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

[betz55]

When are we going to stop Israel ? I am so tired of the US governement making war so that Israel can be "secure". I am tired of my tax dollars being used for expansion and annexation of illegal settlements. I am tired of my tax dollars going to support an apartheid, zionist, oppressive regime called Israel. I am tired of my government not putting America first and getting the backbone to stand up to the Israei's and just say NO. Think of it. The entire Middle East in turmoil for what ? Israel ?

Americans, eventually, are going to realize that Israel is a rogue nation in the Middle East, is an undeclared nuclear power and receives a disproportionate amount of US taxpayer money to be a bully to her neighbors. The current policy of blind support of Israel blindly has now crossed the line to irrational.

I will be proud of the day when Obama will put the interest of America before the interest of Israel and not be crucified for it. It's a damn shame that American politicians are selected, not on their commitment to the best interests of America, but by vowing to put the interests of a foreign nation, Israel, first. The oath of allegiance that I said everyday in school was not to Israel, or any country but America. This has got to stop, I hope in my lifetime it will.

[Graywolf48]

America will never part company with Israel or fail to support them. Powerful lobbyists and pro-Israel religious (Christian evangelicals) organizations pump billions into our politician's pockets to support Israel, right or wrong. Anyone who would dare to question Israeli policy or actions are automatically labeled "anti semites." It just isn't done. It won't be done. Israel is a powerful defacto American state. Israeli American's have duel citizenship and their own Senator (Lieberman). There's a good chance this comment may not even be posted because it could be perceived as anti-semitic.

[eastcoastprogressive]

Well said. I totally agree.

[druidlady42]

Right on, "betz55"!!! Nothing will change, tho', till we have a leader who has courage enough to separate our foreign policy stance toward Israel from Biblical influence,---NOT from the good values espoused in the Bible, but from our "blindness" toward Israel's own betrayal of those values! As I recall, God was, indeed, not blind nor pleased at all times with Israel's actions! What Israel has done to the Palestinians and to the Lebanese--and is planning to do to Iran--is not in keeping with what Jesus came to teach us all.

[mergina]

ISRAEL AND OIL, ISRAEL AND OIL. AAAARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!

[whatsthatsound]

The situation in the Middle East is more complicated than that. If Israel hadn't been attacked so often, hadn't become such a cause celebre for Arab states who are just so happy to have someone other than each other to hate, your characterization of it as a "rogue state" would hold more water. I'm not defending them in the case of an attack on Iran; it would be a complete and utter failure of intelligence, common sense and humanity if they go through with it. They should be warned off it in the strongest terms by our government, absolutely.
That said, any legitimate peace in that region will involve concessions, and a change in behavior, among all parties, not just Israel.

[Destin]

I respect Israel's right to exist, and I respect them wanting an armed military to protect themselves. Most countries are like that. But hey, unless you are Australia, then you gotta be nice to your neighbors that you share borders with. ;) If they truely want peace, they should act like it. The USA didn't have to go to was with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. We simply produced a defensive military that made nobody want to try to invade us.

[ebanks84]

My point is I don't hear Bush talking about any other allies other than the Jews. Don't we have other allies? And why is he so quick to want to do their fighting?

[Vinca]

I CAN"T SAY WHAT I WANT TO SAY ABOUT GW BUSH< IT WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED

[Destin]

Most of NATO objects to having Isreal take part in NATO excersizes, but Bush has insisted that they allow Israel to take part. That has led to a few scrapes, the most recent of which was when Sweden refused participation during one. ;)

So it's gotten to the point, the USA is stabbing it's old allies, such as NATO, in the back for Bush's dream, whatever it is.

[Viper]

Did they respect the rights of Palestine to exist, since they took that land (all of it, thats now Isreal) by force and some how justfiy it as theirs based on a book of mythology written 4000 years ago and a land they had not been in control of for thousands of years.

The American Indian has a more valid claim to the U.S. than they did in what is now called Isreal.

Its not that the U.S. and England had the right to gave it to them after they had taken it by force and w/o paying for the homes and buildings they took. Bbefore that their had been peace bewteen the Jews and Arabs there for hundred of years. jews got screwed by the Germans and the Palenstinians got screwed by the Jews.... Two wrongs have not made a right.

Regards

.

[paixa3]

Actually, read the book of mythology and ISRAEL has expanded beyond what was written to be the borders of Israel within that book. They have violated that 'in total'.

[Destin]

You got some good points, hehe. True, they didn't respect and still don't respect, any of their neighbors, such as the Palestinians. Which was the ponit of my post about hoping that they would be "good neighbors" and treat those around them with mutual respect. Otherwise, they'll never have the full recognition that they want. And whenever bad things happen, they merely brought it on themselves. As far as the mythology book, I thought it was less than 2000 years old, as Jesus was alive during the 1st century AD, having died roughly 7 years before my hero Queen Boudica herself perished. ;)

And good point on the "two wrongs" comment. After what the Jews went through before, during, since WWII, you'd think they'd be the last people on the planet to look down upon anyone of their fellow mankind. But yet, they carry out the same deeds that were done to them. It's pathetic and sickening that people should act that way.

You should have added something about Israel using AMERICAN warplanes during the 1948 war in which they shot down alot of British RAF aircraft, and bombed the Brits on the ground, etc. I'm still trying to figure out how they got all those P-51's and such. But we can cover that in a future post I'm sure. ;)

[wsblake]

Viper,
Absolutely right. But you're not allowed to speak the truth about Palestine and Zionism- if you do you're automatically labelled anti-semitic. As if all Israelis agree with the conservative lunatic fringe there- or for that matter as if all Jews even believe in Zionism.

[whatsthatsound]

Israel is a tiny little sliver of land. It's about the size of West Virginia; actually West Virginia is slightly larger. To create a truly livable piece of land, for both the Palestinians and the Israelis, it makes more sense for Syria and Jordan (much larger countries) to share some of their border areas. See? Israel gives up some land, and the bordering states give up some as well to show solidarity with their "Arab brothers". The Palestinians and Israelis have a home, and the Arab states demonstrate Arab solidarity and a desire for peace. Will it ever happen? Of course not! It's too sensible.

[Destin]

No conspiracy theory crap in here......

"The number of proud Jewish Republicans will continue to grow, and this is a trend that won't be reversed."
http://www.jperspective.com/2005/04/more-jewish-republicans.html

Here's a Fox News story with sickening ass-kissing by Bush as he slams former US Presidents....

Upon viewing an aerial shot of Auschwitz, taken during the war by U.S. forces, Bush called the ruling not to bomb it "complex." He then called over Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to discuss President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's decision....

"We should have bombed it," Bush said, according to Shalev.

........ marked the first time an American president had made this acknowledgment."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,321932,00.html

"Gov. George W. Bush's scant foreign policy experience shouldn't scare off voters looking for the next president, his father says. ." --Dallas Morning News
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3DB14456956DF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM

"1998 visit sealed Bush's ties to Israel" --Minneapolis Star Tribune
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MN&p_theme=mn&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11362563608F3098&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM

"Bush’s Embrace of Israel Shows Gap With Father" -- NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/02/washington/02prexy.html?ex=1312171200&en=216bbeaed37f4f9b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

[iswideopen]

Here he goes again; the worst president and administration in U.S. history who wants to further destroy his own country. It's Bush's and McBush's way or you will get bombed. Do we really want another "cowboy-in-chief" in the white house? GOD forbid.

[wmbear]

YOU'RE "PREACHING TO THE CHOIR" AROUND HERE...

(Mostly, anyway, except for your random wingnut troll or mole....)

[ebanks84]

Gluttons for punishment!

[JackMehoffer]

Bush approving an attack by Israel? That's rich, Israel tells the US what to do, not the other way around.

[ebanks84]

What is it with Israel anyway? Bush acts like they can do no wrong!

[who38]

Is this why we are going to cut and run in Iraq...so our soldiers won't be caught in the middle when the attack occurs?

[jitterbug]

Please try to grow up and remove "cut and run" from your vocabulary. Bet you don't wear a flagpin either. Why is it a good idea for US to continue killing and being killed for nothing? Why don't you enlist? Traitor. No wonder everyone is beginning to hate the US.

[who38]

Guess you missed my point.. I think that Bush is going to remove our soldiers so he won't have to explain the slaughter that will occur if Iran is invaded. Of course, if anyone else did this, Bushco and Co. would refer to it as "cut and run". Get it?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

Does Iran want peace?

Here's some suggestions:

First, the Iranians need a better group of lobbyists.

Second, they also need to use some of their oil money to buy a portion of the MSM, if it is for sale, and some of the politiicans in Congress and the Senate, which are.

Third, they need to tell us, over and over again, how they are our friend and a true democracy in the Middle-East.

Fourth, and most importantly, they need to not interfere with our oil. Why are they sitting on it anyway?

[111]

Russia won't let them get off our oil

[cdnnewsjunky]

:)

[scornflakes]

Well of course he supports the plan. How else is he s'posed to help Jesus get his rapture on?

[who38]

Hope the Israelis aren't dumb enough to fall for Bush's plan but you never know.

[ebanks84]

Now that is truly funny :)

[elcojonu]

Cut Israel off, send them of on their own; they're a drag to our interests in the world.
Russia and China have interests in Iran; respect begets respect.
Israel is 60, they're old enough to make it without Daddy's help.
They don't know how to make it in life without Papa's help.
Time for the Son to leave home and be on his own.

[mergina]

ISRAEL, A DRAG ON OUR INTERESTS, A DRAG ON OUR ECONOMY, A DRAG, PERIOD! HOW MANY TIMES MUST THEY ATTACK ALL THEIR NEIGHBOURS AROUND THEM BEFORE IT ALL EXPLODES ONEDAY? IF WE DID NOT BACK THEM, THEY WOULD BE A FAR LESS AGGRESSIVE SPECK ON THE MAP.

[BubbaC33]

With the exception of 1956 when the IDF joined with the Brits and French in an effort to open the Suez Israel has never started a war. Not in 1948 when the surrounding Arab nations attacked. Not in 1967 when Egypt and her Arab allies attacked first with the closing of the Straits of Tiran. Not in 1973 when combined Arab armies attacked Israel on the holiest day for Jews. Your posting is way short on honesty and correct information.

[midtown]

Exactly WHICH COUNTRY does Bush owe allegiance to first in his own mind?

16 of our intel alphabets said there is no threat from Iran. And Bush wants to piss in the face of our boys first?

This is effing treason.

[111]

I don't think Bush, Cheney, Pelosi, etc. have any allegiance to this country and that is probably true for most world leaders - It is a money and power game that they play with our lives.

[wmbear]

LET ME MAKE ONE SIMPLE POINT...

Unfortunately (in my view) it is simply not possible to discuss the politics of the Israel lobby in the U.S. in an honest and realistic way without opening oneself to the accusation of being "anti-semitic." Suffice it to say that the Israel lobby has the kind of power it does because it contributes large sums of money in one form or another to a large number of political campaigns, both Republican and Democrat. Any time an American politician threatens to bolt and not hew to the "party line" on Israel (and there definitely is one, to which both parties adhere) the threat of withdrawing this funding is usually sufficient to bring them back into the fold.

[zann]

Its more than money- its newspapers and museums and school admissions and invitations, especially in New York. Israelis are amazed that the media here can't even have an honest and open discussion about the suffering in Palestine.

[vinny]

in the case of this unlikely occurance, bush/cheney would get dragged out of the WH...

[111]

No they wouldn't - Pelosi, Reid, Hoyer and Conyers would be standing in the door protecting them.

[paixa3]

Sadly, both of the postes above this one is correct.

[wmbear]

IN YOUR DREAMS...

More likely they would declare martial law in this country, suspend the 2008 elections, and get a good leg up on starting WWIII....

[AnotherMcIntosh]

This is new?

By the way, what is the "center" position on this?

[wmbear]

Left position: Don't attack Iran.

Center position: Don't attack Iran.

Right position: Don't attack Iran.

Wingnut position: Bomb 'em!

[AnotherMcIntosh]

Close.

Left position: Don't attack Iran.

Right Position: Don't attack Iran.

Wingnut Position: Attack Iran.

Center Position: Expressly oppose attacking Iran. Then "Bomb 'em!"

[mergina]

israel position: Attack them and when we get attacked, we will get billion$ from America.

oilman position: Attack (kaching) and watch the price of that barrel of oil go up up up.

McCain position: Bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran.

Obama position: Who the hell knows?

[111]

It depends on how thoroughly the US state run media (all) has spread the propaganda and approximately how much BS you think the American people will swallow, which apparently is a lot.

Judging by what happened with FISA, I'd say to the right of Bush is the new "center"

[paixa3]

and....that is pretty damn far right, is it not?

[OfficialA]

Bush is in a position to "approve" an Israeli strike on Iran? Imagine that. So much for freedom and democracy in the middle east. No wonder the Israeli government (like that of the US) perpetually ignores the opinions of 70% of its population.

[who38]

Hear, hear.

[drolleen]

If you followed the Israeli media outlets like www.ynetnews.com and www.debka.com and Arab outlets like www.arabnews.com you would know that:

Bush does not "support" Israel's plan for attack on Iran. As in the summer of 2006 when bush ORDERED Israel to attack Hizzbullah, he is now ORDERING Israel to prepare to attack Iran on whatever infraction the administration consider a good enough reason.

The Israeli military actually told Bush not to attack Iraq in 2003 and tried to stop the attack on Hizzbullah in 2006. Ask yourselves: what's in it for Israel? Israel always wanted an Iraq that is strong to stop Iran, and Israel signed agreements with Hizzbullah before Bush was in office.

So I don't buy that "Bush ok's Israel plan". It should read; "Bush finds a new way to drag Iran into a conflict so that he may leave office having won against the 'Axis of Evil'"

[111]

Israel bombed Syria twice without provocation and nothing was done. I don't think they will even pretend that something happened to precipitate an attack. Israel will bomb Iran, maybe with their own one of their own few hundred nuclear warheads.

We were forewarned in print that Israel would start lobbying Democrats and US media to promote an attack - http://www.antiwar.com/pat/?articleid=10290
"Dec. 30, 2006 retired Gen. Oded Tira, who headed up all Israeli artillery units, ... an American air strike in Iran is essential for our existence, we must help pave the way by lobbying the Democratic Party and U.S. newspaper editors. We need to do this in order to turn the Iranian issue to a bipartisan one and unrelated to the Iraq failure." "Bush lacks the political power to attack Iran," Israel and its U.S. lobbying arm "must turn to Hillary Clinton and other potential presidential candidates in the Democratic Party so that they publicly support immediate action by Bush against Iran." "The Americans must act," "If they don't, we'll do it ourselves ... ."

Kyl-Lieberman bill was signed 9/2007 ... thanks HC and don't say you didn't know this time

[mulegino]

The Isreali government knows that it cannot realistically hope to take out the Iranian nuclear sites by itself via a conventional strike. A nuclear preemptive strike on Iran by Israel is also unthinkable, since it would constitute the greatest war crime in history as well as exposing the Israeli population and the American forces in Iraq to radioactive fallout.
Therefore, the Israeli strategy can only be enacting one of two scenarios:

1. Frighten the Iranians enough so that they will forsake their nuclear program, through threats such as the latest air exercises and the constant chorus of Israeli officials claiming that war with Iran is inevitable. This probably won't work.

2. Attack Iran after being cleared through American controlled airspace. This would virtually assure an Iranian retaliation against both the U.S. and Israel. The president wouldn't even have to go to congress to ask for an authorization for massive retaliation-the servile congress would go to the president and demand it. America and Israel-in the MSM and the eyes of politicians, would "stand together"...mission accomplished?

If the Iranians were able to successfully retaliate, kill thousands of American soldiers, destroy the American embassy in Baghdad, and close off the straits of Hormuz-which itself would send the world's economy into a state of collapse-would the American people really be fooled again? Or could such a catastrophe lead the American people to repudiate their Israeli "ally" for good? The world can be turned upside down, now and then.

[BubbaC33]

By attacking Ms. Clinton and not Obama you have revealed yourself to be a hypocrite. Ms. Clinton did vote for the Non-Binding, Kyl-Lieberman amendment, which did only one thing. It correctly labeled the IRG as a terrorist organization. Obama wrote legislation that was Binding and attempted to accomplish the same goal. If Ms. Clinton was wrong it follows that Obama was even more at fault.

[thebeerdoctor]

If this were a political matter would be one thing, but millions of innocent lives hang in the balance of these idiots making decisions based upon power abstractions. It is time to bring this to a halt, and rejoin the human race.

[akryan]

I agree. People always talk about these conflicts without mentioning that the ones who are hurt the most are the citizens. Millions could be killed outright. Millions more would starve. "Leaders" who will never feel the brunt of war are the only ones that think it's glorious.