Israel Matzav

Obama leaking US-Israel plans for Iran in bid to help his campaign

The Obama administration has once again leaked plans to attack Iran's nuclear weapons program, although this time they are telling the media that the United States will be part of the attack.

The United States and Israel are considering a surgical strike on Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities, Foreign Policy magazine says.

Based on a source reported to be close to discussions between the sides, the report published Monday maintains the strike may only take "a couple of hours" involving a "day or two," and would be conducted using "primarily bombers and drone support."

If such a strike is carried out it would set the Iranian nuclear program back many years, the report said and would do so without civilian casualties.

Benefits of such a strike would be regional, Foreign Policy says.

It quotes an unnamed advocate saying the outcome would be "transformative" -- "saving Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, reanimating the peace process, securing the (Persian) Gulf, sending an unequivocal message to Russia and China, and assuring American ascendancy in the region for a decade to come."

Such a strike cannot be conducted by Israel alone and would require the involvement of the United States, "whether acting alone or in concert with Israel and others," the report says.

The report maintains that taking into account the progress made between Israel and the U.S. administration in recent weeks, such a strike would be the easiest way for President Barack Obama to defuse Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's critique on Iran.

Emphasis added is mine.

As you all know, I am in favor of attacking Iran, and would especially be pleased to see the US be a part of it. But this reeks of a political move to help Obama's reelection campaign, and its being leaked to the media (even if 'just' to a reporter at Foreign Policy) seems designed to gain a political advantage from the plans as soon as possible.

What price will Israel to be expected to pay for this 'gift'?

What could go wrong?

Labels: Iranian nuclear threat, Israeli attack on Iran, US-Israel relationship

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:00 AM