ISRAEL/USA VS. IRAN

THE NEW YORKER: Plan B by by Seymour M. Hersh
As June 30th approaches, Israel looks to the Kurds.
"CHECK IT"

Comment to the Report Above by info.clearinghouse: Slipping Toward Armageddon
Israel in Iraq

The fact that Israeli operatives are now in Iraq explodes once and for all the oft-repeated claim that America is an honest peace broker. The whole world will now understand that this was just another of Washington’s many deceptions. Bush’s uncritical support of Sharon’s iron fist shows that even the pretense of impartiality has now evaporated. And, to the shame of every American who cares about justice, candidate Kerry has seconded Bush on Israel without qualification.

Bush’s Iraq policy has imploded. In fact, there never was a coherent policy, apart from grabbing the oil. It was always just a bunch of lies packaged as patriotic slogans for popular consumption here at home. And the Israelis, who wanted the war (just about any war is OK with them) are now where they’ve wanted to be for years, that is, on the Iran border, i.e., positioning themselves for the next round when the shinola really hits the fan: the shooting match that will make everything we’ve seen up until now look like a warm-up.

Clearly, Iran figures large in the Israeli calculus. Though it was not reported here in the US media -- at least, I never saw one word about it -- Iran was one of the key issues in the last Israeli election. Sharon and his opponent Benjamin Netanyahu squared-off during the campaign, and the issue was the specter of a nuclearized Shi’ite theocracy. The debate was bitter. Netanyahu took the view that it was too late to prevent Iran from going nuclear, and that Israel must accept this and come to terms. This inflamed Sharon, who accused Netanyahu of treason. Clearly, Sharon believed, and still believes, that Israel must go to any length to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, even if this means going to war (again), which means persuading, pushing, and if necessary dragging the Americans into it.

I hasten to add that it’s far from proved that Iran is building, or intends to build, Bombs. There is no smoking gun, and no hard evidence insofar as I know. It appears that Iran’s policy is to develop nuclear power for energy production while keeping its options open for the future. Such a policy is totally understandable, given Israel’s own massive nuclear arsenal, the existence of which is beyond dispute, even if the White House doesn’t want to be reminded. Let us remember, Israel’s nukes are aimed at Tehran. Put yourself in the Iranians’ shoes. It’s unreasonable to expect them to forswear nukes forever unless WE in America are also prepared to pressure the Israeli government to sign the NPT and open ALL of Israel’s nuclear sites to inspectors. I mean the strengthened IAEA regime of unannounced inspections, whenever and wherever.