Israeli Politician Threatens Iran

[Sanat-e-naft]

JERUSALEM (CNN)- An Israeli Cabinet member said the Jewish state "will attack" Iran if it doesn't halt its efforts to develop nuclear weaponry, according to a newspaper report Friday.

"If Iran continues its program to develop nuclear weapons, we will attack it," Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz told Yediot Ahronot, Israel's largest mass-circulation daily. "The window of opportunity has closed. The sanctions are not effective. There will be no alternative but to attack Iran in order to stop the Iranian nuclear program."
Mofaz's threat is one of the most explicit made against the Islamic Republic of Iran by a member of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Cabinet.

It has significant political resonance in Israel amid talk that Mofaz has begun jockeying to replace Olmert, who is embroiled in a corruption probe, as the ruling Kadima Party's leader and prime minister.

At least one Cabinet member, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, has called for Olmert to step down.
Mofaz, Israel's transport and road safety minister, is the main Israeli liaison with the United States on strategic issues, and his views on security have great import. He was born in Iran in 1948 and is a former defense minister, former armed forces chief and a member of Israel's Security Cabinet.

Mofaz was reiterating a prevailing view among Kadima officials and other Israeli politicians that international sanctions targeting Iran and its nuclear program aren't working. The West believes Iran's aim is to build nuclear weapons, while Iran says it is developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Asked how he responds to the harsh statements of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Rome that Israel should be wiped off the map, Mofaz said: "He will disappear before Israel does."

Yediot Ahronot on Friday published excerpts of an interview with Mofaz that is to appear in the paper's Sunday holiday edition. The Jewish holiday of Shavuot is ushered in that evening.

Mofaz's remarks come a couple of days after Olmert said at a pro-Israeli conference in the United States that the "Iranian threat must be stopped by all possible means."

"Israel and the United States have long understood the acute danger embodied in a nuclear Iran, and are working closely in a concerted, coordinated effort to prevent Iran from becoming nuclear. Israel will not tolerate the possibility of a nuclear Iran, and neither should any other country in the free world," Olmert said to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee convention.

In April, Israeli Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said that "an Iranian attack will lead to a harsh retaliation by Israel, which will lead to the destruction of the Iranian nation."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/06/06/israel.iran/index.html

[Mr.Flint]

^fail at posting.
fix the bloody tags.

[Sanat-e-naft]

Fixed. Enjoy.

[Mr.Flint]

You probably should have titled it as "Israeli politician responds to Iranian threats"

[Peris]

what is the Israeli position towards nukes if for example Egypt would start a nuclear program or Iran if was a non Islamic state not hostile to Israel?

[jokuvaan]

are working closely in a concerted, coordinated effort
Meaning USA will do the Iran thing and Israel will be very busy with Lebanon and maybe Syria too.

But who is going to join USA's effort, UK, France?

[Moledet]

what is the Israeli position towards nukes if for example Egypt would start a nuclear program or Iran if was a non Islamic state not hostile to Israel?
Well, if it wasn't threatening us than we'd ofcourse be against it through sanctions and the UN though there would be no military option considered.
Much like Greece is doing with Iran, it helps with the sanctions and in the UN and provides us with training ground but it won't take any active part.

If it was Singapore we'd probably not be against it.

[Peris]

Well, if it wasn't threatening us than we'd ofcourse be against it through sanctions and the UN though there would be no military option considered..



why the sanctions if Iran was a neutral or friendly country?

[Moledet]

why the sanctions if Iran was a neutral or friendly country?
It wasn't, since the 80s it turned to an enemy that attacked us and Jewish targets through proxies.
Before that during the Shah we did propose them nuclear energy (was Shimon Peres idea) but they chose Germany or France (can't remember).

[Mordecai]

...But who is going to join USA's effort...France?

Why is it that I find that funny...

[...WARLORD...]

Its about Time!
Iran has got it coming for them! :-*$

[Peris]

Much like Greece is doing with Iran, it helps with the sanctions and in the UN and provides us with training ground but it won't take any active part.
.


don't think the HAF and IAF joint training is oriented against Iran.:)
i don't think Israel will use IAF to attack Iran but i rather predict a submarine missile hit.

[bigvig]

Its about Time!
Iran has got it coming for them! :-*$

Eagerly awaiting. :hug:

[dava]

Well, (partly) thank your Israeli friends for the 11$ increase in oil price today :D

[sinophile]

what is the Israeli position towards nukes if for example Egypt would start a nuclear program or Iran if was a non Islamic state not hostile to Israel?

The question is not Islam, or any radical flavor thereof. Only one question matters: Can the regime keep the technology and the weapons under absolute lock and key that prevents anything but retaliatory use?

Nothing else matters. Nothing.

[WarDancer]

Well, (partly) thank your Israeli friends for the 11$ increase in oil price today :D

"Blame the Jews" argument doesnt work anymore buddy!!:bash:

[Flagg]

"Blame the Jews" argument doesnt work anymore buddy!!:bash:

Except when true...no offense....but the reason for the big bump in price today is due to the aggressive speech by Israel's Deputy PM which spooked the energy market

Please don't pull out the "he's rascist" holy hand grenade unless truly warranted

[Flagg]

"...we will attack it," Deputy Prime Minister

"The window of opportunity has closed...."

"The sanctions are not effective...."

"There will be no alternative but to attack..."

Carefully worded and crystal clear from current Israeli 2IC

[Calanen]

"...we will attack it," Deputy Prime Minister

"The window of opportunity has closed...."

"The sanctions are not effective...."

"There will be no alternative but to attack..."

Carefully worded and crystal clear from current Israeli 2IC

But it has been preceded by speech after speech by the Iranian President that he would wipe out Israel, destroy it, etc. In fact, he just made another one about a week ago, which perhaps this Israeli speech is in response too.

[Sabzweb]

Carefully worded and crystal clear from current Israeli 2IC
You sure Mofaz is Israeli 2IC?

[Snoshi]

I am actually happy that he said it.. Last time it made Iran shut up for a while.

[Moledet]

You sure Mofaz is Israeli 2IC?
He's not, being the deputy PM only means he gets to replace the PM if he can no longer stay in his job. Mofaz is the transportation minister, he doesn't have more power than any other minister.

[Flagg]

He's not, being the deputy PM only means he gets to replace the PM if he can no longer stay in his job. Mofaz is the transportation minister, he doesn't have more power than any other minister.

Ahhhhh...cheers for setting me straight

[Flagg]

But it has been preceded by speech after speech by the Iranian President that he would wipe out Israel, destroy it, etc. In fact, he just made another one about a week ago, which perhaps this Israeli speech is in response too.

Agreed.......but the Israeli side shows a clear, considered, escalation in language

A diplomatic version of "load!", "action!", "instant!", "ready!", "aim!", "fire!"

[Snoshi]

Agreed.......but the Israeli side shows a clear, considered, escalation in language

A diplomatic version of "load!", "action!", "instant!", "ready!", "aim!", "fire!"

Thats because
1. Sanctions are ineffective
2. Iran is still hiding info regarding their nuclear program
3. Iran is still enriching uranium

[Moledet]

Ahhhhh...cheers for setting me straight
Well, you weren't that far off.
The general attorney might recommend filing a complaint against the PM in the months to come and then he will be forced to resign and Mofaz will be the PM until the elections.
But on the other hand, unless there's a clear case the DA will close it, he doesn't feel like getting slammed by the court (judges can be pretty harsh, they won't curse him but will say that he's an amateur, irresponsible, on a power-trip, etc...) and fired.

[Flagg]

Thats because
1. Sanctions are ineffective
2. Iran is still hiding info regarding their nuclear program
3. Iran is still enriching uranium

Look sunshine....you can stop wasting your time trying to "educate" me.......as to the why....I know all about the why.

I'm not some blind and stupid lemming so please stop....and your credibility and bias is suspect considering your cavalier and amateurish comments on oil market response to this crisis.

Most people lack the ability to read between the lines of MSM messages from high level diplomats....especially when trying to interpret an escalating crisis.

[Flagg]

Well, you weren't that far off.
The general attorney might recommend filing a complaint against the PM in the months to come and then he will be forced to resign and Mofaz will be the PM until the elections.
But on the other hand, unless there's a clear case the DA will close it, he doesn't feel like getting slammed by the court (judges can be pretty harsh, they won't curse him but will say that he's an amateur, irresponsible, on a power-trip, etc...) and fired.

Cheers......

When's the next Israeli election?

[Moledet]

Cheers......

When's the next Israeli election?
It depends, if the Labour party resigns from the government (looks like they want to) the elections will be around November this year.

[sosed]

I think this become the run for time. Iran know, Israel and US will attack them soon, so they will speed up their building of nuclear weapons and defense and on the other hand Israel and US will have to speed up attack prior Iran get them. Who will be the first to reach its goals?

[Calanen]

Agreed.......but the Israeli side shows a clear, considered, escalation in language

A diplomatic version of "load!", "action!", "instant!", "ready!", "aim!", "fire!"

But what do you do? Keep copping hits and saying nothing back? I think Israel is saying, you can every few days say, you are going to destroy our country, but know this, keep building a bomb, and we will blow your reactor away. Like with Syria. And that's fair enough. I'd be expecting Australia to say the same to any place that was saying they were going to blow us away.

[LRPV]

Except when true...no offense....but the reason for the big bump in price today is due to the aggressive speech by Israel's Deputy PM which spooked the energy market

Please don't pull out the "he's rascist" holy hand grenade unless truly warranted

Do we forget what has been coming out of Iran in recent YEARS?

Holy hand grenade my arse. However it was a nice turn of phrase.

[LRPV]

Agreed.......but the Israeli side shows a clear, considered, escalation in language

A diplomatic version of "load!", "action!", "instant!", "ready!", "aim!", "fire!"


What's Kiwi for Huh? "Israel should be wiped off the map"...this tame language is acceptable but you pull the "Holy" card when it suits you? You brought in religion...

[Orbiter]

but the reason for the big bump in price today is due to the aggressive speech by Israel's Deputy PM which spooked the energy market


only partially true.
The increase of oil prices is mainly due to US Dollar weakness (lost about 2% of value against other major currencies) on Friday after release of NFP (Non-Farm Payroll ) report stating that unemployment rate in US climbed from 5.0% to 5.5% (!!!!!!). When financial markets loose confidence in USD, investors are running to commodity markets. This is very common inter-market effect.
here is more reading regarding the reasons of high oil prices.
http://www.*******.com/article/GCA-Oil/idUSREE06478120080607
with all my respect i have for the israeli ministers, they are not in position to affect financial or commodity markets in that magnitude. roflroflrofl
even if speeches of that kind produce any effect, they are reflected as very short term price spikes. In long term prices are set according the demand and offer on the market.

[Flagg]

But what do you do? Keep copping hits and saying nothing back? I think Israel is saying, you can every few days say, you are going to destroy our country, but know this, keep building a bomb, and we will blow your reactor away. Like with Syria. And that's fair enough. I'd be expecting Australia to say the same to any place that was saying they were going to blow us away.

the point I was trying to make is that the signals coming from Israel are clear, concise,and consistent escalation.....like a traffic light or a rocket countdown to zero

I think you've misinterpreted my post as somehow being anti-israel regarding this crisis

[dava]

here is more reading regarding the reasons of high oil prices.
http://www.*******.com/article/GCA-O...06478120080607
with all my respect i have for the israeli ministers, they are not in position to affect financial or commodity markets in that magnitude.
even if speeches of that kind produce any effect, they are reflected as very short term price spikes. In long term prices are set according the demand and offer on the market.

Well, the article points out that the israeli statements do contribute to the rally of oilprice yesterday.
And thats what i was talking about, the recent spike in oil (yesterday). Is this shortterm? Yes.
And its not about the israeli ministers themselves, its about the potential impact on security in that region. That does have its effect on oil prices. (just stating the obvious).
Iran has less impact due to the frequent talking out of their asses. Noone takes them really serious, while an isreali minister has a lot more credibility.

Why would investors change to an oil-denominated commodity anyway? Wouldnt it be smarter to invest in other parts of the world? The dollar decline will that way reinforce your investment (as an american)

[kahn267]

The world will blame Israel for whatever happens - they push oil prices up and it makes the world condemn Israel - even though Israel doesnt own a drop of it.

The world also doesnt understand that Iran's politicians speak the same fascist speak of the 1930s and 40s in Germany. To openly state what Iran has been towards Israel for the past years is messing with the minds of the Israeli people. The country of Israel itself was established post Holocaust, with the mindset that the Jewish people will have a land of their own once more and that the Holocaust and other oppressive periods of history will never happen to the same people again. Today Adhmedinejad is like a modern Hitler (by his vision and thoughts) and the amount of words and acts that Israel has allowed to be said and done from that man and his predeccessors, without repurcussion shows pure patience. The difference between what happened shortly before the Holocaust and now is that the Jewish people now have their own army to defend themselves from it happening again. And with history in the minds and genes of those defending the country of Israel, one can only imagine it would be like releasing the lion from its cage. I can only hope that the future does not require such a route, but I can only hope that if it does, true justice is delivered in its entirety.

[Flagg]

only partially true.
The increase of oil prices is mainly due to US Dollar weakness (lost about 2% of value against other major currencies) on Friday after release of NFP (Non-Farm Payroll ) report stating that unemployment rate in US climbed from 5.0% to 5.5% (!!!!!!). When financial markets loose confidence in USD, investors are running to commodity markets. This is very common inter-market effect.
here is more reading regarding the reasons of high oil prices.
http://www.*******.com/article/GCA-Oil/idUSREE06478120080607
with all my respect i have for the israeli ministers, they are not in position to affect financial or commodity markets in that magnitude. roflroflrofl
even if speeches of that kind produce any effect, they are reflected as very short term price spikes. In long term prices are set according the demand and offer on the market.

Read my other recent posts on this topic....I've been screaming dollar inflation and dollar debasement for a long time and believe the majority of commodity price increases is due to that fact....it's in my old and new post history here.

With all due respect Israeli cabinet ministers ARE in a position to affect financial and commodity markets........because of the escalating Israel/Iran crisis, very hawkish language, and the fact Israel could turn the entire region into a self-lit parking lot in minutes if required....oil price risk premium is rising

USD 5 day charts against major currencies and commodity producing currencies show no proof of having "lost about 2% of value against other major currencies" it lost a bit against Euro and Swiss Franc.....big deal...it climbed big against Loonie and Kiwi commodity currency bellweathers...it did nothing against yen and sterling...your point is moot and misleading

[Flagg]

Do we forget what has been coming out of Iran in recent YEARS?

Holy hand grenade my arse. However it was a nice turn of phrase.

It was in response to the unnecessary and irrelevant "blame the jew" race card being whipped out.

[Flagg]

What's Kiwi for Huh? "Israel should be wiped off the map"...this tame language is acceptable but you pull the "Holy" card when it suits you? You brought in religion...

I didn't "bring in religion", I brought in a reference to a Monty Python movie scene to de-escalate a race card being pulled inappropriately.

Where exactly did I state or imply "Israel should be wiped off the map" is acceptable?

[Orbiter]

USD 5 day charts against major currencies and commodity producing currencies show no proof of having "lost about 2% of value against other major currencies" it lost a bit against Euro and Swiss Franc.....big deal...it climbed big against Loonie and Kiwi commodity currency bellweathers...it did nothing against yen and sterling...your point is moot and misleading
look at friday chart please p-) when oil price soared.
usdcfh chart attached.

[Calanen]

Today Adhmedinejad is like a modern Hitler (by his vision and thoughts) and the amount of words and acts that Israel has allowed to be said and done from that man and his predeccessors, without repurcussion shows pure patience.


Except not nearly as politically skillful. Adhmeninejad comes off like an idiot whenever he opens his mouth. He could skillfully poke holes in Israel's and the USA's foreign policy if he wanted to - but he doesn't - he just uses schoolyard bullyboy rhetoric.

[Flagg]

Well, the article points out that the israeli statements do contribute to the rally of oilprice yesterday.
And thats what i was talking about, the recent spike in oil (yesterday). Is this shortterm? Yes.
And its not about the israeli ministers themselves, its about the potential impact on security in that region. That does have its effect on oil prices. (just stating the obvious).
Iran has less impact due to the frequent talking out of their asses. Noone takes them really serious, while an isreali minister has a lot more credibility.

Why would investors change to an oil-denominated commodity anyway? Wouldnt it be smarter to invest in other parts of the world? The dollar decline will that way reinforce your investment (as an american)

Bingo! Great post...................

"Why would investors change to an oil-denominated commodity anyway? Wouldnt it be smarter to invest in other parts of the world?"

Real estate was in a "rising tide" for about 5 years due to currency and credit debasement........same goes for commodities when you look at intentional and irresponsible currency debasement around the world.....we only notice USD more since everthing is priced in it.

Oil is like a currency......for now

[Flagg]

look at friday chart please p-) when oil price soared.

I did...same as I posted before:

down on Euro and Swiss Franc <-----flight to safety

flat Sterling, yen, and Won

UP on Loonie, Kiwi

Crude up HUGE in USD...more so in some other currencies , about the same in others, slightly lesser so in Euros and Francs

you are beating a very dead horse

[LRPV]

Where exactly did I state or imply "Israel should be wiped off the map" is acceptable?

I would have thought those words wouldn't have needed reference. They were never attributed to you. If you require a reference I'll google-fu the media releases for you.


Edit: Not worth the candle.

[Orbiter]

anyway, my point was that main reason of friday's price spikes in commodity and finantial markets was NFP report released in US. i don't claim that statement of israeli minister didn't affect oil market. that statement was totally wrong and unnecessary, i agree.

[Flagg]

anyway, my point was that main reason of friday's price spikes in commodity and finantial markets was NFP report released in US. i don't claim that statement of israeli minister didn't affect oil market. that statement was totally wrong and unnecessary, i agree.

And I agree that normally the markets don't give a rat's ass about comments from Israeli ministers....but this is a little different

[IDF_TANKER]

I don't understand what's the bloody knews about it. How this is different from the usual "Military option is the last resort in the case if Iran continues developing..."etc etc?

[Flagg]

I don't understand what's the bloody knews about it. How this is different from the usual "Military option is the last resort in the case if Iran continues developing..."etc etc?

to me this "smells" more serious...due to a number of factors:

*recent Syria raid

*recent report of training package reported that may be related

*back to back head of state visits in Israel/US

*3 squadrons of F16Is likely operational

*Add up F15I, F16I,and reasonable non-public domain indigenous efforts to extend range on legacy fleets means up to 150-200 airframes capable of strike if required.

*declining violence in Iraq and/or off MSM radar

*passive and/or possibly active assistance through air correidors in turkey & Iraq, and to speculate, possibly Saudi

*upcoming elections in both Israel and US may provide a "clean political slate" for a successful/unsuccessful strike on Iran with the global community to a limited extent...blame outgoing administration if it fails...and keep date of strike(s) apart from final election runup enough to kill it as top of mind issue and avoid serious impact on it.

Just pure speculation on my part, but I'm thinking a strike, if approved, will be prior to September and could rely a good bit on support from turkey and "benign ignorance" from Saudi.

I kinda chewed this one over thinking along the lines of not just operational/military windows of opportunity......but,in particular, political ones as well.

[IDF_TANKER]

*recent Syria raid
*declining violence in Iraq and/or off MSM radar

How you connect these two?


*passive and/or possibly active assistance through air correidors in turkey & Iraq, and to speculate, possibly SaudiWell, that's always was/will be the situation, isn't it?


Just pure speculation on my part, but I'm thinking a strike, if approved, will be prior to September and could rely a good bit on support from turkey and "benign ignorance" from Saudi.
Why September? Because of elections?

[Flagg]

How you connect these two?

Little in public domain about operation......could be training against new air defense kit, could be an escalating warning to Iran, could also be related to how/where a strike package goes into Iran....could be all or none of the above.....just a guess really.

Iraq violence in MSM has fallen completely off the radar....so my guess is real improvement here and/or no longer big news.....if there is improvement...could be a goodtime to take a withdrawal from the "karmic bank acocount" and hit iran while things are going a bit better...easier to absorb any blowback from Iranian unconventional reciprocity.

Well, that's always was/will be the situation, isn't it?

yeah.....since another forum member here shared their thoughts with me about Saudi/Iranian relations.......it's all very complex eh? Kinda like crazy teenage girls unpredictable, dangerous, and everchanging



Why September? Because of elections?

Just a stab in the dark....but a strike, if any occur, completed WELL prior to elections is my opinion as a political parameter.

I would think incoming government in both Israel/US need to be playing from the same sheet of music.....at the end of the year.....the music may be the same, but there's new musicians in the orchestra....kinda like starting from scratch ...politically....so we may be looking at a very real strike window.

again just my depreciating 0.02c

[LRPV]

Someone is tightening the reins...


Mofaz taken to task over Iran remark
Herb Keinon , THE JERUSALEM POST Jun. 7, 2008

Israeli defense and diplomatic officials, as well as the head of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency, took Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz to task over the weekend for saying that Israel will attack Iran if it continues to develop nuclear weapons.
Mofaz was quoted in Friday's Yediot Aharonot, in a promotional piece for an interview to appear on Sunday, as saying, "If Iran continues its plan to develop nuclear weapons, we will attack it. The window of opportunity has closed. The sanctions are not effective. There will be no choice but to attack Iran to stop its nuclear program."
Mofaz, in charge of strategic dialogue with the US, has for months been a key figure in the Israeli-US dialogue on this matter. His comments were highlighted in the lead headline on the front page of Friday's Yediot.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev declined to respond directly to Mofaz's statement, but indicated that it did not necessarily reflect the prime minister's thinking.
"All options must remain on the table," Regev said. "At this time we believe that what are needed are tangible steps by the international community, steps that will put pressure on the regime in Teheran."
Regev said Olmert discussed those steps during his visit last week in Washington, a visit that included a meeting that focused on Iran with US President George W. Bush.
Among the measures aimed at ratcheting up international pressure on Teheran are a ban on the export of refined petroleum products to Iran, a ban on travel by Iranian businessmen abroad, and stiffer sanctions by the international community on Iranian financial institutions.
Regev said those elements in the international community who wanted a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear problem had to "get serious" about diplomacy, because only if diplomatic steps were taken seriously did they have a chance of succeeding.
Defense officials said Mofaz's comments were harmful for Israel.
"We need to stop Iran, but not to appear that we are leading the world efforts to stop the Iranian nuclear efforts," one official said.
One government source, meanwhile, said that Mofaz's comments must be seen within the context of the political jockeying inside Kadima to replace Olmert. According to this source, Mofaz is staking out a hawkish position on a number of issues because he feels this will resonate well with Kadima voters in his competition with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. In this same vein, the official said, Mofaz only last week came out against a withdrawal from the Golan Heights as part of a peace deal with Syria.
The source said Mofaz's comments on Iran were bound to cause confusion, since they came after Olmert made clear in Washington that he thought the diplomatic efforts against Iran still needed to be allowed to run their course.
Meanwhile, Mohamed ELBaradei, the head of the IAEA, criticized Mofaz for his comments in an interview to be published Tuesday in the German magazine Der Spiegel.
"With unilateral military actions, countries are undermining international agreements, and we are at a historic turning point," ELBaradei said, referring both to Mofaz's statements and to Israel's strike on an alleged Syrian nuclear reactor in September.
The nuclear watchdog chief did not spare criticism of Teheran as well, saying Iran's leaders were sending "a message to the entire world: We can build a bomb in relatively short time." ElBaradei said the IAEA had "pressing questions" and that "the readiness on Iran's side to cooperate leaves a lot to be desired." He also said he expected "absolute transparency" from Syria as a team of nuclear inspectors heads to the suspected nuclear site later this month. He added that the IAEA would insist on visiting a number of other sites suspected to be connected to the bombed facility. Syria is reportedly resisting such demands.

[Rictor]

Well, if it wasn't threatening us than we'd ofcourse be against it through sanctions and the UN though there would be no military option considered.
Much like Greece is doing with Iran, it helps with the sanctions and in the UN and provides us with training ground but it won't take any active part.

If it was Singapore we'd probably not be against it.

So a nation's right to posses certain technologies is predicated upon their closeness to Israel?

That's an absurd view and you know it. Any sane court in the world would laugh if someone tried to present them with that arguement. The fact that Iran is being governed by a loud-mouth does not make them subject to a unique set of laws.

[Calanen]

So a nation's right to posses certain technologies is predicated upon their closeness to Israel?

That's an absurd view and you know it. Any sane court in the world would laugh if someone tried to present them with that arguement. The fact that Iran is being governed by a loud-mouth does not make them subject to a unique set of laws.

Iran doesnt have a "right" to possess anything. Iran is a member state of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Israel, is not.

What he is saying is, its only a problem for Israel because Iran keeps saying they are going to blow them up and they are next door. And that seems an eminently sensible approach to me.

I spend a lot of time in courts, and I'm not laughing.

[Rictor]

Yes, and by being a signatory to the NPT, they have certain rights as well as responsibilities. Just like all other signatories. The whole point of the NPT is to ensure that one form of nuclear technology, the kind used for energy production, can flourish, while the kind used for atomic weaponry, can be checked.

Israel has nothing to do with it. They didn't sign on the dotted line, so they are not bound. The arguement for or against India, Pakistan and Israel possessing nukes is a moral one, not a legal one, and best left for another day.

[Moledet]

So a nation's right to posses certain technologies is predicated upon their closeness to Israel?

That's an absurd view and you know it. Any sane court in the world would laugh if someone tried to present them with that arguement. The fact that Iran is being governed by a loud-mouth does not make them subject to a unique set of laws.
No, but we won't risk our soldiers for something that is non of our interest. Like with NK, it has nothing to do with us. We can oppose it through the UN, share intelligence, train foreign soldiers but that's it.

The reason I added Singapore is politics, they are an ally and a responsible nation and as such we won't aid other countries to harm them in the current political climate (if they get a nutjob to rule them like Iran than we might).

[Connaught Ranger]

Lets see, (and please feel free to correct me if I am wrong!)

Iran: a country with a leader continually on Iranian state TV and Iranian Newspapers threatening to wipe Israel of the face of the earth.

Israel: Politician makes a reply, mentions Iran could face military action because of their (Iran's) attempting to develop a Nuclear capability to match Israel.

So is that really a reason to make a thread over it??

Connaught Ranger:)

[Pars]

^^ And again this leader of Iran posseses no power to do anything militarily.

[Connaught Ranger]

neither has a lone Israeli Politician the power to commit Israeli Air assets over Iran.p-)

Connaught Ranger

[Pars]

neither has a lone Israeli Politician the power to commit Israeli Air assets over Iran.p-)

Connaught Ranger
End of discussion then :P

[NimDod]

Israel: Politician makes a reply, mentions Iran could face military action because of their (Iran's) attempting to develop a Nuclear capability to match Israel.

yeah, and he (Mofas) is just the ministaer of Transportation...
In my opinion, he's a jackass, who probebly just tried to get support in running for the leadership of his political Party.



So is that really a reason to make a thread over it??

Nope. but it was a great change to jack up the oil prices again.
I read today that the Iranians gained about 8 billion dollars by doing that.

[Kaplanr]

End of discussion then :P

So you'll knock the price back down to $50 a barrel? ;)