Iran: Declared War On Israel? Will Israel Strike First? [View All]

[New Government]

First, let me make necessary disclaimers to preempt flames and snarky remarks directed at me personally....I have never been, and am not now, a supporter of Israel's foreign policy. Period. Far from it! But, I argue that Israel may have every right to ACT NOW against Iran.
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Iran within the past several months has:

1. Announced on two different occasions that Israel should be wiped off the map.

"As the Imam said, Israel must be wiped off the map."

2. Announced their ability to enrich uranium for "energy" purposes. But also is a giant step toward the ability to produce a nuke.

3. Held a patriotic rally (complete with dancers presenting models of centrifuges to Ahmadinejad and religious leaders) that would make North Korea proud. Frankly, watching this on TV last week was creepy.

4. Iranian political and military leadership within the past few days have made reference to the "annihilation" of Israel.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called Israel a "permanent threat" to the Middle East that will "soon" be liberated. "Like it or not, the Zionist regime is heading toward annihilation."

DU: Let's Think........No left/right - right/left fighting. Just THINK.

Israel has been relatively quiet after these Iranian threats and the news of the uranium enrichment capability. It appears Peres went off script once, but it was a break from what one observer called on TV Friday, "An unusually eerie silence from the Israeli military and political leadership."

Now the question: Has Iran declared War On Israel? Will Israel Act First?

A very easy argument could be made that these threats of "wiping Israel off the map" and "annihilation" are defacto declarations of war. These statements, and the nuclear developments, has seemingly united the left/center/right in Israel like nothing in recent history.

Could we blame Israel if they made the decision to act militarily? Really? A good case could be made that any action would not be "pre-emptive," but a response to clear Iranian statements of their plans to destroy Israel.

I can see a scenario where Israel uses conventional weapons to bomb strategic sites in Iran, halts action for a few hours to gauge the response, and if Syria were to make moves to become involved that Israel offer a clear nuclear ultimatum. Plain and simple: no more threats, a firm agreement on Israel's right to exist, a halt to Iran's nuclear program, no Syrian interference, and basically - whatever else they cared to ask. Without a clear agreement to the above, Israel could very well unleash hell on the Islamic world using nuclear weaponry as a defensive measure.

If someone were across the street from you and you knew they didn't like you - that's one thing. Though, when you see the neighbor taking action that could lead to easy destruction to your home and family - wouldn't that raise your eyebrows? Then, if they came out and stood at the curb and threatened you and your family with annihilation and said the plan was to wipe your house and family off the block, would you have had enough? If they had the capability to hit you instantly, without an ability to respond, would you not act IN DEFENSE? Not "pre-emptively" as the threats were clear as crystal as to the neighbor's intention.

I have thought about this long and hard. As stated above, I am NO FAN of Israel and their foreign policy. But, honestly, if they take action - in preservation and defense of their country - is there anybody here that could really blame them? Really? I know there will be the pacisists who would disagree on moral and religious grounds - and I respect that. But aside from that, after what we've seen and heard from Iran, Israeli action would be hard to criticize. After all, wait too late after they've basically told them their plans for their country - and it would be irresponsible for Israel to not defend their national interests.

The "eerie silence" from Israel could very well be the quiet before the storm. No need to talk, letting the action do all the talking necessary.

It could very well happen - sooner rather than later.