when negotiations begin. Quite the contrary: Even before the date was set, Iran started working at top speed to build up its bargaining chips by laying down major advances in its nuclear program as undisputed facts.
Tehran now claims to have progressed to self-reliance in the production of 20 percent-enriched uranium, the basis for the weapons grade fuel, in unlimited quantity. Once the talks are underway, Netanyahu maintained, there would be no stopping the Iranians without stalling the negotiating process. Going by past experience, Tehran would use dialogue as an extra fulcrum for its impetus toward weapon production without interruption.
Monday, Donilon and his delegation meet Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
The mission of this high-powered US delegation in Israel takes place to the accompanied of a resumed US media campaign for discouraging Israeli military action against Iran’s nuclear installations.
Sunday, Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint US Chiefs of Staff, offered this opinion to CNN: “Israel has the capability to strike Iran and delay the Iranians probably for a couple of years. But some of the targets are probably beyond their reach.”
Monday’s New York Times carried an assessment by “American defense officials and military analysts close to the Pentagon” under the caption, “Iran Raid Seen as a Huge Task for Israel Jets.” DEBKAfile’s military sources report the main argument, dredged up from the past and long refuted, is that Israeli Air Force bombers cannot cover the distance to Iran without in-flight refueling.
That array of “analysts” apparently missed the CNN interview and therefore contradicted the assessment of America’s own top general that “Israel has the capability to strike Iran…”
Reality has meanwhile moved on. Four events in the last 24 hours no doubt figured large in the US delegation’s talks with Israeli leaders:
1. Monday, the IAEA sent to Tehran its second team of monitors this month for another attempt to gain access to nuclear facilities hitherto barred by the Iranians. The inspectors will also demand permission to interview scientists which according to a list drawn up at the agency’s Vienna headquarters hold key positions in their nuclear program.
2. The Russian Chief of Chaff Gen. Nikolai Makarov estimated that the attack on Iran would be “coordinated” by several governments and “a decision would be made by the summer.”
3. Moscow recalled Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kutznetsov from the Syrian port of Tartus to its home base at Severomorsk on the Kola Peninsula.
4. Turkey is beinding over backward to assure Iran that data collected by the US missile shield radar stationed at its Kurecik air base will not shared with Israel. It is especially anxious not to annoy Tehran after foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi announced that the resumed nuclear talks with the five Permanent Security Council members and German (P5+1) would be held in Istanbul.
However, the Iranians certainly know exactly what is going on after watching the recent joint US-Israeli radar test which demonstrated that Israel is fully integrated in the missile shield radar network and that the US radar station in the Israeli Negev interfaces with its station in Turkey and Israel’s Arrow missile Green Pine radar.
When he visited Ankara last week, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen assured his Turkish hosts that “Intelligence data collected within the missile defense system will not be shared with third countries. It will be shared with the allies within our alliance.”
His statement was quite accurate – except for the fact that the radar stations collecting the intelligence data are not controlled by NATO but by US military teams, both of which, including the Turkish-based radar, are integrated and coordinated with Israeli radar and missile interceptors.
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