'Senior IDF officer told cabinet Israel cannot stop Iran's nuclear program'

Israel, however, can ensure that Iran goes nuclear by attacking it.

From all appearances, Iran is a rational state, acting responsibly. As Mossad chief Pardo said, Iranian nukes do not pose an existential threat to Israel, and therefore to the West in general. Therefore, the US believes it should not go to war to stop Iran's nuclearization. Since it is desirable to not increase the number of states having nukes, the US will continue to help by "threats" and sanctions. But Israel should know that there will be no actual US action. And if Israel acts alone against Iran, the US will not intervene on her behalf. It will be a private Israeli affair. If Israel chooses to reveal this to the world, too bad, because then Iran will probably nuclearize quickly. Israel is now developing a "second strike" capability (via submarines), and this is sufficient to protect her against any feared surprise nuclear attack.

Netanyahu and Barak keep harping on the threat of bombing Iran, while everybody with a bit of brain can see that this is essentially a terrible idea for Israel, "the stupidest thing I have ever heard" it was called by M. Dagan, who headed Mossad until late 2010. A bombing will merely cause some delay in Iran's plans, but will have terrible long term consequences for Israel because of certain retaliation and hatred that will last many many years. Too bad that bombing Iran is the only idea Netanyahu has of improving Israel's position, and stopping Iran is what he ran on in the 2009 elections. Barak is too smart for such stupidity, and I suspect this is his way of keeping Netanyahu interested in him as Defense Minister and, more importantly for him, as a Likud member to be. At worst, he uses the bombing threat as a bluff (which obviously does not deter Iran). Unfortunately, and dangerously, Netanyahu is dead serious in his threat, and Dagan knows it or else he would NOT have spoken out. It was disclosed recently by Wikileaks that Netanyahu was willing to join the Olmert government in 2007 (after Olmert destroyed himself in Lebanon) provided that Olmert will bomb Iran. I shudder to think of the consequences.

I'm seasick from the sheer amount of blah - blah - blah on Iran this, Iran that, that happens ecery hour. I'm sure I feel exactly as some "they" want me to feel. What's the purpose of this swarming? Or does Haaretz just get a kick out of it?

Talk about stating the obvious. Live with that fact. More important still scamper back behind 1967 Internationally recognized borders or that area will be turned into a rubble heap.

Holland helped Israel with destroying the scuds sent by Saddam Hoessein. Also in the case that Israel has to defend itself against Iran, Holland will do the same thing! Especially with the present government we have in Holland.

Israel cannot remain hostile to half the world and survive. We are in the age of WMD already and as we move farther into it wmd's will become smaller and more readily available. Sad to say, but this is called progress and weapons progress is especially fast. In one year or ten or twenty. It is most unlikely that a nation will target Israel with a wmd. It will more likely be a group. The timing and the attacker are irrelevant. The end is easily predictable.

Why we dont stuxnet Iranian system so that they nuke themselves?

Israel may be able to strike, but suprise surprise, Iran will sooner or later hit back. Could this be prevented? Doubtful, it would require hundreds of thousands of 'boots on the ground' After the Iraqi and Afghan fiascos the US will find it hard to sell that one to the US pop. Will it be Israeli boots; well I think we all know the answer to that one. Will it be EU or NATO, no chance. Hitting Iran is possible but very very stupid and when the price of crude hits record highs and stays there, very very expensive.

To put it bluntly Israel has been assassinating scientists.

To concentrate on the population centers around Iran's nuclear sites - NOT the sites themselves.

It smells awful and goes BRBRRBRBRBRBRTHTHHTHTHTHTHTHTH as a sound effect.

"This is WHY I wanted Galant!" Barak replies hesitantly, "ummm, yeah, I know - and I gave it my best shot"...