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

[iamvalid]

WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR WAR.

WAR TODAY --- WAR TOMORROW --- WAR FOREVER.

The warmonger in chief has spoken. The world cries.

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

Might as well start calling it the warld.

[maxdenn]

I don't trust the Iranian government any more than I trust the Israeli government.

[SShaw490]

Wise scepticism. It's time for America to tell Israel it's on its own.

[majormoderate]

but you trust our government?

[meanguy]

i trust ours a lot more than i trust anyone else's...which is to say, not much...

[Wilburrr]

...and China, Russia, and the rest of the world will sit by and watch this happen? Hmmmmm.... sounds like another war with no exit strategy. May I suggest an exit strategy? DON"T START!!

Remember how the Iranian people, on 9/12/2001, held candlelight vigils for victims of the WTC attack? Only GWB could have turned that sentiment around as quickly as it did. Hopefully the Israelis will realize that this is not in their best interests; GWB sure won't do much to slow it down.

[maxdenn]

We have every right in the world to steal Iraqi and Iranian oil. Right? No. And furthermore the Israeli government has every right to be a nuclear power. Iran does not. Why? Because the Israelis are qualitively better than the Iranians? No.

[IowaKid]

Looks like the Kyl-Lieberman bill is going to kick in on way or another. I have come to the conclusion that the republicans can NOT enjoy any kind of propersity at home. How else could such recklessness take this economy of from a surplus to a deficiet. Of course when your in it for Greed what can you say. There is a interesting article on the internet for those that are interested in something more positive. www.PickensPlan.com

[majorian]

I doubt Israel's REALLY going to attack; they're just rattling the saber. The question is, will their saber-rattling be so over-the-top that Iran will find it convincing and launch some sort of unconventional offensive of their own? That's when this thing could get really ugly.

I find it pretty disgusting that the Bush administration could be so dishonest about what its own set of experts is saying about Iran's nuclear program. If most Americans realized that Iran is a DECADE away from developing nuclear weapons, there would be no end to their outrage over nonsense like this.

[bygollymissmolly]

As usual our propaganda government, with the assistance of the "liberal" MSM, has convinced the "low-information" voters that Iran could have a bomb within months.

I had a conservative acquaintance tell me that the other day. I asked him "what do you think they will do with this bomb". His reply was "drop it on Israel". My reply was "Do you really think they are that stupid. Israel has hundreds of nuclear weapons. Is Iran dropped one on Israel, Israel would then wipe Iran off the face of the earth". I pointed out to him the reason why countries want nuclear weapons is as a deterrent against the aggressions of other countries towards them. That's why, if they truly are trying to build a nuclear weapon, Iran wants one. They have very aggressive neighbors and they know that sooner or later one of them is going to want their oil. And they are right. We are lucky to have Israel who is willing to sacrifice itself so that we can then invade Iran and take their oil. We didn't get Iraq's oil, so we need to go after Iran's oil.

[NoBo08]

Do you really believe that we could not have just taken Iraq's if, had we been so inclined?

[truthoutdotduh]

I don't think Iran will strike first. I think they are smarter than that.

[meanguy]

don't forget to factor in 'but, ultimately, run by loons'...that skews things a bit

[demright]

If they won't impeach at least censure him. Along with The Dick ,McCain and Lieberman!

[davidly]

Over there, over there,
Send the word, send the word over there
That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming
The drum's rum-tumming everywhere
So prepare, say a prayer,
Send the word, send the word to beware
We'll be over, we're coming over
And we won't come back till it's over, over there

[MagisterLudi]

Hey illiterate read the article:
"The Pentagon official said 'This administration will not attack Iran. This has already been decided."
Nor is it certain that Bush's amber light would ever turn to green without irrefutable evidence of lethal Iranian hostility.

[Podewumun]

Such bliss. How nice for you.

[davidly]

Hey, I didn't pen the song. In the age of all that is or isn't irrefutable, I'd say one's literacy is the least of our worries.

[nellieh]

You don't think the US will be dragged in an Israeli-Iranian war? We are Israel's protector. Even if the Israelis start a war and they get attacked guess who will come to their defense?

[Deeg]

Bull, when's the last time the Bush Administration ever shown restraint. It's like giving a child a box of matches and he tells you he promises not to use them.

[RobertAndropolis]

Irrefutable evidence? Like perhaps weapons of mass destruction ferried about the country in freight train cars? Or hidden in deep bunkers? Again. Operation Iranian Freedom.

[Kirby]

This is absolutely as smelly as a dung pile.

[davidly]

It's called Patriotism; best left alone.

[BEHM777]

Why? Why? UGGHH!!!

BEHusseinM777

[kmac23va]

I wasn't alive then, but I remember seeing a movie on a certain subject. The US attacks Cuba to remove USSR missiles. The USSR retaliates against a target, probably Munich. We then engage the USSR there and defeat them per our plans...nuclear weapons. Thirteen Days, a pretty good movie I thought.

That was the Cuban Missile Crisis, and if there hadn't been sane minds keeping the warmongers at bay, the world we live in today likely wouldn't exist. The only problem is in this situation, the warmongers are in charge. And no one is willing to put them in check...Congress won't do their jobs and shut this guy down. All I hear is "we'll impeach if he attacks Iran unprovoked" - and do what, hope everyone says "oh wait, the US is impeaching their president over this, let's sit quietly while they do it!"?

[cabgx2]

He is still looking for his legacy. Maybe we will invade Hawaii. Don't tell "W" Hawaii is already ours.

[meanguy]

it is? dang! someone tell barry the new count is 58

[Sparty1]

I guess we really are getting ready for WWII. The Russians are not going to allow Israel/US to attack Iran without getting involved. They've been waiting and watching.

[WeNeedSomethingBetter]

WOOHOO, $10-$12 a gallon gas!

[mattwin]

If that happens, even the morons will not vote for McBush. It would cost over $300 to fill up my Silverado, whereas when Bush took office it would have been less than $35.

[eugenegerard]

Marshal Law ----= NO ELECTION

[Zeje]

The morons will still vote for McBush

[Wilburrr]

oil execs are using $300 bills to light their see-gars...

[tinarm]

Maybe that's why there are reports out now that we may be moving over 50,000 soliders from Iraq by 2009, oh, wait a minute isn't that what Obama has been calling for to send them to Afganistan, but maybe it's so Bush can go after Iran. I think for the first time in a long time I'll say a prayer that this doesn't happen, you know I would really like for my 11 year old daughter to have some kind of freakin' future. I just am simply so depressed by this administration all McCain wants is the same kind of crap, what the heck are we becomming?

[scouserinlondon]

Pawns on the Chess board.......just being moved about.

[NeoStar9]

Just wait. Bush's legacy will be that he kicked off World War 3.