A nuclear armed Iran is a threat to world peace. Nuclear armed North Korea is already a threat to world peace. Iraq has been defeaetedl, and the threat eliminated. Early this year, Israel bombed nuclear power plant in Syria. Syria could not even mount a strike against the Golan Heights. Syria was occupied by a Kurdish revolt, in the Oil producing regions near the Iraq border. Iran is a problem that can be solved, using only Air Force and Navy. If Israel is forced to attack Iran, israel cannot be held responsible for occupation and reconstruction. Any Israeli role in attacks on Iran should be considered a raid, not a conquest, as Israeli forces would quickly disengage, once the nuclear threat is destroyed.

If Israel struck Iran across US controlled airspace in Iraq, it would look like at US attack and likely draw the US into a war (designed to divert attention from the human rights violations relative to apartheid enclaves, surrounded by Palestinians dotted all over the West Bank). A US war against 70 million Shia's in Iran would be an easy victory followed by an impossible occupation would would also alienate the majority Shia's that now control the Iraq government. If Israel sends planes across US controlled airspace without our permission, we should shoot down the planes. Israel sees a war with Iran as an alternative to making peace with the Arab countries, all of whom are ready for peace. Peace with all the Arabs would isolate Iran and render ineffective their anti Israel views. But Israel doesn't want to give up its "lebensraum" settlements - prohibited by the Geneva convention. They won't accept the Palestinians surrounding the settlements as voting citizens, so they will have to expel them.

Iran's nuclear weapons are not a direct threat to Israel. Israel has nuclear weapons and would retaliate and/or the US would be forced to invade Iran and execute its leaders if they started a nuclear war. The danger of Iran's nuclear weapons is that Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia would also feel the need to have nuclear weapons. At present the US has troops in the Sinai desert and protects Egypt and Saudi against an Israeli attack. That is why they have nto needed to develop nuclear weapsons. The proposal is to protect Arab countries against Iran as well with a US umbrella. Far preferable to convince them not to develop nuclear weapons, but a war is not a good option. A quick raid probably wouldn't be effective anyway and would provoke a war and unify the Iranians against the US instead of the current situatio where there leadership is under threat from their own population.

It is time for Israel to take out the Iranian missile sites. The Iranian regime is fraught with individuals that are living time bombs. The ideology that allows this kind of behaviour is dangerous to the rest of the world. Once we as a society allow nuclear incidents to happen on our planet it will have devastating effects for many generations that follow. When rogue regimes threaten and bully the rest of the world, it is time that the free world acts first and stop them. No one wants war, and those that threaten the rest of the world should be eradicated. There is no other road to follow. If negotations are a ploy for time, then we, the free world, will be the loser. Hindsight is 20/20, but we must look forward and correct what needs fixed now. A nuclear war in the middleast would crumble the very existance of mankind and that we cannot accept.

Not Kidding, you must be. A nuclear Iran has nothing to do with the Palestinians, other then the fact that the Palestinians are in the same boat as the Israelis as far as the threat to their existence is concerned should the Iranians obtain a nuke. Israel does not have to divert the attention from the Palestinians demands for statehood as its the Palestinians themselves who are not willing to sit at the negotiating table unless their ridicules preconditions are satisfied. if anything, Israel should be doing all it can to highlight this. Your hate filled rants and baseless accusations at Israel are the the same broken Al-Jazeera record that's been looped and replayed to nausea. Its getting old and no rational person would buy it so give it a rest already.

Hey there, Mr. Not Kidding,

Which planet are you from? Certainly not this one. You think the US has troops in the Sinai desert and Saudi Arabia to protect against an attack by Israel?!!!!!!Iran's nuclear weapons are NOT a threat to Israel?!!!!! If the little squirt dictator Ahmadinejad had threatened to wipe your neighborhood off the face of the earth, I think YOU WOULD see it as a threat! You also say "all the Arab countries are ready for peace". I don't think so. Is Hamas ready for peace(Hamastan, formerly known as the Gaza strip)? Is Hezbollah (Lebanon) ready for peace? They have 40,000 missiles aimed at northern Israel. Is Syria ready for peace? That country hosts headquarters for several world terrorist groups in Damascus. The only way Syria wants peace with Israel is if Israel were to give back the Golan Heights so Syria's gunners could again rain artillery shells on Jewish civilians in the Galilee.

Is Saudi Arabia ready for peace, the home of 15 of 19 9-11-01 terrorists and Osama bin Ladin? Is Iran ready for peace? Maybe those who voted for Mr. Mousavi are, but certainly not those who voted to keep the little squirt dictator in power, they are still bashing heads over there and throwing demonstrators in jail.

When it comes to your fantasies about "apartheid" and Lebensraum being applied to Israel, you simply do not know what you are talking about. Germany before WWII had about 350 thousand square kilometers of territory, and wanted another 20,000 or so in Sudetenland. Israel in its ENTIRETY is just 20,000 square kilometers. It is a peanut sized country compared to those around it! Saudi has 1.96million sq. kilometers, Egypt slightly over 1mm, and Iran over 1.64 million. Syria has 185,000 sq. km.,Jordan 92,000 sq. km. Israel does not seek expansion over Arab lands, it only wants to restore the land rightfully belonging to it originally. Too bad sharp minds like you were not around when the Babylonians(Iraq) took away Israel's lands and its people. Too bad you weren't around when the Romans conquered "Judea" and took away the Jew's lands. Too bad you weren't around when the growth of Islam in the 8th century again took away the Jew's lands. You probably would have objected to those acts also(or would you?)

Apartheid, my friend, was the RACIAL division imposed upon the black Africans by the white Afrikaners. In Israel, more than one million Arabs live inside Israel proper, and they have it better off than Arabs who don't live in Israel. Israel has many black Jews and non-Jews whom it took in from places like Darfur and Ethiopia because these people were being persecuted there. The majority of Israelis by the way, are not from Europe and America, as many haters have charged. The majority are not Ashkenazi Jews, but are Sephardic. Many of those people or their parents were thrown out of Arab countries upon the formation of Israel, and they were stripped of ALL THEIR BELONGINGS when they were forced to leave those countires. The UN and the Arabs never like to talk about the nearly one million Jewish refugees from Arab lands who should also be compensated by those Arab lands for expropriating their property without cause. Yet all we ever hear about today is the Arab refugees who conveniently renamed themselves as Palestinians AFTER the 1967 war, and are now demanding a "homeland". Interesting that they never once raised the subject of a homeland when their lands were illegally occupied by Jordan from 1948 until 1967!!!!

Please go spend some time in the library reading more than just the common leftist literature for discovery as to how the world got to the state it is in now. You might learn something new!

American should have blown Iran off the face of the earth back in 79 , when we were going to. See only more trouble by trusting them. I say blow them to hell where they belong. They are human trash. That is judging you say. No, that is facts they have proven to us.

LOOOL

I hope you guys read little more before you comment here.it is impossible for israel to reach or even go to war with iran.even if they could the price is too steep to pay and results are next to nothing.remember israel was soundly defeated by iranian proxy hezbollah in 2006.iranian built drones made a real diference then.

A war with iran which has 100s of SHAHAB 3 aimed at israel and USA bases are just unthinkable.IDF has strongly advised against any Millitary solutions with iran because they know the score very well.

USA is seeking iran's good will and cooperation in iraq and afghanistan any agression against iran will make the wars there unbearable for USA.

Iranian revolutionary guards are the murderers who are responsible for IEDs attacks against Allied forces in iraq and afghanistan.(most of IEDs are made in iran)they could increase that by a 100 times overnight.iran is not iraq guys.

Iran was invaded by iraq and all the major powers of the world including USA,France,soviet union and entire Arab world finnanced and armed IRAQ.they even provided WMDs and sattelite INFOs but could not even overcome a headless,boycotted and greatly weaken iranian armed forces.today they are 1000 times stronger.

The only way out is to help people of iran to topple the terrorist,murderous regime of mullahas.the common enemy of USA and iranian people is on the brink of collapse,time to act is NOW.

Iran, along with over 170 other countries, is signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEAA) has conducted multiple inspections of its nuclear facilities. Israel has refused to sign the treaty. refuses to declare its nuclear arsenal, and refuses to allow any inspections of its nuclear facilities.

Iran hasn't invaded any country since the days of the Persian Empire. Israel has invaded every country surrounding it and then declared said invasions were "defensive".

Iran doesn't occupy any land not belonging to it. Israel, well, we all know about that.

Iran supports and protects a small but thriving Jewish population within its borders. Israel has proposed a "loyalty" test for its Arab citizens.

It's interesting when people talk about taking down rogue nations but Israel isn't at the top of the list.

Debbie you just showed that you are NOT so much better than any of the fanatics you hate by showing your intelect.

Mullahas who rule iran and other islamic terrorists such as AL QUEDA think like you and so did and still do any NAZI or FASCIST sect or organisation.

Callous disregard for humanity and human lives is what they have in common.

Iran is run by a bunch of religious nut cases. Nuke 'em now, or nuke 'em later. Those are the options. Hopefully Israel takes care of this before we have to. We are still a long ways off from having an "umbrella" that works and shields us from what rains down from the sky.

To the "Blame Israel First" crowd.

The "elected" President of Iran has, on a number of occasions, threatened to "blow Israel off the map" (his words, not mine). This country is now probably developing a nuclear weapon.

When they successfully launch the weapon, and it successfully impacts Israel within its borders, will you pour out your indignation on Iran for their murder of millions of Palestinians? If you look at a map, you will see a very tight cluster of humanity in that itty bitty area. Will you rail against Iran for the murder of hundreds of thousands of Egyptians, Syrians, Lebanese and Jordanians?

Or will it be worth it that Jerusalem, due to its level of radiation, will not be able to have visitors of ANY faith for at least 500 years, just so you can see a few million more Jews die, just like your pappy did?

Are you willing to take any side, as long as it's against Israel?

Well, if you do, you know what that makes you.

I am very supportive of Israel as a country and used to run an office there. I don't think Israel should give up the settlements next to Jerusalem, but I don't think peace is possible unless they pull out the enclave (apartheid) settlements in the West Banks. Some of the extreme right wingers in Israel want to find a way to get rid of the 20 percent of Israel's voting population that is Palestinian (Christian and Arab). Egypt made peace with Israel in 1979, has kept it since then and strongly opposes Hamas (linked to terrorists in Egypt). Saudi Arabia and all the other Arab governments now support peace. Hamas and Hizbullah, backed by Iran do not support peace, but if a peace settlement were realistic and likely, Hamas could be either persuaded to change (as Fatah and Egypt did before) or marginalized. Most Palestinians would prefer peace. The negotiations will have to resolve some issues. The Palestinians will insist at first on the right of return (then cede). The Israeli's will have to permit international access to the religious sites including Muslim continued control of the Dome of the Rock. Some reasonable solution should be found fhe Palestinian residents of Jerusalem (perhaps including the offer of citizenship). Israel probably needs a wall, but one built on the pre-1967 border, not one that annexes new territory. Partial compensation for Israeli settlers (say $100,000/family probably paid by the US and Saudi) and for Palestinian grandchildren of folks who fled Israel (Israel kept the rental records for years) would help to sooth feelings somewhat and pave the way for peace. Water rights are another issue for negotiation. There is a need for an enclosed motorway betwteen Gaza and West Bank, probably to be financed by Saudi Arabia. If Israel made peace with all the Arabs (including Syria - which would need the Golan Heights back and would make peace in advance if there were a reasonable peace in prospect for Palestine), Iran would not be able to effectively supply Hizbullah. Peace will not be easy to negotiate, but is very possible. Israel doesn't need agricultural land - it is less than 2 percent of their economy. If Israel would agree now that in a peace settlement it will withdraw most of the enclave settlements (not including the settlements next to Jerusalem) peace negotiations would be possible. If it just keeps expanding those settlements (illegal by the Geneva Convention - not allowed to settle in occupied territory) peace will not be possible, terrorist recruitment will remain strong worldwide and the US will pay in blood for Israel's settlements. Saudi Arabia has a modern air force, too. I don't believe that Saudi Arabia or Turkey will let Israeli war planes cross their territory to attack Iran. The most likely route is across Iraq, controlled by US military. An attack will look llke a US attack. Analysis I have seen suggests that it will be very difficult or impossible to wipe out Iranian nuclear capability with a strike. A strike possibility may be useful as a background option to convince Iran to permit internaitonal inspectors to guarantee no nukes in their nuclear power facilities. But at present the turmoil in Iran will likely prevent them from negotiating. A strong threat of a strike will unite the Iranian people around the current government and will alienate the Shia governemnt we have installed in Iraq. Expanding wars to protect Israel's apartheid settlements (nearly 300,000 settlers in enclaves dotted all over the West Bank amidst over 3 million Palestinians under harsh military control. Exactly like South African apartheid both in numbers (10 to 1) and in policies. Obviously, Israel won't accept 3 million new voting Palestinians in Israels (they would hold the balance of political power). So they will have to expel them. This is a war crime, very similar to the Turkish expulsion of the Armenians. God may have told Joshua to take over Jericho and kill all the inhabitants. But that is no longer acceptable by international convention on war crimes. The two wars we are in have linkages to Israeli policies in Palestine, which are seen as unjust all over the world. We don't need a third war to protect those settlers.

By the way Iran is an enemy of the Taleban and if it is threat to someone, the main countries threatened are Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iraq. (Syria is currently an Iranian ally, but would love to make peace with Israel and become a US ally - and its people would love to get rid of the old guard power brokers (that the young President is slowly starting to overcome) have a more open economy - like Lebanon.) A nuclear strike against Israel is not a realistic possibility because - Israel would retaliate with nuclear weapons and/or the US would be forced to invade Iran and would execute their leaders for war crimes. Also, Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia would want nuclear weapons if Iran had them - for protection against both Iran and Israel. Threats by Israel to attack Iran may shift Iran from its current position of saying it wants only nuclear power, not nuclear weapons, to thinking it should be a nuclear power, like Israel, so Israel will be afraid to attack it. Iran has not been an expansionist power in recent centuries and though it has provided support to Hizbullah and Hamas, is not going to send troops or planes to attack Israel (also going across Iraq). The main reason for an Israeli attack on Iran is to draw the US into a war there - and divert attention from its human rights violations in the West Bank. The solution to the problem of Iran is peace with all the Arab countries. Israel is a wonderful country. It doesn't need colonies and those enclave settlments hurt rather than help its long-term prospects.

Not Kidding,

I have always enjoyed your "stream of consciousness" posts. They are chock full of very interesting opinions. If I were to respond to your every tentacle here, I'd have to go to the doctor for carpal tunnell syndrome treatments.

Your main thesis of the necessity for the 2 parties sitting down and negotiating is unassailable. With that done, 3/4 of the speculation is removed. This should be the first order of business. Unfortunately, the parties always have preconditions for negotiation. This must stop. Obama is showing a tough stance on "friend" Israel. Now, the "friends" of the Palestinians (and I do not believe they exist in truth) must step up and take a tough stance on them. If both sides are placed at the table by their "friends" and not world bodies or quartets, they will be more likely to be held at the table until a durable agreement is reached.

As far as Syria goes, I disagree on a number of points. I do not believe they could be a good partner in peace with Israel. They harbor Mashaal, the alleged king of Hamas in exile. This is an obstacle. Their bankrolling of Hezbollah in Lebanon continues to foment instability on another border with Israel. Your feeling is that Iran is Hezbollah's benefactor. If that is true, then Syria could have an even more difficult time extricating themselves from the situation. I will admint that the Sunni/Shia scorecard is a very confusing one, so when we throw the Awalites in, one cannot be certain of which way Syria actually will go. It's a less stable country than you give credit.

On the settlements, there will be no war resulting from them. There will be withdrawal, except for the major, heavily populated ones on the border. But this all returns to the main theme - negotiation. It must start yesterday.

I am surely no fan of the present regime in Tehran; but given our history of sponsoring a coup against an elected head of government and installing the Shah, I can understand Iranian distrust of the US. There is, however another complication, a 'secret' that contorts strategic perspectives on the mid-east--Israel's posession of nuclear weapons. When Assad, the younger, proposed to President George W. Bush that the region be declared a nuclear-free zone he knew exactly what he was doing. Bush had to decline the proposal because he knew that Israel either had weapons at the ready or could put them together from parts on hand in very short order. Assad scored a public relations victory and Bush (and the US) had to 'eat crow' by appearing to abandon an uncompromisingly strident anti-prolifiration policy. Given the Israeli penhant for agressive 'defense', and, as it was labeled in the world press, 'over-reaction' in Lebanon and in Gaza, can we not understand why other regional powers desire their own nuclear weapons? At what point is discussion of nuclear arms in the region going to include what everyone knows but no one will admit--that Israel is a nuclear power? Whether the bombs came from South Africa as was rumoured in the 80s, or from the US, directly, they are a factor in the strategic landscape of the mid-east and should be dealt with above the table.

If we can stall for a few decades, the "Jewish State" will be submerged in a sea of Arabs, assuming the demographers are approximately correct.

An Israeli attack on Iran would not likely be decisive, just provocative. Obama should make clear that if Bibi insists, then he's on his own.

Hey you GUYS do not dilly-dally. A couple of nuclear sites plus QOM would be good enough to create havoc. Add the GHQ of the RG and it is total eclipse for the regime. It will surely make Darius move in his grave.

also something to consider would you trust your security to obama and hillary? if you do you are not well informed. obama even had trouble letting seals take out pirates. ooh wait he might be related to them.

The entire Jewish population of ISRAEL IS EQUAL TO ATLANTA,GA.ISRAEL IS A DAVID IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OF GOLIATHS.The first strike against Israel with a nuclear bomb and it ceases to exist.What rational person would tolerate that kind of a threat from Iranian leaders??At its narrowest point ,Israel is crossed in 5-6 minutes by aircraft and a missile could cross in about 1 minute?Not enough time to pullup one's pants!

Folks-put yourselves in the other guys pants..Would you sleep well with the Iranian madness playing out screaming for your blood?

I am certain that faced with a positive second Holocaust-the first having destroyed half the world's Jews,Israel will not patiently wait for that disaster to occur again.Should it deem that the risk of waiting is too great,it will seek to destroy the Iranian nuclear capability -not the Iranian people.One thing for certain,they sure as hell will not put their eggs into Obama's or Clinton's baskets for safekeeping.Would you take seriously a Guarantee from ANYONE on the basis of protection from nuclear threat?It is far too dangerous.In such situations it is every man for himself!Little brother,Israel will have to carry the football for the touchdown,if Iran persists.Israel is not that stupid to even ask for another's protection.It would be meaningless.The U.S. and many others hope that they will eliminate the Iranian threat for them.Israel has more than enough to take care of the job,if necessary.It is a delicate decision as to how,when and where and do not expect a press announcement in advance.Iran does not need nuclear energy.for domestic purposes-it is the world's second largest oil reserve!The Israeli decision to launch would be the most difficult ever in mankind's history,but they are up to it, through bitter experience-in my opinion.

Any attack from Iran on Israel will not be confined to atomic targets but to main population centers.Within a minute of an Iranian launch .the Israeli response would be airborne in an all or nothing war that would be over in 15 minutes-in a bilateral obliteration.I cannot believe that the Iranian people would tolerate such unilateral action from their leaders.The leadership.however could not be more deadly in call and action to date.The Iranians must defang their dogs of war.An Israeli response to a launched Iranian human destruction missle ,I believe,would be in kind- only 100 times more powerful.

Considering all that we understand,is it logical to think Israel will remain a sitting target for much longer?

The Bible is full of interesting advice which to ignore, is crazy.

If a man comes into your house to kill you-kill him first! ANYONE GOT AN ARGUMENT AGAINST THAT?

ONE NEED NOT BE BRILLIANT TO PREDICT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN- IF IRAN PERSISTS..

rowann--A small thriving Jewish community in Iran is pure fiction.I personally knew refugees from Iran who got out in a Casablanca style escape leaving everything behind home ,cars,business clothes ALL -everything -boarding a plane in a mad flight to Switzerland with only the clothes on their backs. In my world THAT- Rowann- sure as hell ain't THRIVING!Perhaps in your world it is.