The United States has concerns with Israeli urgency, feeling that confrontation could put additional nuclear weapons within the reach of Iran. Moreover, an Israeli strike would produce serious economic consequences, and precipitate catastrophic security issues worldwide. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has conceded concern with Israel’s consideration of surprise attack, “Israel has indicated they’re considering this, and we have indicated our concerns,” Panetta told reporters following a NATO meeting in Brussels on Thursday.
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Article comments
1 - John
What world are you living in...? Iran is building nuclear weapons with the clear intent of using them on Israel and possibly other countries as well. Speaking of "puppets" Hezbollah and Hamas have been attacking Israel for years based on what Iran orders them to do. In addition, the Iranians are trying to build missiles that can reach the USA.
Let’s be realistic for once on these ridiculous posting boards… As unwise and ultra-radical Iran's leaders are they are cowards who would give a nuclear device to one of their proxy terror organizations listed above rather than use one themselves. This is the primary reason why the world does not want them to ever be a nuclear nation.
2 - John Lake
Yours is a unique viewpoint. Most believe that Iran is a world leader of the Muslim, Arab world; that Ahmadinejad feels Iran deserves the same benefits of nuclear energy as the rest of the world, and the same capacity for arms. He maintains his lofty position in the world and with the Iranian people in this way. He maintains control over the mineral wealth in Iran; gas and oil.
But you believe in your emotional reaction to a pragmatic situation that Iran would rather pass the weapons to Hamas and Hezbollah?
It will be a desperate situation for Israel, Great Britain, and the free world if Iran and allied Arab nations have access to nuclear warheads and intercontinental Missiles.
3 - Christopher Rose
Although I consider the current Iranian regime to be very bad in many ways, we should try not to lose our heads over this issue.
Even if Iran does manage to construct a nuclear weapon, it seems like the number of them would be small, I think it said four above.
The USA has literally thousands of nuclear weapons and if it came to a serious shooting match could render all of Iran uninhabitable (assuming it had the necessary steely resolve).
Trying to look at the situation from an Iranian perspective, it is literally surrounded by American military bases, up to 40 I believe; what would any country's leaders do if their country was surrounded by seemingly hostile forces?
Given that the Iranians, although clearly anti-democratic, are not totally insane, it is extremely unlikely that they would start a nuclear war that they could only lose.
The USA and the former USSR were deeply paranoid and mistrustful of each other for decades but never pushed the trigger. Why should we believe that Iran would when it doesn't even have the "comfort" of knowing that at least it would be a case of mutually assured destruction?
The cancer at the heart of all these current troubles remains the lack of a resolution of the Palestinian problem and at least half the responsibility for that failure lies with the USA, which has been incapable of supplying leadership on the issue for many decades now.
This failure has contributed significantly to the many problems with the Muslim world over the years, not least the aircraft hijackings and 9/11. A change of approach is surely indicated...
4 - Irene Athena
"Trying to look at the situation from an Iranian perspective..." Would that be a pragmatic or non-pragmatic approach? It seems like an eminently sensible way to deal with conflict to me. Would a leader who adopted this approach necessarily be a "foreign policy disaster?"
I've heard people making that claim.
5 - John Lake
I see it from that point too, Irene, but for Ahmadinejad to have made violent emotional statements concerning Iranian intent toward Israel is irresponsible, and frightening.
The mere attempt to build the weapons would have sent the intended message.
6 - Irene Athena
Yes, John. It's a symptom of escalation. He's one of a few parties who needs to be calmed down...with this different approach.