Posted: 9/23/2002 4:32:49 AM EDT
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[url]http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/9/22/172006.shtml[/url] Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has given a stark warning to Washington: If Iraq attacks Israel, the Jewish state will respond in a devastating manner. NewsMax has also learned from Washington sources that Israel has candidly told the Bush administration, and through back channels the Iraqis, that if mass destruction weapons are used against Israel, Iraq can expect a devastating nuclear response. The Israeli position has Washington on edge. Earlier this week, Secretary Rumsfeld made a public plea for the Israelis not to retaliate if attacked. But the Israelis find non-response unacceptable. An Israeli strike on Iraq could widen the expected war between the U.S. and Iraq. According to a report in the New York Times on Sunday, Sharon believes that Israel's decision not to strike back at Iraq in 1991 was perceived as weakness and undermined Israel's ability to deter an enemy strike. The Israeli leader also indicated that in event of an attack, the Israeli people will demand retaliation. During the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam's mobile Scud missile launchers proved remarkably elusive and survivable, with Iraq's average launch rate of modified Scuds during the Desert Storm operation reaching about 15 launches per week. Thirty-nine of the dictator's missiles sailed toward Israeli cities – but the beleaguered democracy never retaliated. Not so this time, Sharon tells the Bush administration. The latest round of tough talk from Israel follows a recent warning by Dori Gold, an adviser to Sharon, to Iraq of devastating consequences if Saddam strikes at Israel. "Israel is not only capable of enduring a strike from Iraq, but also striking back in a due way. We have everything necessary for that, as well as full freedom of action to protect the population of this country in case Iraq dares launch a war against the international community." The U.S. Plan So far, it appears that the U.S. plan to avoid having an enraged Israel enter the fray is to ensure that the country is not hit in the first place. Aiming to improve the spotty performance of 1991, early this year Israeli and U.S. forces held a joint exercise to test defense systems that would be used to counter an Iraqi missile attack on Israel. In 1991, the U.S. dispatched Patriot missile defense batteries to Israel after it came under the Scud missile attack. The missiles were seen at the time as compensation for Israel's decision to stay out of the conflict and avoid alienating the Arab "street." Today, on the possible eve of an American attack on Iraq, Israel and the U.S. are depending on their jointly developed Arrow anti-missile system, a more sophisticated package that would provide better protection against incoming Scuds launched by Iraq. After Sept. 11, an Israeli military intelligence analysis indicated that Iraq had 11 to 15 Scud missiles aimed at Israel. In the meantime, U.S. intelligence is working in overdrive to pinpoint Scud missile launch sites in Iraq. Additionally, according to the Times, the U.S. is taking pains to assure Israel that it will receive plenty of advanced warning as to when the American attack will begin. Furthermore, according to the same report, the U.S. has lashed up a link to warn the Israeli military each time a launching is detected by over-flying spy satellites. The link will carry through to Israel's air force headquarters and on to Israel's anti-missile batteries, as well as to Israel's Home Front Command, the Israeli equivalent of the Office of Homeland Security If Iraq uses bio weapons against Israel, what do you think will happen ? Nukes ? |
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I think it depends on the effectivenes of the bio weapons used. If casualties are low, I'd expect a non nuke response; but if Saddam has something that causes massive Israeli casualties, then yes, Baghdad becoming a huge hole in the ground would not surprise me. I pray it won't come to that. |
| As long as they give us enough warning to retreat our guys out of the danger zone, assuming we have troops on the ground, I say more power to em. They have just as much right to protect themselves as any other country. Besides who is America to knock using nuclear weapons in a war. After all, we are the only country to ever use them. |
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Isreal has proven to be a state that can both fight back and restrain.. the question here is not IF they will but what will happen around the world AFTER they do.. Countrys will say that Isreal responded with to much force.. yada.. yada.. yada.. but bet they wont be targeted again for a long time.. |
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Quoted: Isreal has proven to be a state that can both fight back and restrain.. the question here is not IF they will but what will happen around the world AFTER they do.. Countrys will say that Isreal responded with to much force.. yada.. yada.. yada.. but bet they wont be targeted again for a long time.. From a Biblical perspective, Israel will do something that causes the whole world to cry out against Israel. Much more than the typical haltered we see today. I always thought Ezekiel talked about an upcoming war with Syria, where they turn Damascus into a heap of rubble. I always thought of this as a Nuke attack. Maybe they attack Iraq and the Syrians join in the war and it still happens. Who knows ? Israel and Syria still have a future war according to prophesy. |
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The "Islamic street" perceives restraint in the face of attack as weakness. Look at our history with Islamist terrorism: US Ambassador to the Sudan murdered: No response US embassy in Tehran invaded; 53 Americans kidnapped and held for 444 days: No response Bombing of US embassy, Beirut: No response Bombing of Marine barracks, Beirut: No response Murder of Leon Klinghoffer on cruise ship Achille Lauro: No response TWA Flt 847 Hijacking/Torture-murder of SW2 Robert Stethem: No response Kidnapping, torture and murder of CIA Beirut Chief of Station William Buckley: No response Kidnapping, torture and murder of Marine Colonel William Higgins: No response Attempted assassination of former President Bush by Iraqi agents: No response Bombing of Khobar Towers, killing 19 Americans and wounding 372: No response 1993 bombing of World Trade Center: No response Bombing of USS Cole, killing 17 Americans: No response Bombing of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania: No response Repeatedly taking these kinds of hits without striking back in any significant way illustrated to our enemies the complacency and softness of America, or at least of our leaders. This served to encourage our enemies to strike us again and again, secure in the knowledge that they had nothing to fear. What incentive does Israel have to tolerate such attacks? None at all. They have the means and willingness to use overwhelming force in response to attacks. Being seen as reasonable will not cause Islamist terrorists and terrorist regimes to bypass a nation as a target. Being seen as an indomitable and implacable foe is the only thing that will give them pause. |
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Quoted: And I'll bet a cold drink that China will use that attention diversion as a chance to pounce on Tiawan. This is also what I've been thinking, but I think we'd let Taiwan defend themselves. They didn't like the presence of our warships after the last conflict. Both sides view it as a domestic dispute. Jarhead, your last statement couldn't be more on the money. I hope Iraq is flattened even more by an Israeli response. I also hope Syria is wiped clean of any inhabitants. That's another nation of terrorists. More so than Iran and I'm surprised they weren't named by Bush in the Axis of Evil speech. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Retaliation is the only thing Sharon is good at. Retaliation is the only thing Saddam Hussein understands. And its the only thing the muslims understand. Just goes to show their cowardly mind set. They only attack things they think will get no response to. But if you bitch slap them real hard they surrender. Kinda like the French! I look forward to watching football and eating turkey dinner this year for Thanksgiving while seeing news briefs showing those Iraqi pussies surrendering. |
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Actually, if Saddam did use WMDs against Israel we would probably do what we did in the last war. Retaliate ourselves on Israels behalf. Use of WMDs by Iraq on anyone in that hemisphere would be regarded as a act of war against the US, and the policy of assured destruction still stands as our policy regarding nuclear weapons. A couple B2's would quickly visit and drop a few B61's set on Low. |
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Perhaps this is what ArmdLbrl is saying, but I think it would be wise for GW to adopt the same attitude and policy that JFK held during the Cuban Missile Crisis: Any attack launched from Iraq against Israel will be considered a full-scale attack against the United States, which will generate a retaliation in kind. Then, and this is VERY important, BE READY TO DO IT FOR REAL! |
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Quoted: Perhaps this is what ArmdLbrl is saying, but I think it would be wise for GW to adopt the same attitude and policy that JFK held during the Cuban Missile Crisis: Any attack launched from Iraq against Israel will be considered a full-scale attack against the United States, which will generate a retaliation in kind. Then, and this is VERY important, BE READY TO DO IT FOR REAL! That is exactly what I ment. As far as I know this was the position George Sr. had during the Gulf War I. No one has recinded it-but no one has repeated it either. It isn't much of a streatch even without it being repeated because, ostensibly, all the countries in the region except Iran and Syria are our allies-even if they don't act like it very often. |
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Jarhead_22 Just a quick corrective note. Attempted assassination of former President Bush by Iraqi agents: No response Uh, I seem to remember, that we launched a Cruise Missle attack agaist an Iraqi Intel HQ and a Nuclear Weapons production facility and that one of the Cruise's missed it's target and hit the Al Rashid hotel. In responce to this item. |
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let's see.... Israel nukes Iraq.... AR15? check. 45 30 rounders, and 1 C-Mag? check. 10,000 rounds of military green-tips? check. MRE'S? check. kevlar helmet and OTV armor with SAPI plates? check. most of life savings rolled up in quarters and singles? check. NON-pick-up 4x4? check. hold on to your underwear, boys and girls, this one's gonna be for real, and unlike your platter-handed opinions, this one's gonna end up in our back-yards! (again!) |
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Quoted: Quoted: Bombing of Marine barracks, Beirut: No response As I recall this was the event that caused the US to strike Libya, killing Gaddafi's infant daughter among destroying lots of Libyan aircraft. Gaddafi never pulled anything against the US again. Actually, it was soon after muslims bombed a disco club in Germany killing several U.S. Soldiers. We haven't heard from Khadafi for a while. Does he still have terrorist training camps in Libya? U.S. Marines may have to march on Tripoli again. |
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Quoted: Does Israel have nuclear equipped Tomahawks or something? They've got medium range ballistic missiles, bombs, and even a SLBM system (sub-launched ballistic missiles). The estimate is that they have something like 200-400 warheads in their strategic arsenal. You need a deterrent like that when a handful of thermonuclear bombs or a lot of chemical weapons can wipe out your entire country. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Bombing of Marine barracks, Beirut: No response As I recall this was the event that caused the US to strike Libya, killing Gaddafi's infant daughter among destroying lots of Libyan aircraft. Gaddafi never pulled anything against the US again. Actually, it was soon after muslims bombed a disco club in Germany killing several U.S. Soldiers. We haven't heard from Khadafi for a while. Does he still have terrorist training camps in Libya? U.S. Marines may have to march on Tripoli again. Methos is correct, which is why I didn't include the German disco bombing in my list of terrorist incidents to which the US had no response. Quoted: Jarhead_22 Just a quick corrective note. Attempted assassination of former President Bush by Iraqi agents: No response Uh, I seem to remember, that we launched a Cruise Missle attack agaist an Iraqi Intel HQ and a Nuclear Weapons production facility and that one of the Cruise's missed it's target and hit the Al Rashid hotel. In responce to this item. An ineffective response is just as bad as no response at all. Maybe worse, actually. |
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Quoted: Bombing of Marine barracks, Beirut: No response As I recall this was the event that caused the US to strike Libya, killing Gaddafi's infant daughter among destroying lots of Libyan aircraft. Gaddafi never pulled anything against the US again. Actually, it was soon after muslims bombed a disco club in Germany killing several U.S. Soldiers. There was so many Islamic terrorist attacks in the 1980s that it's hard to keep track of them all We haven't heard from Khadafi for a while. Does he still have terrorist training camps in Libya? U.S. Marines may have to march on Tripoli again. We've been hearing from him on the diplomatic front lately, he's wanting to be friends with the US. He publicly stated that the "US has the right to retaliate" (thanks for the approval oh dear Revolutionary Leader) and has been speaking about oil lately. It sounds as though his oilfields need fixing/upgrading. He's even been talking about paying the families of the people his terrorists killed in the Lockerbie bombing. As soon as Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, Gaddafi was shoved off the map, and has remained there since. I don't think we'll have any more trouble from him again. |
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I gotta disagree with people saying that if you are a capable foe or ruthless in the way you fight that terrorists will back down. Look at Chechnya, chechen muslims started some shit and Russia kicked the hell out of them. Russia played just as dirty as they could, took no prisoners, napalmed loads of people, threw whole villages into concentration camps, you name it. But Chechen muslims fought even dirtier, bombed apt complexes, tortured/murdered civilians and POWs. We didn't do much of anything when we were attacked before and they still hit us, Russia and Israel fight back fairly hard when attacked and they still get hit too. Which leads me to think that muslim extremists don't care whether you are weak or strong, or whether you will fight back or not. They are so into their religion of killing 'infidels' that they just don't give a damn either way and would rather be martyrs. The only real solution other than them to stop being terrorist assholes is large scale WMD retaliation and that would make for one ugly scene. But on the other hand, Ghadaffi did stfu nicely after we hit him, but i think he's the exception. |
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Quoted: Kinda like the French! Wrong. You only need to give the French a dirty look to make them surrender. Hee hee.... reminds me of a couple French jokes... The great thing about collecting French WWII firearms is that they have never been fired, and have only been dropped once. Do you know why the French planted trees along the Champs-Elysees? So the Germans could march in the shade. [devil] Donning kevlar now.... [bobs and weaves] Hahahahahahahaha.... |
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Quoted: Quoted: Does Israel have nuclear equipped Tomahawks or something? They've got medium range ballistic missiles, bombs, and even a SLBM system (sub-launched ballistic missiles). The estimate is that they have something like 200-400 warheads in their strategic arsenal. You need a deterrent like that when a handful of thermonuclear bombs or a lot of chemical weapons can wipe out your entire country. Pretty admirable arsenal. |