Israel Could Use Ballistic Missiles Against Iran-Report

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

JERUSALEM, March 17 (Reuters) - Ballistic missiles could be Israel's weapon of choice against Iranian nuclear facilities if it decides on a pre-emptive attack and deems air strikes too risky, according to a report by a Washington think-tank.

Israel is widely assumed to have Jericho missiles capable of hitting Iran with an accuracy of a few dozen metres (yards) from target. Such a capability would be free of warplanes' main drawbacks -- limits on fuel and ordnance, and perils to pilots.

Extrapolating from analyst assessments that the most advanced Jerichos carry 750 kg (1,650 lb) conventional warheads, Abdullah Toukan of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said 42 missiles would be enough to "severely damage or demolish" Iran's core nuclear sites at Natanz, Esfahan and Arak.

"If the Jericho III is fully developed and its accuracy is quite high then this scenario could look much more feasible than using combat aircraft," he said in the March 14 report, titled "Study on a Possible Israeli Strike on Iran's Nuclear Development Facilities".

Israel, whose jets bombed Iraq's nuclear reactor in 1981 and mounted a similar sortie over Syria in 2007, has hinted that it could forcibly deny Iran the means to make an atomic bomb.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLH490743

[bemildred]

1. Iran will shoot back. nt

[thewiseguy]

2. Exactly. The article is BS.

[acmavm]

3. And if they do, they need to fight it out all on their little lonesomes.

Time to let them sink or swim. On their fucking own.

[floridablue]

4. I would never feel comfortable not supporting Isreal no matter what.

[razors edge]

5. How comfortable would you feel

living next door to this guy?

http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=6595

It just warms the cockles of my heart to think my hard earned tax dollars go to him, not the homeless here in America.

[Ozymanithrax]

9. Long ago I accepted that the idea of...

My country right or wrong is deeply flawed. Unwavering support for Israel fits that same mold.

I support Israel's right to exist but I don't support their government policies. Ultimately Israel is sitting on a population bomb. Palestinian peoples are out-breeding Jews in general and Israeli' specifically. Israel has a narrow window to make a lasting peace. Its government and Israeli conservative policies that deny any real attempt to find an amicable solution will eventually lead to the catastrophic destruction of Israel.

In my opinion, terrorists and those people who call themselves freedom fighters using terrorist tactics should be given a speedy trial, and if convicted given life without the benefit of parole. But the Palestinians deserve to have the state as was intended by the UN in the partition of 1947. Denying them their own state is immoral and makes Israelis no better than Christians and Muslims that refused Jews their rights since 60 CE.

[Delphinus]

11. Amen.

I, too, support the right of Israel to exist, but the policies of their government do not sit well with me.

[The Stranger]

10. Did you forget the sarcasm indicator?

". . . no matter what"?

:wtf:

[AndyTiedye]

13. There are Too Many Negatives in That Sentence

It is not totally clear what you are trying to say,
though it would appear to suggest that you DO support Israel no matter what they do,
and that you do not know how to spell Israel.

[Ozymanithrax]

6. Iran stated some time back...

that an attack on their nuclear facilities by Israel would lead to an Iranian retaliation against the US because Iran could not attack without our agreement or help.

Use of ballistic missiles might keep Iran from aiming attacks at the US, but I would count on it.

[Tempest]

7. Iraq could possibly explode in violence

Much of the country is under control of Iranian backed militias and government officials.

The troops would be right in the line of fire.

[Ozymanithrax]

8. You are right.

Bush was a warpig, but even the Bush administration backed down on attacking Iran and was reported from a number of sources as refusing to support or stopping an Israeli attack on Iran.

It may be Netanyahu's belief that he can force the US into a war with Iran. His close ties to Gringrich and Conservative Republicans in the 90's were very beneficial to himself and Israel's highly Conservative government at the time and he may feel the US will dance any jig he plays.

[Idealism]

12. This is such propaganda it isn't even funny. Israel can't harm Iran much.

Iran, more so than any other country in the world, has prepared themselves for air raids and an ground invasion. There are revetments and reinforced walls around every bunker, government building, military base, weapons production plant, and energy plant. They have a significant stockpile of chemical and biological weapons that are also heavily defended against. They have dozens of newly built air fields along the western border (closest to Israel).

The retaliation for such an attack will also not limp. Iran will close the gulf, patrolling with Russian-built submarines, single-motor m-60 equipped skiffs, and destroyers. The amount of oil reaching the market may be slashed by estimates of 1.5 million barrels per day, which coupled with unrest and uncertainty in Iran (the worlds 3rd biggest proven oil reserves), will only cause oil prices to surge.

This simple post does not even go into detail about how Iran can strike American military and paramilitary personnel in Iraq, hamper with US efforts in Afghanistan, and offer more funding to terrorist groups and cells throughout the world, and build stronger economic and military ties to Russia, through GAZPROM refining Iranian crude oil and armament agreements.

[LynnTheDem]

14. "pre-emptive attack". Ie: war crime.

When is this shit going to stop. When are leaders who commit war crimes going to be held accountable.

[humblebum]

15. Considering the fact that Iran has stated that Israel shouldn't exist

I would say they are definitely egging Israel on.