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Last update - 06:04 03/12/2007
Study: U.S., Israel should begin planning strike on Iran nuclear sites
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Iran, U.S., Israel, nuclear

Israel and the United States should begin an intense dialogue on ways to deal with Iran's nuclear plans and should examine ways to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, according to a new study published by an influential Washington think tank.

The report, by a former deputy head of the National Security Council, Chuck Freilich, says Israel and the U.S. should discuss nuclear-crisis scenarios between Israel and Iran. The report, entitled "Speaking About the Unspeakable," was released over the weekend by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

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reilich assumes that detailed talks between the U.S. and Israel on Iran do not extend beyond exchanges of intelligence, coordination of diplomatic moves and the supply of sophisticated weapons to Israel.

According to Freilich, a lack of symmetry exists between the U.S. and Israel on the Iranian threat, although both use similar rhetoric toward it. From Israel's perspective, Iran presents a potential existential threat, so its nuclear plans must be stopped at almost any price. In contrast, the U.S. is disturbed by the implications of nuclear weapons in Iran but does not see it as an existential threat.

In Freilich's view, this difference in evaluations dictates the nature of the dialogue. The U.S. is leery about talks with Israel on military action against Iran, and Israel is concerned about talks on security alternatives if Iran's nuclear status is accepted.

Freilich lists the alternatives; he believes that diplomacy and sanctions have a slim chance of success. He mentions a quasi-military alternative such as a naval blockade or secret sabotage action, an Israeli or American military action, or coming to terms with a nuclear Iran, with the U.S. giving security assurances to Israel. He opposes the proposal that Israel move to an open nuclear policy to deter Iran.

Freilich says Israel would prefer that the U.S. attack Iran. He notes that if Israel believes it can successfully attack Iran, Israel fears that the U.S. would veto the plan, so Israel would not unveil the scheme ahead of time. The U.S. would also keep secret from Israel any intention of attacking Iran.

Freilich believes that despite these mutual reservations, detailed discussions between the U.S. and Israel should be held on possible military action against Iran because of the need to separate forces if Israel attacks Iran and U.S. forces are in the way. In addition, Iran in any case would see the U.S. and Israel as cooperating and would respond against both.

Freilich proposes a dialogue on Iran's possible responses, on terror attacks and the disruption of oil shipments from the Gulf to the West. But he also seeks a dialogue on how to live with a nuclear Iran.

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      1.   "should" begin? 03:51  |  IsraFan 02/12/07
      2.   Nuclear Iran 03:53  |  schafe82 02/12/07
      3.   Freilich is an Israeli neocon 04:11  |  Steve 02/12/07
      4.   U O 04:26  |  Typherious 02/12/07
      5.   Maybe 04:56  |  Abe 02/12/07
      6.   The Problem 05:36  |  Typherious 02/12/07
      7.   Another war to be started by peaceloving Israel and the US 06:14  |  peacelover 02/12/07
      8.   Jews and war 06:28  |  Harold 02/12/07
      9.   I Can`t Wait 06:34  |  Jeff Northridge 02/12/07
      10.   Iran can negotiate with UN/EU, or be destroyed by US military 06:35  |  Voice of Reason 02/12/07
      11.   Bombing Iran! 07:06  |  Fixer 02/12/07
      12.   TO Abe MAYBE 07:13  |  BOB KING THE ZIONIST 02/12/07
      13.   there`s no easy solution here 07:13  |  joki 02/12/07
      14.   Who on earth is "Freilich".....????? 07:23  |  Swiss (Dino) 02/12/07
      15.   hey abe or mohammad 07:33  |  vik 02/12/07
      16.   Iran planning 07:47  |  George 02/12/07
      17.   Such "studies" are an incitement to war, do not lead to peace 08:31  |  Ivar 02/12/07
      18.   #9, Dino 08:45  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/12/07
      19.   Washington think tank study made by an Israeli 08:56  |  Petteri 02/12/07
      20.   The danger is to US not Israel 08:57  |  jake 02/12/07
      21.   What a surprise 09:19  |  Dariush 02/12/07
      22.   axss usual bush fiddles whilst the world burns 09:34  |  victor hardman 02/12/07
      23.   Alternative 09:36  |  ATLAS 02/12/07
      24.   American sanction Apartheid boosted by Arabs 09:38  |  Lily 02/12/07
      25.   What To Do About Iran 09:40  |  Steve 02/12/07
      26.   This Freilich think tank does not live in Middle East ! 10:10  |  Aaron 02/12/07
      27.   And the world should begin to cease all economic 10:17  |  Fawzi 02/12/07
      28.   What would do do? 10:24  |  Milo 02/12/07
      29.   The morning-after... 10:25  |  Esther 02/12/07
      30.   The Executive Committee of The Washington Institute 10:38  |  Clickfool 02/12/07
      31.   Freilich is a blood thristy binihead 10:43  |  JR 02/12/07
      32.   Ain`t that the truth 10:44  |  Clickfool 02/12/07
      33.   Of Course, Jewish think tanks want war, war, and more war 10:50  |  Oklahoman 02/12/07
      34.   Go Ahead 10:50  |  Johnny 02/12/07
      35.   Jake has it right 10:51  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/12/07
      36.   dumb article 10:55  |  JS 02/12/07
      37.   Re Swiss #11 10:57  |  Esther 02/12/07
      38.   Darius the Persian 10:57  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/12/07
      39.   JR do tell what is a binihead (for those ignorant folks like me) 10:58  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/12/07
      40.   How to make enemies and NOT influence people 11:04  |  Iranian-American 02/12/07
      41.   WW3 ? 11:06  |  Aaron 02/12/07
      42.   For Voice of Reason # 7 11:06  |  Clickfool 02/12/07
      43.   Cake shops, impartial advice and the Talkback Censor 11:12  |  Clickfool 02/12/07
      44.   IsraFan - They call that a "think" tank 11:14  |  Stephen Connor 02/12/07
      45.   Is this guy American or Israeli? 11:15  |  Paul Wood 02/12/07
      46.   Unbelievable "Freilich" idiotic garbage!!! 11:21  |  S 02/12/07
      47.   #29 Clickfool 11:33  |  Chris Linthwaite 02/12/07
      48.   # 36 Esther 11:34  |  Swiss (Dino) 02/12/07
      49.   What a Load of.... 11:35  |  Nathan 02/12/07
      50.   # 18 Cipora Julianna Kohn 11:59  |  Swiss (Dino) 02/12/07
      51.   What would happen to all the U.S. oil and gas companies in Iran 12:00  |  Geoff 02/12/07
      52.   With Americans and french and Israeli inventors 12:23  |  Levi 02/12/07
      53.   Funny article 12:29  |  Jason 02/12/07
      54.   NUCLEAR IRAN=NO OIL FOR U.S. 12:48  |  THE LIBRARIAN 02/12/07
      55.   UNPRECEDENTED RECOMENDATION BY A STUDY GROUP 13:13  |  indrajaya 02/12/07
      56.   #54 Librarian 13:13  |  Chris Linthwaite 02/12/07
      57.   Jewish NeoCons at it again 13:15  |  El-birawi 02/12/07
      58.   I understand the frantic Israeli propaganda for war 13:23  |  Clickfool 02/12/07
      59.   U.S., Israel should begin planning Iran strike 13:23  |  Adel 02/12/07
      60.   Lots of Hot Air and Little Strategy 13:37  |  Tzfonit 02/12/07
      61.   ONCE AGAIN, MERSHEIMER AND WALT, THANKS 13:57  |  indrajaya 02/12/07
      62.   No!!!!!!! Please don`t... 14:03  |  Edith 02/12/07
      63.   #26 I agree & #58 14:10  |  Edith 02/12/07
      64.   Such Objectivity! 14:12  |  Only An American 02/12/07
      65.   # 57 El-birawi - "Jewish NeoCons at it again" 14:13  |  17 02/12/07
      66.   Zionist pathology at work 14:14  |  TimothyL 02/12/07
      67.   no. 38 Margie 14:17  |  Steve 02/12/07
      68.   Does israel have a secret suicidal death wish?Attacking Iran 14:25  |  lakshmi 02/12/07
      69.   UN said to be close to agreeing on the next round of sanctions. 14:26  |  PETER S.M. 02/12/07
      70.   #38 Margie in Tel Aviv 14:33  |  Chris Linthwaite 02/12/07
      71.   Peace in our time 14:40  |  Shoshana Thomasson