Israeli Ambassador to Washington DC Dr. Michael Oren told Bloomberg News that Israel would attack Iran’s nuclear program even if the result would only yield a delay of a number of years in Iran’s nuclear program. Oren explained that in this part of the world, a year or two is a long time.
Oren was speaking to Mark Crumpton on Bloomberg Television’s “Bottom Line”, addressing a number of issues including Iran and Syria. He explained the Iranians are working to protect the nuclear facilities, burying them deep down, hoping to exceed the range of the ‘bunker buster’ bombs that might be dropped in an aerial assault.
“One, two, three, four years are a long time in the Middle East — look what’s happened in the last year” the ambassador explained as he referred to the changes in the region vis-à-vis Egypt and Syria. “In our neighborhood, those are the rules of the game” he added.
Oren’s interview comes amid mounting reports of the likelihood of an Israeli aerial assault against Iran’s nuclear program as Israeli intelligence report signal the window of opportunity to prevent Iran from building a nuclear bomb is rapidly approaching despite American intelligence reports to the contrary.
“Iran may present the most dangerous in an array of threats Israel faces”, Oren said, describing them as unprecedented in the country’s 64 years. “The Arab Spring has roiled neighbors Egypt and Syria, the Sinai Peninsula is becoming a magnet for militant groups and terrorist attacks on Israeli citizens and property are rising around the world”, Oren said.
Addressing the Syrian situation, Ambassador Oren explained there is much concern surrounding that country’s stockpile of chemical weapons, confirming Israel and the United States are maintaining close ties to remain abreast of this situation.
“The situation in Syria is highly fluid, highly flammable,” he said, explaining that Israel might be compelled to address the Syrian chemical weapons before an Iranian confrontation. “If you had to assign a clock to” Syria, Oren said, “that clock is ticking.”
Oren explained that the US and European community are in line with Israel’s assessments regarding Iran’s nuclear program, but Israel is convinced Iran’s motive is to use the nuclear capabilities for weaponry while Iran says the nuclear technology is for civilian power and medical use.
In recent statements released to the media, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey said that Israel might be able to delay Iran’s nuclear program a number of years, but lacked the capabilities to destroy the nuclear facilities. US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta concurs.
Oren points to Iran stockpiling enriched uranium and burying nuclear facilities deep into mountains as worrisome signs, calling a nuclear Iran an existential threat to Israel. “We don’t just say it. They say it as well. They confirm it.”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
To have any effect, such an attack must effectively cripple Iran, which will guarantee a formal state of hostilities which over time may involve other countries. It isn’t a “one time thing”. A glorified commando raid won’t be effective. The response will not be “retaliation” but will be war. Especially if the current regime in Iran is overthrown, many other Muslim countries will likely join the war. Ask yourself if Japan could have called off World War II on Dec. 9, 1941? Regardless of the wisdom of an attack, the consequences will be long term.