Iran warns Israel against attacking its facilities

[DuctapeFatwa]

Iran's defense minister said Israel does not dare attack Iran but warned Saturday that any such military offensive would be met with a harsh response.

"I completely rule out that Israel would dare direct any military strike at any Iranian facilities," Ali Shamkhani said.

"But if Israel one day commits such military folly against Iran, I can promise you that (Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon, assuming he stays alive, will appear on television screens and announce that he regrets this folly. ... He will suffer and scream out in pain," Shamkhani said.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1077957464895

[Charlls]

1. excellent statement

but i suspect, uncalled for

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. What's Excellent?

If the Israeli's took out the Iranian reactor the Iranians could mount no more powerful of an attack than the Iraqis did in 1981 when the Isreli's took out their reactor.....

[Zhade]

12. I don't see Iran gearing up to attack Israel.

I do see Israel hinting that it might attack Iran preemptively.

Tell me, which is the greater threat to the other - the one that shows no intentions of attacking, or the country that has stated openly that it just might attack?

If Iran attacked Israel, the United States would rush to Israel's aid (and, if an unprovoked attack, rightfully so). So I don't think Israel is feeling very threatened by Iran right now.

[mobuto]

18. Iran IS attacking Israel

They fund, train and arm Hizbollah, and are thus waging a proxy war with Israel. There may not be any immediate conventional threat, but there is a long-term threat posed by Iran's nuclear program, and Israel is justified in recognizing it.

[Aidoneus]

20. then, I guess by the same definition..

Israel is fighting a proxy war against them as well, by attacking their Lebanese allies and blatently violating their sovereignity on a regular basis. Barking threats as the Israeli regime occasionally has doesn't help much either (and to be fair, threats flying in the other direction do just as unwell).

Considering Israel's consistant record of aggression and violence in the region in general and Lebanon in particular, vigilance is a prudent choice on the part of Iran and their allies in the resistance. Is there a legitimate threat to be seen in Israel's nuclear weapons program (the only real "weapons of mass destruction" program in the region), or does that only apply to people with the wrong flags?

[Zhade]

22. Ssshhh! Israel never violates territorial sovereignty!

</sarcasm>

Oh dear, now I will be cast as an anti-Semite for daring to criticize Israel. What ever will I do?

[St. Jarvitude]

23. Calling someone anti-semitic for criticizing Israel

is absolutely the aame as calling someone anti-American for criticizing the Bush* Administration.

[Zhade]

24. Ding ding ding! We have a winner!

And yet, I have heard that same epithet hurled at me before, just because I point out the fascist Likud party's policies and the IDF's rampant brutality against nonviolent Palestinian activists.

The ignorance of the Israeli government's crimes amongst otherwise fine progressives often leaves me shaking my head. How can they not know? Is it simply denial?

[Crachet2004]

2. Do you think they may already have, you know...

Nukes? Sounded pretty apocalyptic to me.

[Charlls]

3. .. do you doubt it?

nuclear response from such an attack is not even doubtful, i think

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. Their Nukes Would Be Gone....

but I doubt they're at that point anyway....

[mmm]

6. Wrong! They would retaliate with righteous hellfire!

(There, wasn't that productive?)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. You Mean They Would Issue More Idle Threats

NT

[DuctapeFatwa]

8. so why doesn't Israel or the US just attack N Korea's nukes?

then they would be gone, right?

[Malva Zebrina]

9. attack anyone with nukes

pre-emptively! as a "potential" threat. If Israel cannot do it alone,and it probably can take out a reactor or two but would not be able to sustain a battle over it, the US will help and pre-emptively attack and invade Iran after it determines that Iran has nothing with which to fight back.

[Zhade]

13. Much like the way the US/UK used the weapons inspectors to clear Iraq.

Then, once it was determined for sure (though they knew 95% beforehand) that there were no WMD, Operation Occupation began.

In hindsight, a ruthlessly brilliant strategy...for those who espouse a Hitleresque preemptive doctrine, that is.

[DuctapeFatwa]

15. they 'd have to wait a while. wouldn't be safe right after a nuke attack

I guess if there were any Israeli resources left, they could send them in. Or Poles.

[Crachet2004]

21. Actually, I do not doubt it.

The Iranian defense minister has spoken to this before, and every time it sounded pretty apocalyptic to me! I think he means it, alright.

[daleo]

10. I don't know about nukes

But I have heard it said they have the capacity to deliver considerable stocks of chemical weapons, and Israel is said to be within range. I suspect any such combat, which would likely include nuclear response by Israel, would be very terrible for both sides.

[DuctapeFatwa]

14. Israel will give the US notice so all the weapons can be moved to safety

In Iraq. sharon has a bunker.

[pinniped]

11. Ya from our friendly Pakistani allies.

n/t

[Aidoneus]

17. more like Russia

Pakistan & Iran haven't exactly been on friendly terms.

[Andromeda]

16. Shamkhani is just blowing hot air.

Israel will not attack Iran's facilities. By the way what facilities would that be? Nuclear facilities?

Sounds like political posturing to me.

[Just Me]

19. For whatever reason, I sense this is a blah blah bullshit fear tactic,...

,...I mean, P-U-H-L-E-A-S-E!!!! We witness these very wherewithalls act like four year olds. I ask, for whom and for what?

I am just sick of this crap. They are being manipulative, just like "our" guys, in order to divert from the real shit that is being dumped upon all those of us who square with their freakin' potties.

I am sick of this shit!!! *LOL*

I am just plain tired of this shit.