Bush Supports Israeli Plan For Strike On Iran: Report

Last month Seymour Hersh of the New Yorker reported that the Bush Administration has stepped up covert operations inside Iran. Now the Times of London, citing information from a senior Pentagon official, says that Bush backs an Israeli plan for a strike on that country's nuclear facilities:

President George W Bush has told the Israeli government that he may be prepared to approve a future military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities if negotiations with Tehran break down, according to a senior Pentagon official.

Despite the opposition of his own generals and widespread scepticism that America is ready to risk the military, political and economic consequences of an airborne strike on Iran, the president has given an "amber light" to an Israeli plan to attack Iran's main nuclear sites with long-range bombing sorties, the official told The Sunday Times.

"Amber means get on with your preparations, stand by for immediate attack and tell us when you're ready," the official said. But the Israelis have also been told that they can expect no help from American forces and will not be able to use US military bases in Iraq for logistical support.

Nor is it certain that Bush's amber light would ever turn to green without irrefutable evidence of lethal Iranian hostility. Tehran's test launches of medium-range ballistic missiles last week were seen in Washington as provocative and poorly judged, but both the Pentagon and the CIA concluded that they did not represent an immediate threat of attack against Israeli or US targets.

"It's really all down to the Israelis," the Pentagon official added. "This administration will not attack Iran. This has already been decided. But the president is really preoccupied with the nuclear threat against Israel and I know he doesn't believe that anything but force will deter Iran."

Read the full report here.

Comments

[dr4Will]

this is the crap that bush has been planning--he is a sick man and the Jews are there because they know America will defend them--no member of Congress should be elected who would go along with this secret plan--who will stop these mad men!

[research]

We are at war already with Iran.

the USA has sent covert operatives in to destabilize their government.

This is just the next escalation.

No one can stop it.

Congress is controlled by BushCo surveillance blackmail.

BushCo is judaeo Christian fascist directorship with Orwellian surveillance power, no habeas corpus, torture and endless war. USA military is for the the PNAC revolutionary aims of unifying judaeo Christianity and restoring it as the only great world power.

What are you going to do about it?

[MagisterLudi]

Hot coco, every night... and 1001 Arabian Fairy Tales... and 3 Xanax.... no less than 3.....

[research]

Does it help?

[FCBarca]

Aren't we all just eagerly awaiting Israel to sink us all into a greater abyss with more naked aggression?

Wake up people

[poco767b]

The separation of church and state is intended to prevent just such an event. Foreign policy being fundamentally effected by a religious view.
Israel is more than a nation to Bush, it is the land of Christ, it is the home of the Israelites and it is the central key to all eschatological prophecy. Separation is intended not just for the defense of the nation from a single religious group imposing itself politically, it is there to safeguard religion from manipulation by politicians.
The safeguard has failed.

[meanguy]

"Foreign policy being fundamentally effected by a religious view." that's a particularly appropriate description of Iran as well, a place where becoming a Christian can get you executed by the state...

[iggy06]

Israel has stolen more than 4 trillion dollars out of the Pentagon while zionist Israeli dual citizen Dov Zakhiem was in charge. Not to mention the 3.5 BILLION dollars we give Israel every year since the 1960's. Plus over 3.5 BILLION a year in our top military equipment.­..bomber jets, tanks, etc. This military equipment is used against people that throw rocks for christs sake! Talk about the real David and Goliath! And lets not forget the 100's of Jewish organizations in the US that have been caught spying and committing murders, terrorist acts, and treason. AIPAC, the JDL, ADL, SPLC, WZO, and on and on and on.

Israel is the size of New Jersey. Their population is 5 million. Yet they receive more in our tax money than any other nation on earth. More than Africa and India despite the fact that both countries are way more in need and account for over a billion people. 1/6 of the whole worlds population.

We need to cut off Israel. After all, they've broken over 40 UN resolutions. We invaded Iraq which so far has cost every American family 90,000 dollars. Israel's ecomony is in better shape than ours. Can you imagine if Tel Aviv had been flooded like New Orleans? Do you think it would still be sitting empty with billions wasted a la Halliburton? NO way in the world. Tel Aviv would've been rebuilt in record time and we Americans would've paid for every penny.

[MagisterLudi]

More than Africa and India despite the fact that both countries are way more in need"

Africa is not a country, genius.

[helonias]

and what will the price of oil be the day after and what will it do to our economy?

[Nicolaus]

Again the news media in the US 'fail' its citizens miserably.­.. Or is a it really a failure or just a cover for plans the editors would rather see happen?

Does one have to look up the London Times to find out what is going on in one's backyard, while our brave reporters are drinking at the White House trough?

Amazing! What influence these lobbies have. They can get away with instigating massive wars, death, destruction, mayhem... basically anything they want!

[mergina]

HuffPost's Pick

If Israel attacks Iran they should be on their own. The Iranian people have no beef with us, they actually like us more than their leaders. Aren't you sick of the usa sending its sons and daughters to die for israel and oil? Aren't you sick of being part of a country that has turned into a military terrorist state, going to war with whomever they damn well please. WE ARE NOT ROME. THERE IS NO ROOM ON THIS PLANET FOR AN AGGRESSOR NATION THE SIZE OF OURS. What is Israels justification or attacking Iran, their leaders words? What is their justification for destroying INNOCENT IRANIAN LIVES? DO THEY HONOUR THEIR OWN 10 COMMANDMENTS OR DID THAT DISAPPEAR INTO THE DUST WITH THEIR ARK OF THE COVENANT. BUSH MUST BE STOPPED. WE MUST NOT LET HIIM GET US INTO A WAR WITH THIS COUNTRY OF CITIZENS THAT LIKE US, BUT WILL WIND UP HATING US....IN HIS CASE...FOR OIL.

[GZLives]

Their leaders words ? How about their leader's actions. At what point do you take it seriously? When a major city of yours and hundreds of thousands are laying dead? Sorry, maybe in your fantasy world but in ours its slightly different having just had half our population murdered while all of you stood by twiddling your thumbs ...

Rockets parading year after year with banners proclaiming "Death to Israel". Crowds chanting the same message. Iran bombing a community centre in Buenos Aires. Iran sponsoring Hizbollah terrorism. Iran threatening Jewish targets all over the world. Hizbollah rhetoric expressing the hope that Jews will gather in Israel to make the job of destroying them easier. Ahmadinejad sponsoring an exhibition of anti-semitic art. Ahmadinejad sponsoring a conference of Holocaust deniers. Following Streicher who likened Jews to rats, Ahmadinejad likens Israel to bacteria. Iranian leaders, like many Muslims, claiming the Jews of Israel are not Jews for the laughable reason that, as they would have it, Jews have deserted the laws of Moses. Iranian leaders, since Khomenei, proclaiming the destruction of Israel. Ahmadinejad's devotion to the "return" of the "Hidden Imam" at the end of days who will lead the Muslims to victory against the Jews. In word and deed it's crystal clear that Ahmadinejad wants to finish the job that Hitler started. What is the excuse of those posting their hatred of Israel? Are they blind to the facts or are they victims of Ahmadinejad's mindgames? Israel can't afford to be.

[cycledoc]

Agree with most comments. However, it's not only AIPAC that's a problem. The wingnut religionists who think the rapture is coming are full bore supporters of Israeli aggressiveness as well.

[Destin]

I agree with your comment, but I would like to expand upon it. The smartest person in the world I've heard discuss the Bible and these wacky "end of days" themes was an Israeli who I've had the misfortune of not being able to remember his name, otherwise I'd mention it since he's the one that said it.

Basically, he said he saw the Bible as a roadmap, that the end-game was in there to show mankind what would happen if they didn't live right. That if they went down these roads, then they would cause it to happen. Kind of like God saying "If you behave in such a manner, you will destroy yourselves" type of assessment. He said that all we had to do to avoid the end-days, was to simply refuse to go down that road. He said his interpration was that it was not a prophecy, but a warning, that it does NOT have to happen.

And I agree with that. And I'd go further to say this.... if mankind wipes itself out, it will be with the tools that mankind created. It won't be due to some prophecy or deathstroke annihilation from some God of their choosing. They'll bring it upon themselves, period.

So all countries better start learning how to live together. Quick. ;)

[chappelforpres]

Want a glimpse of how depressing American politics are. Check out this article from July's "The New Yorker". Now here's a very powerful Jewish maven and Republican patron, letting you know exactly where things stand. Not only how much influence money will buy, but how entitled these "powerful" individuals believe themselves to be ....

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/30/080630fa_fact_bruck?currentPage=all

[BhunduBoy]

If AIPAC controlled US attacks Iran, brace for World War 3.

[Graywolf48]

Of course he does, as long as it comes in mid to late October. The ground work has been laid. McCain and Lieberman are believed to be much better for Israel than Obama (possible Muslim, ya know) and the Democrats. I'm sure things are well underway and it's not a matter of if, but of when. I'm sure the evangelicals have been promised Armageddon in return for their support. Yee ha, get ready for the rapture baby. Oh, and Joe, if you don't convert to Christianity, you and the other Jews will never get into heaven. That's the little Christian caveat so many who love the evangelical support of Israel choose to ignore.

[TheOneironaut]

*blink* Ive never thought of that....

[helonias]

And what will the price of oil be the day after that attack?

And what will that price do to our economy

[pmag88]

I listened to John Kerry discussing Iran on Air America the other day. He was parsing when it came to how the existing Intel is being ‘interpreted’. Basically he said that depending on who is interpreting the intel, it isn’t necessarily going to deter Bushco from pulling the trigger yet again. He did make the case that the war in Iraq was a mistake, but other than stating how it would be dangerous, unwise and very difficult to enter into yet another war, the conversation didn’t inspire much hope.

Any additional war will only be a total loser for all sides. We saw what a dismal failure and fiasco Israel’s attack on Lebanon turned out to be, and both Iraq and Afghanistan and the war on terror in general are nothing but a gigantic waste of resources. It’s time for a different approach.

[robbep]

I hope Israel has enough restraint and refuses to attack Iran. The last thing we need is another war front. I am sure that Bin Ladin are hoping and praying that we attack Iran, a country that is three times the size of Iraq and has a better military. Where are we going to borrow another $20 million dollars a month? Bin Ladin knows he cldnt beat us on the battle field so he has chosen to let us slowly over extend and bankrupt ourselves. Bin Ladin is playing chess and Bush is playing checkers.

[SharedHumanity]

If Israel attacks Iran, this war criminal administration will be opening up a new front in this war but it is not the front that you seem to be suggesting. These criminals will be at war with decent patriotic Americans who are sick and tired of these thugs. I will be a willing participant in these efforts to take back our nation.

[meanguy]

" I will be a willing participant in these efforts to take back our nation." spoken like a proud member of the 'i'm gonna hold my breath until my face turns blue' brigade

[The 13 Colonies]

Why would anyone listen to a man who CHEWS his food with his mouth wide open. ..........­..........­........

[Nicolaus]

"...Israel has enough restraint.­."?

Israel is the only state which demanded in October, 2002 that Iraq be occupied, and it is the only state canvassing with no 'restraint' to attack Iran today. The visit of the now comatose Prime Minister of Israel to the US twice in the last three months of 2002, and the flow of visitors - including the Defense Minister Barak and the Israel Army Chief of Staff this month can only signal the desire of the Israel ruling circles and the complicity of the President and his Pentagon.

Incidentally, it may be a mistake, the borrowing would be in billions - with a 'b.'

An attack on Iran will be followed by an attack on all shipping in the Persian Gulf. Our naval pieces may not be a direct target - but they will be trapped within the Straits of Hurmuz as a sitting one!

Our 32 semi-permanent and permanent bases in Iraq may escape the full wrath of Iranian rocketry, but they have been designated as a target yesterday by their Assistant-­Ayatullah, or may be the Deputy Assistant - difficult to tell in French!

By any account, war is imminent - and has to take place before the arrival of a new President to the White House, or even the election of one. Delay may put Israel's plans in jeopardy as the new President, even McCain, would prevent the attack - at least for a while.

[paixa3]

Referencing your last sentence. Both are laughing; BL because he is evil and bright; bush because he is evil and stupid.