Why Netanyahu bluffs on Iran

[occuserpens]

In retrospect, the Israeli strike on the Iraqi reactor in 1981 appears to be a part of more general US-Israeli stategy. Destruction of the Iraqi nuclear capability was only one of its results. Another was that Hussein got even more mad and put more pressure on Iran in the infamous Iran-Iraq war. In fact, this was exactly what Reagan and Begin wanted - to turn Iraq and Iran against each other. Another remote consequence of this strike was that enraged by the war Khomeinists put more pressure in Aghanistan. Again, this was in the interests of the US and Israel because USSR was the loser.

Now situation on the global chessboard is completely different. Israeli strike on Iran would produce pretty much the same results as in 1981 - Khomeinists would get hopping mad and put more pressure in Iraq and Aghanistan. The problem is, this time, it would be not Soviet, but American and NATO problem! This way, Israeli strike would make situation in Iraq and Aghanistan even more intractable.

It is hard to believe that Bibi and Khomeinists cannot figure all this out. So, the "Israeli strike" story looks like a lot like a bluff designed for ignorant American neocons, Europeans, and Russians.

1. Haaretz. Netanyahu: Bold action needed to stop nuclear Iran:
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/653454.html

MK Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) said Sunday that Israel should take "bold and daring" action to thwart Iran's plans for nuclear armament, citing Israel's 1981 air strike on an Iraqi nuclear facility.

"The Iranian threat is an existential one, as it is a country that declared its plans to destroy Israel and is developing the tools to carry out this destruction. In this regard, I will continue the legacy of Menachem Begin, who thwarted Iran's neighbor, Iraq, from acquiring nuclear weapons by adopting bold and daring measures. I believe that is what Israel needs to do," Netanyahu told Israel Radio.

In 1981, Begin ordered an air strike on Iraq's nuclear facility in Osirak, near Baghdad. As a result of the attack, Iraq's nuclear armament plan was thwarted.

2. Wiki on Iran-Iraq war: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran-Iraq_War

http://inplainview.monitor.us.tt/comm.ME.htm?1

[Lithos]

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Lithos
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