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U.S. puts brakes on Israeli plan for attack on Iran nuclear facilities
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: U.S., nuclear program, Iran 

The American administration has rejected an Israeli request for military equipment and support that would improve Israel's ability to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.

A report published last week by the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) states that military strikes are unlikely to destroy Iran's centrifuge program for enriching uranium.

The Americans viewed the request, which was transmitted (and rejected) at the highest level, as a sign that Israel is in the advanced stages of preparations to attack Iran. They therefore warned Israel against attacking, saying such a strike would undermine American interests. They also demanded that Israel give them prior notice if it nevertheless decided to strike Iran.
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As compensation for the requests it rejected, Washington offered to improve Israel's defenses against surface-to-surface missiles.

Israel responded by saying it reserves the right to take whatever action it deems necessary if diplomatic efforts to halt Iran's nuclearization fail.

Senior Israeli officials had originally hoped that U.S. President George Bush would order an American strike on Iran's nuclear facilities before leaving office, as America's military is far better equipped to conduct such a strike successfully than is Israel's.

Jerusalem also fears that an Israeli strike, even if it succeeded well enough to delay Iran's nuclear development for a few years, would give Iran international legitimacy for its program, which it currently lacks. Israel, in contrast, would be portrayed as an aggressor, and would be forced to contend alone with Iran's retaliation, which would probably include thousands of missile strikes by Iranian allies Hezbollah, Hamas and perhaps even Syria.

Recently, however, Israel has concluded that Bush is unlikely to attack, and will focus instead on ratcheting up diplomatic pressure on Tehran. It prefers to wait until this process has been exhausted, though without conceding the military option. Israel's assumption is that Iran will continue to use delaying tactics, and may even agree to briefly suspend its uranium enrichment program in an effort to see out the rest of Bush's term in peace.

The American-Israeli dispute over a military strike against Iran erupted during Bush's visit to Jerusalem in May. At the time, Bush held a private meeting on the Iranian threat with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and the Israelis presented their request for certain specific items of military equipment, along with diplomatic and security backing.

Following Bush's return to Washington, the administration studied Israel's request, and this led it to suspect that Israel was planning to attack Iran within the next few months. The Americans therefore decided to send a strong message warning it not to do so.

U.S. National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen both visited here in June and, according to the Washington Post, told senior Israeli defense officials that Iran is still far from obtaining nuclear weapons, and that an attack on Iran would undermine American interests. Therefore, they said, the U.S. would not allow Israeli planes to overfly Iraq en route to Iran.

The Americans sent a similar message to Iraq, which had objected vociferously to the idea of its air space being used for an Israeli attack on Iran.

These private messages were accompanied by a series of leaks from the Pentagon that Israel interpreted as attempts to thwart any possibility of an attack on Iran. For instance, the Americans revealed details of a major Israel Air Force exercise in the Mediterranean; they also said they doubted Israel had adequate intelligence about Iran's nuclear facilities. In addition, Mullen spoke out publicly against an attack on Iran.

Two weeks ago, Barak visited Washington for talks with his American counterpart, Robert Gates, and Vice President Richard Cheney. Both conversations focused on Iran, but the two Americans presented conflicting views: Gates vehemently opposes an attack on Iran, while Cheney is the administration's leading hawk.

Barak presented Israel's assessments of the Iranian situation and warned that Iran was liable to advance its nuclear program under cover of the endless deliberations about sanctions - which have thus far produced little in the way of action. He also acknowledged that effective sanctions would require cooperation from Russia, China and India, all of which currently oppose sanctions with real teeth.

Russia, however, is considered key to efforts to isolate Iran, and Israeli officials have therefore urged their American counterparts in recent months to tone down Washington's other disputes with Moscow to focus all its efforts on obtaining Russia's backing against Iran. For instance, they suggested that Washington offer to drop its plan to station a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic - a proposal Russia views as a threat, though Washington insists the system is aimed solely at Iran - in exchange for Russia agreeing to stiffer sanctions against Iran. However, the administration rejected this idea.

In an attempt to compensate Israel for having rejected all its proposals, Washington then offered to bolster Israel's defenses against ballistic missiles. For instance, Gates proposed stationing an advanced radar system in Israel and linking Israel directly into America's early warning satellite network; he also offered increased American funding for the development of two Israeli missile defense systems - the Arrow-3, an upgrade of Israel's existing Arrow system for intercepting ballistic missiles, and Iron Dome, a system designed to intercept short-range rockets. In addition, Washington agreed to sell Israel nine Super Hercules long-range transport aircraft for $2 billion. However, it would not agree to supply Israel with any offensive systems.

Now, Israel is awaiting the outcome of the latest talks between the West and Iran, as well as a formal announcement of the opening of an American interests section in Tehran. Israel views the latter as sure proof that Washington is not planning a military strike.

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      1.   Damned if they do, damned if they don`t 03:18  |  Morris Valentine 13/08/08
      2.   The so-called special relationship between 03:19  |  Wendy 13/08/08
      3.   Totally Expected from the Bush Administration 03:25  |  MichaelF 13/08/08
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      5.   intercontinental ballistic missiles 03:49  |  honey bunch 13/08/08
      6.   Just more proof 04:00  |  Arie 13/08/08
      7.   Washington finally is showing common sense 04:05  |  MARK KLEIN, M.D. 13/08/08
      8.   Funny 04:11  |  John McHussein 13/08/08
      9.   Russia didn`t rebuff an iranian request to help reinforce retalia 04:18  |  Aounist 13/08/08
      10.   Israel shouldn`t play the bad cop`s role here. 04:29  |  Fortuna Benmayor 13/08/08
      11.   Wendy # 2 Never has been one. U*r rigt, We are not allies 04:45  |  American in NY 13/08/08
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      13.   Another Result of the Second Lebanon War Fiasco 04:53  |  Tod Zuckerman 13/08/08
      14.   If Iran gets the bomb.... 05:20  |  Susskind 13/08/08
      15.   Client state 05:28  |  Garry 13/08/08
      16.   wendy 05:34  |  potobac 13/08/08
      17.   U.S. made the right move 05:36  |  Julie 13/08/08
      18.   get a grip 05:53  |  mark 13/08/08
      19.   The intend 06:17  |  Greiser Kram Phd 13/08/08
      20.   USA is running out of `concrete.` 06:25  |  Maureen Ann 13/08/08
      21.   If this is true and not BS 06:29  |  Guy From NYC 13/08/08
      22.   Path to obliteration 06:39  |  Natallie Durson 13/08/08
      23.   Iran needs nuke weapons to stop russian agression 06:49  |  Voice of Reason 13/08/08
      24.   The "CASH-COW"... 06:53  |  PADDY 13/08/08
      25.   So Much For Israeli-Controlled America 06:58  |  Ruth 13/08/08
      26.   Zionist Extremism The Real Threat 07:05  |  This is Fascism 13/08/08
      27.   Is it in the US interests if Iran nukes ISRAEL? 07:08  |  Ronnbo 13/08/08
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      29.   no Wendy, we are not going to risk going to war for Israel 07:09  |  Deborah 13/08/08
      30.   to israel 07:18  |  josh 13/08/08
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      34.   Fox News and CNN ignoring this 07:35  |  George 13/08/08
      35.   ISRAEL is the root of all evil 07:37  |  Bashaar saleem 13/08/08
      36.   To MARK -Get a grip- 07:44  |  Bashaar Saleem 13/08/08
      37.   most sensible statement ever put in Haaretz 07:50  |  Pablo B 13/08/08
      38.   What nonsense 08:05  |  Gordon 13/08/08
      39.   Don`t Be Alarmed, We`re Still Close Allies 08:07  |  Steve 13/08/08
      40.   We should not wait : tomorrow it might be too late. 08:13  |  Jean Van Daem 13/08/08
      41.   1 Morris - No Evidence 08:13  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/08/08
      42.   Planning for tomorrow...without US AID! 08:27  |  Yoni 13/08/08
      43.   Previously Reported 08:31  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/08/08
      44.   Iran a weak muslim nation - without nukes 08:37  |  Johnny 13/08/08
      45.   Israel could disarm Iran very easily 08:44  |  Gili 13/08/08
      46.   Time and time again it has been proved 08:45  |  MJ 13/08/08
      47.   In one way or another, there WILL be war 08:52  |  Joey 13/08/08
      48.   Americans are scum 08:56  |  Alex 13/08/08
      49.   Don`t waste my time 09:03  |  Michael Hunt 13/08/08
      50.   #22 Moshe Sterm 09:04  |  Scott G 13/08/08
      51.   #23 Bob 09:08  |  Scott G 13/08/08
      52.   #23 Bob 09:08  |  Scott G 13/08/08
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      54.   38 Thank You Alex 09:16  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/08/08
      55.   Laughable 09:20  |  Scott G 13/08/08
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      57.   (con`t) Laughable 09:27  |  Scott G 13/08/08
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