Israel to present Bush with 'Iran file'

[Scurrilous]

Political-diplomatic forum at Prime Minister's Office convenes for special discussion ahead of US president's visit to Jerusalem this week. Defense Minister Ehud Barak to brief Bush on Israeli interpretation to intelligence information on Tehran's nuclear program

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3491077,00.html

<snip>

"Israel does not have any evidence which could turn the tables on a recent US intelligence report which concluded that Iran has stopped developing nuclear weapons, according to the senior political-diplomatic forum at the Prime Minister's Office.

The forum convened Sunday afternoon in order to decide on Israel's stance on the Iranian issue ahead of US President George W. Bush's visit to Israel, which is scheduled to being Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Minister for Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman, Mossad chief Meir Dagan, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, Director-General of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission Shaul Horev, Military Intelligence chief Amos Yadlin, Director of Policy and Political-Military Affairs at the Defense Ministry Amos Gilad, and a senior Shin Bet official.

The Mossad and the IDF Intelligence branch briefed the forum on the information obtained by Israel on the Iranian nuclear issue."

<snip>

"The secret discussion at the Prime Minister's Office was aimed at examining whether Israel had different evidence than the Americans. During the discussion it was made clear that more than 90% of the intelligence information possessed by Israel was identical to the information presented to the American president.

Nonetheless, the additional information does not confirm that Tehran resumed its secret activity to create military nuclear capabilities after 2003. Although the Israeli information points to suspicions that this is in fact Iran's intention, its does not contain enough evidence which will allow Bush to return to Washington with information which will lead to firm action by the international community."

[regnaD kciN]

1. Goody! We can go to war BEFORE the election...

Thus turning the campaign into "who is toughest on defense?"

That would be a big boost for McCain and Giuliani, but I woudn't think Hillary ("IWR," "Kyl-Lieberman") Rove-ham Clinton would be too unhappy over that turn of events, either.

:grr:

[gateley]

2. Bush doesn't need evidence. nt

[bemildred]

3. Pointing to suspicions of a future intention seems like pretty thin gruel. nt

[Donald Ian Rankin]

4. This is where the difference between the Israeli lobby and the pro-Israeli lobby matters

That the Israeli government wants the US to declare war on Iran doesn't worry me that much, because the influence of Israel on the US, while non-trivial, isn't all *that* great.

Most of the much-vaunted pro-Israeli lobby is composed of right-wing Christians, whose influence on the US is virtually impossible to understate, and who are far more divided about the merits of war with Iran than the Israeli government and its direct supporters are.

[LaStrega]

5. Bah-bah-bah bah-bomb Iran

shrub and the dickmeister are just itchin' to do it