Barak: Iran poses no immediate existential threat to Israel

"Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israel Radio on Monday that the only way out of the current stalemate with Iran is a bold Israeli move, adding that he felt that Iran did not pose an immediate existential threat to Israel." If Iran does not pose an immediate threat to Israel, then I wonder what bold move the Defense Minister has in mind? Could it be that he wants the USA to bomb, bomb, bomb Iran and thus take Israel off the hook? Shades of Olmert! I'd much rather see another Cold War than a nuclear holocaust. A cold war is, after all, a non-lethal stalemate

Guderian wanted to charge into the USSR with his armed might. His superiors said no. Both Patton and Montgomery wanted to charge into Germany with their mighty forces. Their superiors said no. MacArthur wanted to take on all of Red China - yes all of it! In one fell swoop! President Truman fired him for trying to make policy instead of attending to his military duties. Now the Pentagon wants to charge into Iran with its forces. Their superior says no. Military Science and Tactics is one thing; politics is a whole other ball of wax. There is a reason why civilians make better Commanders in Chief than generals. Broad perspective vs. tunnel vision.

Title says it all. Welcome tot he world of real politik.

That is too funny, Kissinger is a war criminal who his own president, never trusted and saw him as inherently a backstabber and a weasel.

There is no moral way for the United States to FORCE Iran to abandon the atomic bomb. It can, however, make acquiring it quite expensive and unpleasant. Moreover, the US happily also has carrots to offer Iran. Iran cares about Israel, the US can dictate policy to Israel, the US can trade restrictions on Israel for concessions by Iran. If we REALLY don't want Iran to have the bomb, we can keep Iran from getting the bomb.

Anyone recall the terrorism that existed under Ehud Barak and how he offered to give Jerusalem to Israel's enemies along with Judea-Samaria, Golan and Gaza. This the clown that abandoned our allies the SLA and strengthened Hizbollah and Hamas. Now Barak is wrong on Iran. Immediate threat? What about next month or next year?

You are giving waaay too much credit to ahmadi which I'm sure he'd be happy to get.

That is right reader. The same fate. Israel will be given peace and defensible borders, and the non state entity of the Palestinians will become a state which will own the great part of the "disputed territories" of the West Bank. In short Peace and security in exchange for territories. The final decision ( Americans admite it) will contemplate minor territorial swaps. Israel will have to toe the line a follow suit... that is right....'till certain point. No refugees, parts of east Jerusalem will be "unified" to israel, and territorial swaps. The palestinian state will be demilitarized. Even Obama will not be able to abuse Israel.

Those you mention would have been returned under international law. Many more that you don't mention are outside Israel's declared borders, under occupation, and await the same fate. The thing is, Arik, that as Israel clings to America's leg copping a free ride on America's boot, it has become a tripping hazard. As America struggles to maintain oil hegemony in a re-surging Middle East unwilling to wait for parity, she can not afford the luxury of her spoiled child. Either Israel stands quietly aside while the big people sort through this mess, or America could stumble. Being the world's only superpower is not infinite.

From the NY Times: "But in his memo, Mr. Gates wrote of a variety of concerns, including the absence of an effective strategy should Iran choose the course that many government and outside analysts consider likely: Iran could assemble all the major parts it needs for a nuclear weapon ? fuel, designs and detonators ? but stop just short of assembling a fully operational weapon. In that case, Iran could remain a signatory of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty while becoming what strategists call a ?virtual? nuclear weapons state." Considering the weapons inspections, intelligence estimates and even the Iranian mullahs' statements, this appears to be the likeliest scenario - no actual weapon, but "nuclear latency". In this way Iran has a deterrent, but stays within the terms of the NPT. Will Iran be attacked for "nuclear capability"?

nr. 13, mike smith you are nothing but a war-monger and a hate-sewer! down with zionism and the other dictatorships in the world. long live democracy, freedom of speech, opinion, expression and just civil and human rights everywhere! let mordechai vanunu go free as a real democracy does.

1) "Israel withdraw from Sinai? Yes or no. Did it dismantle settlements in Rafah, Sharm el Sheikh etc. Yes or no? " Are racist squatters still trying to kick out the Arabs from the areas? Yes or no? 2) "Israel gave up Jordanian land in exchange for peace. True or untrue?" Jordan is at peace with Israel. True or untrue? 3) "Israel abandoned Gaza, and dismantled settlements. True or untrue?" Yet Israel still cuts off the power whenever they so desire. True or untrue? 4) Israel offered for peace more that 90 percent of the West Bank . True or untrue? Yet Israel said that the Palestinians couldn't have a military, would maintain complete control over the infrastructure, and would have no real police. True or untrue?

yes SIR, one cannot behaving in the same way and get away with it, while others have to pay an enormous price!

that everybody is aware of, Iran can Never harm Israel, militarily. That is the logical assessment.

Before the Wolfowitz, Perle, and Feith types, start squawking about President Obama they should remember he is the with the Commander-in-Chief. Just get with the program, or get a foot in your ass. Salaam/Shalom

"the american have the bomb thanks to the jews. So be modest OK ?" Yossef Who needs to be modest? It is you who claim Jews as the great nuclear benefactor. The great Einstein was a German/Jew and schooled there. Mr. Oppenheimer was the son of wealthy German immigrants. He did not follow Torah but was shaped by the Bhagavad Gita. Have you forgotten those non-Jewish geniuses who participated in that hellish program? Salaam/Shalom BTW it was Max Planck who understood the 'strong force' in the 1800's. He was also the father of Quantum physics, which drove Albert crazy. No, he wasn't Jewish, so I guess you wouldn't mention him.

i was referring to hungary's liberation from soviet occupation. without strong support from the americans, eastern europe would have not been able to shake off soviet occupation.

Mullen is absolutely correct...Israel's Defense Minister has admitted that Iran is not an "immediate existential threat"...so, there should be time to pursue a diplomatic solution. Contingency plans for a US strike on Iran have been around for years...but honestly I don't foresee a US attack happening except in response to an Iranian attack on Israel.

Hey - potential war-mongerers ! The "unintended consequences" would be horrific ! David

If America or Israel attacks Iran, the whole equation could shift. Even sanctions are risky. Each attempt to suppress an ascending Middle East country will be seen by the others as favouring Israel. And each action by America bears a price. At some point, that price becomes unbearable. The House of Saud is most at risk. The Middle East's only weaponized country may believe it can absorb the Saudi oilfields.

"if the Muslims attack Israel then those nuclear facilities should be taken care of at that point in time." Joshua Will you feel the same way if Israel attacks first? Or will you invoke "preventive/preemptive/existential"? Salaam/Shalom

He's letting the nutcases rant and rave. His goals are obvious and irresistable. Peace, Justice, Equity, for all. What a determined and intelligent man. I'm proud to call him my President. And to think that Israeli extremists still call him the "N" word. Drek is what you are. Salaam/Shalom

to destroy Israel, several volleys of well placed Shahab-3 missiles can be very effective in doing the job on that tiny speck in the desert. It's absolute nonsense to think Iran's nuclear program is a threat to Israel; the 'threat' IF any, is already there.

to know that Iran is a while out in having a deliverable bomb. I do feel however that if the Muslims attack Israel then those nuclear facilities should be taken care of at that point in time.

Posted: "Both countries are being unreasonable. Both countries are being aggressive. Both countries are currently controlled by extremists. Both countries are a huge threat to the stability of the Middle East. You can`t slap sanctions on Iran, but allow Israel to contine to ignore UN resolutions, and keep an entrire people locked up, while they try to steal its land. The only way you can fairly put sancstions on Iran, is if you do the same on Israel. Excellent post, Michael.

Posted: "worry not. you are perfectly safe in beautiful budapest. however, you should thank the americans for the freedom that you now enjoy. make sure you do not lose it to the far right." Cipora Julianna Kohn, the ones to thank are not the Americans. The ones to thank is the former U.S.S.R., they are the ones who defeated Hitler and his Nazi killing machine all the way back to Germany, not the Americans. The cowardly Americans did not enter the war until it was almost over. They waited in hopes that Hitler might defeat and destroy the Communist U.S.S.R. but when they saw that the Russians were pushing Germany back, only then they decided to enter and not out of the goodness of their hearts.

Iran seems headed in the direction of sanctions and isolation with Europe and the U.S. and who knows who else. But, there will be no U.S. involvement in any military strike in my opinion with so many dangerous unknown factors. America is short on money. Americans are not enthusiastic about being over in Afghanistan or Iraq. There is no interest whatsoever in getting involved in another war. I see Israel as striking before Iran would strike first. And the disruption to the world economy would not be forgiven soon and the long term consequences would last generations. I fear Israel more than Iran on starting or pushing for something that will end up something along the lines of the West Bank and settler policies. Works in the immediate, but there is no long term thinking it through. You think we have problems now. A military strike would be the terrorist dream for an ample supply of endless recruits.

Is Barak trying to repeat the same mistake that Dayan made prior to the Yom Kippur War?

... cause more hardship to the Iranian people than to the regime. That is why sanctions are pointless.

Iran and it's nuclear program(s) are an existential threat to Israel and the world... biting sanctions must immediately be placed on that holocaust denying theocracy or Israel will take matters into it's own hands... the "hold me back" ploy. Barak says that Iran is not an immediate existential threat to Israel and the world after the American military alluded to a optional military strike against Iran. What's the matter, Ehud... can't Israel deal the existential consequences of either "biting" sanctions or a "biting" US military strike against Iran?

thank you guys we do not need irish goods.it is you guys who are in an unholy (no pun intended)mess.you are bankrupt.when do bankrupt nations have the temerity to threaten boycotts?

the pope wept with victims of irish sexual molesters.what use is that when he kept the rapists in place when he should have taken them to the police.

The price of sin is always too high. The wages of sin are death, says the Good Book: Thou shalt not covet, murder, or steal, all sins of Israel's Apartheid Occupation. Barak knows the way out. May God give him the courage to follow through on his good intentions, at whatever cost to his political self.

a man with historical perspective.instead we have the most hopelessly feckless people at the heart of government.the strongest nation on earth hobbled by the weakest government america has ever elected. it is the left wing media who sold us saint obama.they have a great deal to answer for.

for five long years take up the complicated task of iran.it is impossible.the man needs a teleprompter and he needs to be told what to say.plans are for the likes of gates and mullen. hilary clinton is another dud.she is no thinker.strategy is not her strong point.what has america brought on itself?huge incompetency at the heart of its government in the most trying of times.

Try to give some few examples to prove your nonesense claims. 1 Israel withdraw from Sinai? Yes or no. Did it dismantle settlements in Rafah, Sharm el Sheikh etc. Yes or no? 2) Israel gave up Jordanian land in exchange for peace. True or untrue? 3) Israel abandoned Gaza, and dismantled settlements. True or untrue? 4) Israel offered for peace more that 90 percent of the West Bank . True or untrue? Can this be defined as Israel's appetite for land grabbing? Your statement reads like Goebbels. Repeate the lyes thousand times and it becomes true.

Both countries are being unreasonable. Both countries are being aggressive. Both countries are currently controlled by extremists. Both countries are a huge threat to the stability of the Middle East. You can't slap sanctions on Iran, but allow Israel to contine to ignore UN resolutions, and keep an entrire people locked up, while they try to steal its land. The only way you can fairly put sancstions on Iran, is if you do the same on Israel. Sanctions on Israel would also make it FAR more likely that other countries would support sanctions against Iran and that Iran would abstain from nuclear weapons.

by stating that fact the onus is on america to act.but obama will not do so.robert gates has to keep things simple for the president. he has to give him a form where he must tick boxes.as follows: 1 sanctions will fail should we: a bomb b not bomb mr president please tick one of the above only

You are right. It might be not a easy move. However, America has no other options if it wants to remain an hegemonic power. It tried engagement with Iran and does not work. Noam Chomsky wrote a book "Hegemony or Survival". The truth is that for a country like America the real equation is hegemony as survival. No hegemony = no America...and obviously the ensuing consequence is no liberal Europe. Lots of lunatic liberals in Europe believed that they could 'survive' without an hegemonic America. Some in Europe prefer Ahmedinajad today as prefered Hitler in the past. they were ready to give up Checoslovaquia in the past to appease the beast, and are ready to give Israel now to appease the new beast. Israel will hopefully thwart those dirty dreams.

the american military knows an iranian bomb would be followed by several midde east states acquiring nuclear devices.they see obama has no plan whatever. the president has said sanctions have little chance of succeeding yet he pursues them. the pentagon saw a vacuum and has asserted its power with a one two punch. both gates and mullen have in effect told obama he is worse then useless.

Givve us a break---Israel. Sign the NPT agreement and open up your nukes for inspection----then we can talk about Iran. Until then put a sock in it.

Givve us a break---Israel. Sign the NPT agreement and open up your nukes for inspection----then we can talk about Iran. Until then put a sock in it.

Nathalie, the jews didn't need any american to become a nuclear power, except for material purpose. Einstein, a jew, open the Pandora box with the theory of relativity, remember E=mc2 ? Robert Oppenheimer, a physicist, jewish, was in charge of the Manhattan project which gives the bomb to the US. You see ? It is not the jews who have the bomb thanks to the american, but the contrary : the american have the bomb thanks to the jews. So be modest OK ? I agree that it is not the best present we gave to the human kind, I prefer the Torah, but it can be regarded as a challenge: to remain human despite the bomb.

worry not. you are perfectly safe in beautiful budapest. however, you should thank the americans for the freedom that you now enjoy. make sure you do not lose it to the far right.

what is constantly missing in the Israeli narrative is the fact that Israel has nucleair weapons. It is neither helpless nor powerless. Not even Ahmadinejad is crazy enough to attack Israel because he knows what the response would be. Why than does Israel insist on playing the poor little innocent country? I don't get it.

Barak is usually dead wrong ! He is not the leader to take on Iran or even Hamas or Hezbollah! In fact he is not a leader.

is laughing at the indecisiveness of the West. They've been hearing about a possible attack for years now. It seems to me like another bluff and it is getting rather repetitive. Either do it or don't!

The only way Israel could defeat Iran is with Nuclear weapons. Even if this happens Iran will still rain thousands of missles on Israeli cities. Israel will NEVER attack any country that has the ability to actually fight back. No they will satisfy their blood lust with attacks on Gaza and Little Lebanon which have only limited means of defense.

Thats just the point Jasemin, All weapontry is becoming increasingly more sophisticated. I don't think Hezbollah is interested in attacking Israel, seems like they are the protectors of Lebanon. If Israel stays on their own side of the border they will be safe. Having said that I believe Israel will attack this summer and Hezbollah will respond mightily.

Fortunately it is not as easy as you think and the consequences can be unpredictable even for Israel. And other powers also had interest in the region and I don't think they would support an USraeli military action. By the way Iran didn't threaten attacking the US or Israel and is against nuclear weapons in the region and at all. But of course we know the stories about the Iraqi WMDs...

Ahmadinejad threatens to wipe Israel off the map,boasts that Iran is so strong military that no nation dare attack it ,and is openly pursuing the nuclear option . For me this poses an existential threat to Israel,what is it that you Barak want for Iran to drop the bomb on Israel . An irresponsible and unnecessary statement on memorial day .

barak sound like that smartest in israhelli miserable brainless setup.

Israel would rather see the US leave from both Iraq and Afghanistan. Simply, because the constant missile attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan is creating as massive recruitment for the Extreme and Global Jihad. America and Iran used to be allies, America created many thoughtless coups in Iran, especially in those heady days of Gunboat Diplomacy with the corrupt Sha. Israel today, is more wary of the US Foreign Policymakers, which have only caused untold deaths to US servicemen, not to forget the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians. Obviously no Judge Goldstone...hmmm. I understand that Mr.Obama seeks an exit strategy.ASAP. Well, that could only be accomplished with the collaboration of Tehran. So, when DM Barak states that Iran is no immediate existential threat to Israel, it is done for a purpose. That is, Israel can take care of itself. Mr.Obama can engage with Tehran. You can now dedicate more time to positive thinking. Have a nice day.

Either destroyes (through Israel) Iranian "pseudo" or "not pseudo" nuclear capabilities, or its global interests in the most important world region are jeopardize. Iran plays the role of the spoiler. "Either you come with me or I threat your interests in the region". Those kind of "players" should be wiped out. Today it is relatively easy. Tomorrow will be more difficult and the prices at stake higher. Confrontation with Iran in unavoidable for America. America has been and still is an imperialist country. No imperialism= no Harvard, MIT, Columbia....Hollywood 'plus' America's way of life. Liberals in America cannot grasp that...but at the "tea parties" which are quite a bunch of people, they are very clear on "who are our friends and who are our enemies."

hezballah militia is accumulating thousands of rockets :big and small.....long and short....heavy and light ...for one purpose : to destroy israel . so the main threat comes from hezballah .

No one will stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. The US will not attack Iran, fearing a new costly conflagration in another ME country. It will just become the new status quo. Unlike in Iraq, Israel will not attack Iran. Iran has millions of soldiers and 2 proxies next to Israel that can make life hell for Israel. Iran will consider an attack by Israel an act of war and respond accordingly. Anyone who doubts this is naive.

Natallie, The US never conspired to give Israel nukes. The Israeli program developed autonomously and without US knowledge, under Eshkol (while Kennedy was pres), and was not made explicitly known to the Americans until the Nixon administration, by which time Israel already possessed a nuclear deterrent. Israel's nuclear capability has instead served as one factor among many influencing American conventional military support for the Jewish state. It is not Israel's "control of Congress" as you so hysterically refer to, but a concerted effort to shore up Israel's conventional military deterrent capability, lest the country feel sufficiently threatened to weigh adopting an open nuclear posture. Jacob

Even Bush wasn't brave (stupid) enough to attack Iran. Israel should join to to the party and reveal its nuclear arsenal to the world like most of the civilized nations. Sign the NPT and let their facilities to be inspected accordingly. Israel would benefit by doing this since it wouldn't be less secure since the world knows anyway (thank you Vanunu I hope one day you will be free) and would take away the a big part of criticism it receives. Until it happens Iran will never give in and an attack against it can put the whole ME in flames. I start to think that is what USrael really wants because that's where its attitude - "I can have whatever I want and I will do whatever I want and I have the right to tell you what you can have and I will tell you what you can do" - leads to.

Before I write my conclusion, here are some facts (1) Whether Iran is nuclear power or not, US has the power to erase Iran from face of earth at any time. (2) Whether Iran is nuclear power or not, Iran would not be stronger or more influential than China. (3) Whether Iran is nuclear power or not, Iran would not be stronger or more influential than Russia. (4) Pakistan is a nuclear power and when G. Bush invaded Afghanistan, Dick Cheny told Pakistan either you cooperate with us or we will send you back to the stone age. So, what all the buzz about? It is just to make our sweet Israel and the Jewish Lobby happy.

Can't imagine anyone in the current US admin has the courage to strike Iran militarily. "Digging for excuses" not to do anything militarily will be the order of the day

The lies about Iraqi possession of WMD, are just one example of the way in which the neocons fabricate evidence to initiate religious wars against states that don't suit their particular agenda. That war has cost countless lives, and now we have a repeat performance in Afghanistan and Pakistan, while the Israeli religious freaks applaud, and expect the same against Iran.

the publiic hand-wringing and cogitation is only emboldening the mullahs. totalitarian regimes feed off weakness.

Every one harbours eccentric thoughts that are not written down. Those who decide military matters had best know for sure who the camel will fall toward.Honest people will not be comforted by percentages first strikers have had in the last 100 years.

Doing nothing and letting Iran go nuclear will also have consequences. Some predictable, but most not. Stopping them is better than having a world-wide nuke race with all it unintended consequences... In finding excuses to do nothing, Adm. Mullen sounds like an echo of Chamberlain of 1939...

maybe it shouldn't exist. Give them an inch, they take a mile. Give them a mile, and they want it all. The US government knows Israel is attempting to grab land far outside declared borders. If the US wants credibility in the Middle East, in Palestine, in Iraq, in Lebanon, in Turkey, in Syria, Afghanistan, in Pakistan, in Iran, in the other Arab States, she must curb Israeli ambition. Israel won't control itself. America must.

There may be 100 iranian nuclear sites - but only one government. Destroy and liquidate the regime, and replace it with a rational one. A truly democratic iran with a peaceful nuclear power program,would not be much of a concern. Removing this cancerous dictatorship would lead to the end of the funding of hezboollah, hamas, the iraq shia terror militias, and other terrorist proxy armies, and would enormously help reduce mideast tensions. Without its primary benefactor, Assad the other war criminal would also probably be deposed, and hopefully executed by his own people. Death to the military, fascist dictatorship of ahmadinejihadist and khameini, war criminals who should hang in the hague.

The Americans are just trying to shut the Israelis up for the time being. If you think that Iran is liable to "misuse" a nuclear weapon, how about an Iran that has been sneak attacked by America with Israeli connivance? That sounds like a lock on a nuclear war to me. I don't see Obama allowing Israel to bury him in that manner. In his own way, Obama is pulling a fast one on Israel!

Seeking therapy to treat their paranoia (would work for Israel too) With countries refusing to humour the fantasies, and the US no longer having the clout to make them act as if they believed, the only other option is to attack, and that is likely to result in the US (or Israel, if it does the attacking instead) facing the penalty for attacking someone due to paranoid beliefs, namely being locked up until they can convince the world at large that they will no longer be a danger to others.

these two so called experts they've been wrong on everything and love to sit around and write secret memos!

Let Israel give up its Nukes in Exchange of Iran's coming clean!

so you prefer the Islamists on your door step rather than the Jews/Israel--perhaps Australia will open it's doors to Muslims just like Europe...enjoy the results...you deserve it!!!

for them and for the arabs ,dead-scared of Iran. How America had ever dreamt of winning over Russia is a mystery.She must have had more capable Chief of Staff than Adm.Mullen

America does not rule the world. Recent attempts by America to do so have been disastrous. The undue influence which Israel has on the American congress should be viewed with suspicion on every move America makes in the middle east. Would Israel be happy to see America march into a war with Iran, which would also impact American efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan? Israel would love it!

"This is as complex a problem as there is in our country and we have expended extraordinary amounts of time and effort to figure that out, to try to get that right," Mullen said. One thing they have not done is agree to a simultaneous exchange of Iranian fuel for rods. Nor is it too late.

will take tens of thousands of years to play catch up.

again, like the iraq and now afghanistan wars none of these attacked america nor threatened it first, so why attack iran as well? because they are a threat to israel, and israel only, and the world will go to war because of one tiny rogue nation that won't adhere to the worlds resolutions. I ain't going somewhere else in the world fighting someones wars, i'll stay and defend the one i live in thanks, many have said they will do the same.

Sons of Mea shearim and Morooco and Iraq and Poland advised the Americans to hit and destroy Iraq rendering it in the hands of Iran. The silly Anglos believed them. And now Iran has nukes, Israel is weaker and the American empire is crumbling. This is the real scenario. Everyone is laughing at you.