Panetta: Israel could attack Iran as early as April

**Al B. Sure!** · February 4, 2012, 03:50

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/worl...sEnabled=false

War hysteria continues to grip the Middle East, as heightened anxieties over Iran's surreptitious nuclear program have the U.S. Defense Secretary on edge.

Leon Panetta said Thursday that Israel could launch attacks against Iran as early as April or May in effort to stop Tehran from building a nuclear bomb.

Panetta made the initial remarks to Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, who said Israelis are worried the Iranians have enough enriched uranium and only the U.S. could stop them militarily.

When asked in Brussels if he disputed the report, Panetta said, "No I'm just commenting," adding "What I think and what I view, I consider that to be an area that belongs to me and nobody else." He noted the U.S. has "indicated our concerns."

Panetta's comments come after Israel issued a harsh warning that time was running out to stop Iran's ambitious nuclear program.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said at a news conference that the country should confront Iran to keep its nuclear program from continuing to grow and argued that foreign governments would support such an attack.

And Yoram Cohen, head of Israeli security agency Shin Bet, added fuel to the fire, insisting Iranian agents were attempting to attack Israeli targets in retaliation for the assassination of four Iranian nuclear scientists since November 2010.

Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei chimed in on Friday, promising to help any nation or group that wants to confront Israel and vowed to continue its nuclear program.

He called Israel a "cancerous tumor that should be cut and will be cut," blasting Western-backed oil sanctions and warning the U.S. will be defeated if Washington decides to use military force to halt the country's program.

A statement by Intelligence Director James Clapper, delivered to the Senate earlier this week, said U.S. intelligence agencies to do not think Iran is currently developing nuclear weapons, but Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is keeping the option open.

"We do not know, however, if Iran will eventually decide to build nuclear weapons," Clapper's report said.

**BeBro** · February 4, 2012, 04:04

Yeah, read about it too. Hard to say if it's more verbal sabre rattling to generate political pressure, or if they are serious. From what I read I doubt that just doing one airstrike like against Iraq backin the days will end their nuke ambitions.

Then they'd need to have a protracted air campaign (and question is if Israel alone has the resources for that, and it may still not be achieve something decisive, since Iran continues to move the nuke stuff underground), and it's hard to say what other consequences there might be in the ME, or if the US will just stand by or jump in.

So this sounds all quite half-assed, otoh they might do it nonetheless, reason often doesn't stop anyone.....

**Hauldren Collider** · February 4, 2012, 04:07

I have a feeling Israel can pull it off. The managed to get Osiraq and they have long range drone bombers. If we give them some of our bunker buster bombs, I'd bet that they could take those sites out.

**Al B. Sure!** · February 4, 2012, 04:12

Originally Posted by Hauldren Collider

I have a feeling Israel can pull it off. The managed to get Osiraq and they have long range drone bombers. If we give them some of our bunker buster bombs, I'd bet that they could take those sites out.

You should sign up for ROTC when the US gets dragged into the war

**BeBro** · February 4, 2012, 04:33

Rotc? Return of the Cith??

**Al B. Sure!** · February 4, 2012, 04:35

Originally Posted by BeBro

Rotc? Return of the Cith??

Reserve Officers' Training Corps

The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) is a college-based program for training commissioned officers of the United States armed forces.

**Hauldren Collider** · February 4, 2012, 12:53

Originally Posted by Al B. Sure!

You should sign up for ROTC when the US gets dragged into the war

There's not gonna be a war. There's going to be an air campaign which flattens the relevant Iranian military bases.

**PLATO** · February 4, 2012, 13:06

I disagree. I think Iran feels that it is ready. If Israel attacks (and they will as Iran will goad them into it), then the Iranians will unleash mayhem around the world. They Ayatollahs remember the lesson of the Iraq war well...when domestic problems become overwhelming, get in a good war to rally the people. If the Iranians strike the U.S. (and they have said they will), then it will be hard for us not to become involved. The only question is if we will have boots on the ground or just planes in the sky and that will depend on what and how hard they hit the U.S.

With the rhetoric of the last week, it is hard not to say that war looks inevitable. Here is hoping that the leaders in the West, Iran, and Israel will be able to rise above such a solution and find a way to living peacefully together.

**Barnabas** · February 4, 2012, 13:50

Could Iran get half a millions men with shot guns across Iraq?

**onodera** · February 4, 2012, 14:07

Why would they attack the nuclear facilities instead of the president and the guardian council? You should treat the illness, not the symptoms. Or is it an unspoken rule of warfare that country leaders are off-limits?

**regexcellent** · February 4, 2012, 14:07

Originally Posted by Hauldren Collider

I have a feeling Israel can pull it off. The managed to get Osiraq and they have long range drone bombers. If we give them some of our bunker buster bombs, I'd bet that they could take those sites out.

Israel's long-range drones are for reconnaissance, not attack or bombing missions. The attack would be carried out with F-16s as the strike aircraft, F-15s as the fighter escort, and Israel's entire tanker fleet getting them there.

They've drilled the entire exercise at least once, possibly more, over the Med. It's definitely doable. The question is weather the bombs will make a dent against the seriously hardened targets.

**regexcellent** · February 4, 2012, 14:09

Originally Posted by Al B. Sure!

You should sign up for ROTC when the US gets dragged into the war

Yes, and he'd be commissioned what, four years from now? Well after it's over.

**Al B. Sure!** · February 4, 2012, 14:13

Originally Posted by regexcellent

Yes, and he'd be commissioned what, four years from now? Well after it's over.

Yeah we were done with Iraq after a year and Afghanistan after a year and a half, right?

**Af Ra Kam** · February 4, 2012, 14:18

Once again the ordained bringer of change preemptively given the Noble Peace Prize is on his way to another slaughter. These tall tales perpetrated by the West will lead to more bloodshed. Tales of civilian slaughter in Benghazi were Obama's WMD to oust Gadaffi and so it begins with Iran. There will be so much more such story telling in the coming weeks.

Those who want peace must defend Iran and condemn the American government and its Israeli cronies when it launches its violence. Such actions will determine who is civilized and who is not. This Amerikkkan government is definitely uncivilized and we will see how many people also fit that description.

**regexcellent** · February 4, 2012, 14:31

Thanks Af Ra Kam, you're funny. I laughed.

**BeBro** · February 4, 2012, 14:36

Originally Posted by onodera

Why would they attack the nuclear facilities instead of the president and the guardian council? You should treat the illness, not the symptoms. Or is it an unspoken rule of warfare that country leaders are off-limits?

That would be a good idea if there were only one or a maybe handful of irreplacable leaders to kill to get a policy change. What if they just get other leaders who do more of the same? Those don't seem to be in short supply...

**DinoDoc** · February 4, 2012, 14:40

You can stop worrying Al. Panetta killed the op if it were real by blabbing about it in public.

**gribbler** · February 4, 2012, 14:57

Originally Posted by DinoDoc

You can stop worrying Al. Panetta killed the op if it were real by blabbing about it in public.

Does that make Panetta a liar?

**dannubis** · February 4, 2012, 18:08

Originally Posted by DinoDoc

You can stop worrying Al. Panetta killed the op if it were real by blabbing about it in public.

Don't know. That is what they want everybody to think...

**SlowwHand** · February 4, 2012, 18:18

Leon Panetta is one man that I pay attention to when he speaks. He's the only one that said "Go" about getting Bin Laden. The only one with no doubts about him being there and would say it.

**Zevico** · February 4, 2012, 20:36

Notice the word "could." The decision hasn't been made. There is no evidence to suggest that the Israelis have made a decision to strike Iran or not.

For perspectives pro and contra see e.g. Herzilya Conference 2012 speeches, and working papers (http://www.herzliyaconference.org/eng/). Edit: can't find the speeches there actually but possibly on Jpost.

See also Barry Rubin's article at PJMedia on the subject (http://pjmedia.com/barryrubin/2012/0...et-used-to-it/)

**Dr Strangelove** · February 4, 2012, 23:32

I wonder, if the Saudis noticed a large air fleet originating from Israel skirting around their country as it made it's way east towards Iran, would they notify the Iranians of the impending attack?

**Al B. Sure!** · February 4, 2012, 23:36

Originally Posted by Dr Strangelove

I wonder, if the Saudis noticed a large air fleet originating from Israel skirting around their country as it made it's way east towards Iran, would they notify the Iranians of the impending attack?

I don't think so. The Saudis are no fans of the Iranians.

**PLATO** · February 4, 2012, 23:38

IF the Saudi's knew Israel would be successful, they would probably let them use their airspace and then publically condem them for it. No love lost at all between the Saudis and the Iranians.

**DinoDoc** · February 4, 2012, 23:41

Why get in the way of two people you hate about to attack each other?

**Braindead** · February 5, 2012, 00:01

Originally Posted by regexcellent

Israel's long-range drones are for reconnaissance, not attack or bombing missions. The attack would be carried out with F-16s as the strike aircraft, F-15s as the fighter escort, and Israel's entire tanker fleet getting them there.

They've drilled the entire exercise at least once, possibly more, over the Med. It's definitely doable. The question is weather the bombs will make a dent against the seriously hardened targets.

I vaguely recall reading somewhere that Iranian enrichment facilities near Qom may be too deep for Israeli bombs and perhaps for American bombs. I vaguely recall something about the Americans may be working on a bigger and better bunker busting bomb, just in case they decide to bomb the Iranian facilities themselves.

**SlowwHand** · February 5, 2012, 00:08

The U.S. is developing a bigger and better bunker buster for that very reason.

**Aeson** · February 5, 2012, 00:12

Originally Posted by DinoDoc

Why get in the way of two people you hate about to attack each other?

To help out the underdog just enough to make it bloodier overall...

**DinoDoc** · February 5, 2012, 00:50

Originally Posted by Aeson

To help out the underdog just enough to make it bloodier overall...

That would be the Israelis in this case given the hardened nature of the program.

**Aeson** · February 5, 2012, 02:20

Originally Posted by DinoDoc

That would be the Israelis in this case given the hardened nature of the program.

Very doubtful that in an air strike the Israelis would take more damage than Iran. Israel already has nukes, Iran doesn't. If it's an all out war the US is Israel's dog and we'll finish whatever mess they started. So Iran is in all ways the underdog here.