Strategic Asset Or Rogue State? Israel’s Threats To Iran ‘Concern’ Pentagon – OpEd
By Mondoweiss
By Philip Weiss
More drumbeats of an Iran attack. AP is reporting that Israeli president Shimon Peres says the “international community is closer to pursuing a military solution to the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program than a diplomatic one.”
This won’t help the Israeli relationship with the U.S. Today on CNN, Fareed Zakaria deplored the “huge cost” to the U.S. of a possible Israeli attack on Iran, and Barbara Starr, who is said to be a mouthpiece for top Pentagon officials, expressed concern about it. From her online piece:
The United States has become increasingly concerned Israel could be preparing to strike Iran’s nuclear program, a senior U.S. military official told CNN on Friday.
In the past, the U.S. officials felt they had assurances from Israel that it would give warning to the United States of any attack.
“Now that doesn’t seem so ironclad,” the official said…
The official underscored long-standing U.S. military concerns about the risk of hostilities to American troops in the region, both those still in Iraq and U.S. naval forces and ground forces throughout the Persian Gulf. The official also strongly emphasized the United States has no current intention of striking Iran.
Daily Beast’s Bruce Riedel deplores the idea. Rick Perry loves it. Herman Cain thinks Israel is attacking China.
This article appeared at Tikun Olam
