Israeli Army Chief Says Nation Needs to Build Up Military to Strike Iran

[Purveyor]

By Jonathan Ferziger and David Lerman - Wed Feb 01 23:02:04 GMT 2012

Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz said his country must build up its military capabilities and be prepared to strike if economic sanctions fail to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Israel must be “willing to deploy” its military assets because Iran may be within a year of gaining nuclear weapons capability, Gantz said yesterday.

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency wrapped up a round of talks this week aimed at resolving Western suspicions that Iran is seeking to develop nuclear-bomb capability, and officials said they planned further discussions.

“There is no doubt that Iran is striving for a bomb,” Gantz said in an address to the annual Herzliya Conference at the Interdisciplinary Center academic campus north of Tel Aviv. Its activities “must be disrupted,” he said.

MORE...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-01/israel-must-be-ready-to-hit-iran-if-sanctions-fail-gantz-says.html

[Blue_Tires]

1. By "build up" he means "borrow ours at a cut-rate price"

[BeGoodDoGood]

2. Yeah, and...

When there proves to be no WMD program, as happened in Iraq, you can just say, "um...they moved it all to Syria."

Walt

[Ruby the Liberal]

3. They have been "within a year" since what, 2004?

Sounds like someone is trying to justify budget increases.

[bemildred]

4. Well, sometimes it's six months, but yeah. nt

[leftynyc]

6. And WEEKLY on this site

I read how "Israel is going to bomb Iran". More hair on fire threads stating this shit than just about anything else when it comes to foreign policy. It's a joke. So the Israeli military is keeping an eye on Iran....isn't that their job? When are all of you going to give up the idea that the United States will turn it's back on Israel? How many times does a President - Dem or Rep - have to call the relationship unshakable for you to realize your dream is a fantasy.

As for the above poster bitching about giving more money to Israel, you may want to look at where that money goes - namely into American defense contractors hands.

[Ruby the Liberal]

8. Not following you.

I have no dreams about Israeli policy and it would be irresponsible for them to NOT keep an eye on their neighbors - who can't even be bothered to inject nuance into their calls for her destruction. Thats called national defense.

[leftynyc]

9. Apologies - responded to the wrong person

That's exactly my point - it would be foolish for the Israeli's to ignore Iran and it's cartoon villian-like leader. And people on this board should stop looking for a boogieman everytime an Israeli has something to say. When they're living in a place that has rockets falling in backyards of schools, then I'll listen to what they have to say.

[MACARD]

14. what about the 1,000 more rockets bombs and shots the IDF used on Palestinian Women and children.

at least the Israelis have a stable home the Palestinians have to keep moving around or face being wiped out by the IDF.

nonetheless you may be right about 1 thing. our presidents may never stop funding Israel, as Human Rights are the absolute last consideration when it comes to American Foreign Policy. Economics, and Oil along with ruthless dictatorships are at the top. As long as the money keeps flowing our Government will look the other way.

I would also like to Point out that Israel can take care of itself and Doesn't need to be babied by the US any more. also if you thought Israel would sit back and let Iran build a nuke your nuts.

finally have to agree with some of the other posters here Iran having nukes is just a sham so the Government can go into another Country and Impose a New Dictatorship handpicked by the Oil Companies.

[denverbill]

5. I still don't understand why Israel is so worried about Iran getting a nuke.

No way in hell Iran is going to launch a nuclear attack on Israel. They may very well think Israel has no right to exist, but that doesn't mean they want to irradiate the entire Middle East and make Israel uninhabitable. Thanks to GWB and the neocons, as Iraq proved, if a country doesn't have WMD, they leave themselves open to preemptive attack by the US and/or Israel.

[Crunchy Frog]

15. It would shift the balance of power in the Middle East

in a way that would not favor Israel. That's the threat that they're actually worried about, not the existential threat of being annihilated by Iranian nukes; something that Iran could not do, even if they wanted to and succeeded in creating a nuke or two.

[jpak]

7. Good Luck storming the Castle!!!!!111

yup

[madrchsod]

10. how many violations of other countries airspace?

and are they all going to lay down and die for israel?

[Ruby the Liberal]

11. Actually, there were reports of the Saudis

allowing Israel to use their airspace given that they don't want a nuclear Iran either.

The threat of the entire region becoming an uninhabitable parking lot can make for strange alliances.

[Scootaloo]

12. By this logic the world should unite against the threat of Galactus

[Hugabear]

13. Nobody attacked Israel to stop them from developing nukes

I guess that's perfectly acceptable though...

[christx30]

16. I agree

there are some military contractors in the US and Israel that spent way too much during the holiday season, and need a fat bonus.
Who cares about the thousands or millions that are going to die in this conflict? Papa needs a new Rolls!
Hope I don't need the sarcasm tag.