Israel consulted US before Syria strike , report says

[Klukie]

Source: Guardian

Israel's decision to launch an air strike against a suspected nuclear site in Syria allegedly set up with the help of North Korea came after Israel shared intelligence with the US, it was reported today.

The attack on September 6 has been shrouded in mystery, although the Israeli opposition leader, Binyamin Netanyahu, yesterday confirmed in a TV interview that such an attack did take place. His admission came despite a news blackout over the incident.

The Washington Post today shed more light on the raid, which has sparked widespread speculation that it was a dry run for a possible attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,2174292,00.html

[MetalCanuck]

1. Keep pushing it..

Israel is looking for a fight and so is the US. This should
not be tolerated by the international community.

[Ian David]

2. What ever happened to that Vallerie Plame chick that was supposed to stop Syria...

from getting nuclear materials and technology?

[nashville_brook]

4. obviously, she was in the way...if Syria isn't a threat, Blackwater/Halliburton lose $$$$

[mod mom]

3. Since agreeing to this is similar to a provocation to war-does congress have to be consulted?

[Joanne98]

5. AHA! Bush is a LIAR again! K&R!

[snappyturtle]

6. I had and still have the feeling since posting on this story a few

days ago about the switching of stories over it. I think there's a lot we don't know. Netanyahu scares me and more so now thinking he may be working with *.

[daleo]

7. Yeah, something is being cooked up

This may have a connection. Bush and Netenyahu may both feel that they could profit politically from an airstrike on Iran, and the consequent political polarization that would create ("with us or against us").

[snappyturtle]

8. I think you're right. I've been driving myself nuts this morning

trying to remember where I read that Iran is going to ask U.N.(?) to make Israel disclose its nuclear weapons. That would widen a lot of eyes!

[bdamomma]

9. yea, US has its hand in this, that whole assault of Israel against

Lebanon did not go so well last summer did it?, with the US prodding of Israel to do it. The world will not sit back and watch this either.

And I heard on Thom Hartmann that people in Iran are in for a more moderate leader who has appeared on the scene. Let them work out their own problems, before we invade another innocent country.

[rodeodance]

10. Israel, U.S. Shared Data On Suspected Nuclear Site

Source: wpost



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/20/AR2007092002701.html?hpid=topnews

Israel, U.S. Shared Data On Suspected Nuclear Site
Bush Was Told of North Korean Presence in Syria, Sources Say

By Glenn Kessler and Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, September 21, 2007; Page A01

Israel's decision to attack Syria on Sept. 6, bombing a suspected nuclear site set up in apparent collaboration with North Korea, came after Israel shared intelligence with President Bush this summer indicating that North Korean nuclear personnel were in Syria, U.S. government sources said.

The Bush administration has not commented on the Israeli raid or the underlying intelligence. Although the administration was deeply troubled by Israel's assertion that North Korea was assisting the nuclear ambitions of a country closely linked with Iran, sources said, the White House opted against an immediate response because of concerns it would undermine long-running negotiations aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.

Ultimately, however, the United States is believed to have provided Israel with some corroboration of the original intelligence before Israel proceeded with the raid, which hit the Syrian facility in the dead of night to minimize possible casualties, the sources said.

......

"There is no question it was a major raid. It was an extremely important target," said Bruce Riedel, a former intelligence officer at Brookings Institution's Saban Center for Middle East Policy. "It came at a time the Israelis were very concerned about war with Syria and wanted to dampen down the prospects of war. The decision was taken despite their concerns it could produce a war. That decision reflects how important this target was to Israeli military planners."


Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/20/AR2007092002701.html?hpid=topnews

[daleo]

11. Lots of careful phrasing in the article

"Ultimately, however, the United States is believed to have provided Israel with some corroboration of the original intelligence..."
- that could mean anything.

"U.S. sources would discuss the Israeli intelligence, which included satellite imagery, only on condition of anonymity, and many details about the North Korean-Syrian connection remain unknown. The quality of the Israeli intelligence, the extent of North Korean assistance and the seriousness of the Syrian effort are uncertain..."
- that could mean anything.

"To the extent that they are proliferating, we expect them to stop that proliferation..."
- that could mean anything.

[Skip Intro]

12. So one country can just fly into another country and drop bombs and its just ok?

I wonder how these would-be rulers of the planet would feel if the she was on the other foot...