Nuclear Ambition

Consequences of Israeli Strike

Transcript:

Is Israel preparing to launch air strikes against Iran’s nuclear sites? After all,

They’ve bombed nuclear sites in Iraq and Syria in the past.  We know Iran has enough enriched uranium for at least one weapon right now, and is likely to have a handful before the end of Obama’s first term.

Recent press reports claim Israel’s asked us for  bunker busters bombs and permission to overfly Iraq enroute to Iran. So what’s stopping them?

First, the bombing raid would be logistically difficult. Israel would have to fly over Iraq, Turkey, or Saudi Arabia to reach Iran, requiring advance permission so those countries don’t shoot down their planes. It’s 1000 miles from Israel to Iran and their planes would have to refuel in the air. Even if Israeli intelligence knew where all the Iranian sites were, they’re likely to be buried deep underground and hard to destroy.

Second, an Israeli attack would set off shock waves throughout the Arab world and manage to do what no one has in over 1000 years – unite both Shiite and Sunni Muslims into making common cause.  Their ire would be directed not just at Israel but at the US – since we’d be seen as Israel’s collaborator.

Third, there would be ramifications – Iran would try and probably succeed in blockading the Strait of Hormuz and cutting off a large part of world’s oil supply thus shoving an already tettering world economy off the cliff. Terrorists would launch attacks at America and Israel, and the Muslim world would cheer them on.

Even so, is there anything worse than a nuclear Iran  – which would set off nuclear arms race in the most unstable part of the world? It’s like lighting a match in a room full of gasoline.

When Israel asked permission to bomb Iran, Bush apparently nixed the idea, and  Instead  racheted up clandestine programs to sabotage Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Let’s hope those work, and soon, because time is running out.

If they don’t, President Obama could soon be faced with the choice of letting Israel bomb Iran or letting Iran get the bomb.

That’s DEFCON-3 by KT and I’m KT McFarland