Israel threatening Iran with 'nukes'

[joeblow]

Israel threatening Iran with 'nukes'
Wed, 27 May 2009 18:16:23 GMT

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=9 ... =351020101



As Israel remains adamant on blemishing the prospects of Iran-US dialogue and coaxing the White House into a war, Israel's military Chief of Staff says the regime is ready to use all options against Iran.

Israel, the possessor of the sole nuclear arsenal in the Middle East, has long strived to portray Iran as a regime hell-bent on starting a nuclear war through the pursuit of its nuclear program.

The UN nuclear watchdog says Iran has not opted against international law while conducting the program, which Iran says has civilian purposes.

"It is my job as army chief to prepare all the options, and that is what we're doing," Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, Israel's military Chief of Staff, said.

His remarks come as Iran and the US, which have not had diplomatic ties for nearly three decades, are moving to consider a possible rapprochement.

Such reconciliation, however, has rubbed Tel Aviv the wrong way.

Israel, which claims to see Iran as an "existential threat", considers possible friendly ties between Tehran and Washington a major blow to its interests.

"The dialogue between the US and Iran is unlikely to succeed, but this is the preferred course for us too," said Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi. "Iran continues with its plans. The existence of nuclear weapons in Iran's hands could destabilize the entire Middle East."

The Israeli general added that the army would take "every possible measure" when it has to deal with Iran.

The remarks come amid doubts raised by Western experts that the Israeli Air Force does not possess the necessary power to bomb the Iranian program out of existence.

In return, Israeli defense experts claim that a nuclear strike might get the job done.

According to a report by the Sunday Times, Israeli air force squadrons have trained to blow up Iranian nuclear facilities using low-yield nuclear "bunker-busters."

Ashkenazi's warning against Iran came as the hawkish Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, publicizes that lifting Iran's alleged "nuclear threat" is his government's mission.

In an address to the right-wing Likud party, Netanyahu said if Israel does not remove the Iranian threat, no one will.

Citing Iran as a danger he said, "My job is first and foremost to ensure the future of the state of Israel ... the leadership's job is to eliminate the danger. Who will eliminate it? It is us or no one."

CS/MD