US 'rejected' Israeli Iran strike

[MicroBalrog]

 US 'rejected' Israeli Iran strike

US President George W Bush told Israel's prime minister in May that the US would not back an attack on Iran, a UK newspaper has reported.

A spokesman denied Ehud Olmert had said the words attributed to him in a working meeting with a foreign guest.

The Guardian quoted unnamed European diplomatic sources as saying Mr Olmert had used a one-to-one meeting with Mr Bush in May to raise the issue.

Israeli sees Iran's nuclear programme as its greatest threat.

Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only but has defied demands from the United Nations Security Council that it halt enriching uranium.

According to the sources quoted by the Guardian, Mr Bush turned down the proposal for an attack and said the US position was unlikely to change as long as he was in office.

Denial

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev denied the report when the Guardian put the claims to him:

   Your unnamed European source attributed words to the prime minister that were not spoken in any working meeting with foreign guests
Mark Regev
Israeli government spokesman

"The need to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is raised at every meeting between the prime minister and foreign leaders. Israel prefers a diplomatic solution to this issue but all options must remain on the table.

"Your unnamed European source attributed words to the prime minister that were not spoken in any working meeting with foreign guests."

A US National Security Council spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, said that diplomacy remained America's first course of action while all options remained on the table.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Israeli President Shimon Peres said Iran was "at the centre of violence and fanaticism" in the world.

He warned that the Tehran leadership was continuing to enrich uranium and develop long-range missiles.

In June this year, the New York Times newspaper reported that Israel had carried out an apparent rehearsal for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

More than 100 Israeli fighter jets took part in manoeuvres over the eastern Mediterranean and over Greece in the first week of June, US officials quoted by the newspaper said.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/7637550.stm

Published: 2008/09/26 11:00:42 GMT

? BBC MMVIII

[Manedwolf]

I'd heard Israel just ordered 90 more F-16s to be delivered quite soon.

It'll get taken care of.

[Standing Wolf]

The Guardian quoted unnamed European diplomatic sources...

The English have an entire newspaper devoted to guarding the prerogatives of idiocy and dishonesty. All we've got is the New York Times.

[MicroBalrog]

Iran has a weakling navy and air force.

I am far more concerned about Hizbullah than I am about Iran WRT a military confrontation. That, and the IAF messing it up.

[Manedwolf]

Oh, the air force would be a joke.

I can hear the radio calls from the IAF now.

"Scratch one MiG, scratch two, scratch three...uh, four, five...seven...fourteen...twenty...can we count later?"

[MicroBalrog]

Oh, the air force would be a joke.

I can hear the radio calls from the IAF now.

"Scratch one MiG, scratch two, scratch three...uh, four, five...seven...fourteen...twenty...can we count later?"

Unless of course we give the pilots a hand-drawn map again...

[Gewehr98]

Israel can take care of business without us.

They've been practicing seriously low-level refueling (FL100 or lower) with their KC-707 fleet for quite a while now, in anticipation of a covert strike on an unnamed target to the east of them...



They've already asked us if we'd help in a SAR situation, once they initiated the strike.  So far, we've said "No", at least through the more visible channels.   

[ctdonath]

Those of us following the news all too often fail to note that a great deal happens un- or mis-reported.

[seeker_two]

Unless of course we give the pilots a hand-drawn map again...

Of course, today we have Google Maps & GPS units sold at every sporting goods store....don't think it'll be as hard as it was way back then....

They've already asked us if we'd help in a SAR situation, once they initiated the strike.  So far, we've said "No", at least through the more visible channels.  

Key phrase....I mean, if we happen to have assets moping around an area where an IDF pilot just happens to land, that's just coincidence....

[ilbob]

My take.

If BHO wins in November. IDF strikes Iranian nuclear facilities shortly thereafter due to fear BHO will take no action against Iran, leaving their security up in the air, plus he cannot be counted on to fulfill whatever security agreements are in place between Israel and US. If McCain wins, there is some chance Israel may hold off, realizing there is at least some chance McCain will deal with the problem, while there is a certainly BHO won't.

[MillCreek]

They've been practicing seriously low-level refueling (FL100 or lower) with their KC-707 fleet for quite a while now, in anticipation of a covert strike on an unnamed target to the east of them...

As our trusted local BUFF/KC/WC-135 driver, what is a typical refueling altitude?  I take it from your posting that it is usually greater than 10,000 feet?

[Gewehr98]

We usually hook up at FL 200-250.

You want "breakaway" altitude for the tanker and receiver in the event something bad happens during the refueling. 

Immediate vertical separation between both aircraft requires altitude.  When "Breakaway" is called, the tanker climbs, and the fighter/bomber/cargo/recce bird dives away.

It goes without saying that such a maneuver is done a lot easier at FL 200 than FL 100. 

Here's kind of what a Breakaway looks like from the receiving end, but in the video it's a training maneuver, vs. the urgent speed of a real Breakaway:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QR9m4wsHOA

[280plus]

I like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGMlriUTab4&feature=related

[MicroBalrog]

Of course, today we have Google Maps & GPS units sold at every sporting goods store....don't think it'll be as hard as it was way back then....

You mean, back in 2006?

[seeker_two]

Of course, today we have Google Maps & GPS units sold at every sporting goods store....don't think it'll be as hard as it was way back then....

You mean, back in 2006?

Sorry...thought you meant 1986....y'all really need a Gander Mountain....

[behindthe8ball]

US President George W Bush told Israel's prime minister...

And who says our next President won't be more visually supportive of Israel?

Seems to me that the Israelis would be wise to wait until after the election to start anything with Iran.

[The Annoyed Man]

The problem is. The Isrealies have to hit the reactor BEFORE it goes online. After it is hot there will be too much collateral damage to innocents. To hit it when it is hot will unite the Umma to act and start the wholesale use of ABC weapons in response. They believe that the reactor will go hot before January maybe even November.

Jim