M.A.D (mutually assured destruction) worked because the Soviets were NOT mad/insane. This time the enemy is mad/"certifiable," and assurance of retaliation is no deterrent at all. Leaving aside them wishing to bring their madhi, the leadership has proven itself more than willing to sacrifice their own people in war.

Having submarines is more than a credible defense it is smart strategic thinking. However, I would add two US manufactured ultra quiet nuclear subs to the Israeli fleet as surely Iranian sonar will soon be able to detect diesel subs no matter how quiet they think they are.

...because I'm not sure if mutually assured destruction is sufficiently deterring with this lot. The Iranian Regime and Ayatollahs are horny for their Mahdi Gras and the 72. To complement the subs, I suggest you think a little HEMP device..and I don't mean the whiffing kind ; )

This point of wiev, will leave Israels Surival and Existence to be desided in IRAN. Strike Iran an deprive Her of all offensive capability, Nuclera as well as Conventional. Arn.Sweden.

yes,mr lauder you are defenitly right..i will go even further in recommending israel to build a strong naval force with 15 to 20 submarines equipped with nuclear torpedo in order to assure a detterence.

They are talking about survival strategy??????????????How can they discuss a subject like this when you have plan to turn the entire Iran into parking lot.Shame on them,Sarah.

Having Germany build our subs is stupid. South Korea is very good, plus they have advanced aircraft that we helped on. Perhaps a trade in AWACS, Arrow, Trophy for subs, trainers and stealth.

"We do not worship Iran, we worship Allah. For patriotism is another name for paganism. I say let this land [Iran] burn. I say let this land go up in smoke, provided Islam emerges triumphant in the rest of the world." - Grand Ayatollah Imam Sayyed Ruhollah Mousavi Khomeini

Amazing how Mr. Lauder has become a defense expert . Remember MAD??? btwn US/USSR Iran just doesn't care-or it's leader doesn't and wants to be historically noted as the destroyer of Israel. There needs to be a non-Hydra beheading! Ex-spurts is a better name.

let's face it; the sub manufacturers in Kiel are more than happy to have the business. If Israel uses German-built subs they will last for a very long time.

one day the bards would sing of the great Israeli wolf-packs (if there were any bards left outside of the Balkans and if Israel intended to use such tactics and had attack subs). It would be nice to have those two bodies of water patrolled and kept safe by Israel.

At a cost of between half a billion and a billion dollars each (depending on German generosity), I find it hard to justify if: 1) only 1 out of 3 is in use and on station at any given time; and 2) getting to station assumes free passage through the Suez Canal, which an unfriendly Egypt could block at any time. It's in the Mediterranean that Israel now has gas fields that need to be protected, and it's in the Med' that new threats - from an aggressive Turkey and a newly armed Syria - are now coming. For that Israel needs advanced surface ships. I'd say it's the Defense Ministry's call, but we know how politicized such decisions can be.

Withdraw and make peace with your neighbors and you won't need all of these weapons and lobbyists.

Dan, America's nuclear subs have cooling systems running all the time, and are NOT necessarily quieter than diesel electric running in silent mode. Also, US, British, French, Russian nuclear powered subs are giants, and cannot operate in many critical but shallow off-shore areas of the world. In fact the two types, big nuke powered, and slealthy diesel electrics, would make a great mix, but we get a lot more bang for the shaq with five or six or more D-E subs over one nuclear powered giant. And where to put it? Hardly any room now in Haifa port.

But...( there's always a but ) ,Israel already has several submarines and several more on the way or on order. These subs are very very expensive ,who is going to pay for them Mr. Lauder ?

David, the new Virginia Class of Littoral nuclear subs are very quiet and able to operate in shallow waters. The point about basing the subs in Haifa though is very well taken. Thankfully we both agree for a more robust defense.

Mutually Assured Destruction may not apply. The assumption that MAD would restrain Iran assumes that the Iranian mullahs think as we do, presumably with reason and objectivity. The mullahs await the return of the Hidden Mahdi. It may be that some in Iran’s leadership believe that apocalypse might move things along. In other words, MAD may not inform and contain events. Iran may not be motivated by the usual rational considerations of state, but by an apocalyptic end-of-world theology.

wants to annihilate you then you generally do not give up territory that gives you an advantage. If Israel withdrew to the so-called Green Line, then her neighbours were destroy her in no time. You know a lot of Israeli Arabs and Palestinians would probably be killed in the fighting. Surely you don't want that for your people. I hate to say it, but the only way to make sure there is peace with regard to Israel is for Israel to be the kid with the biggest stick. You can't use honey in this case no matter how delicious Israeli honey is. It will not make the bitter apples that have been presented to her taste any better.

I guess it could work if all the Palestinians would be christianpalestinian and would live in las vegas.

Israel has already withdrawn; from Gaza, from South Lebanon. And in return they got suicide bombers, rockets, mortars, shooting at a school bus, Hamas and Hezbollah. The problem is that you want Israel to withdraw from Israel while arabs who arrived from other countries can take over land that was Jewish well before the arabs came to the region. Welcome to Fantasyland.

The Virgina Class of subs sound great for Israel's needs if they are all you say but there real problem is political. Firstly as long as Israel has nuclear weapons nobody ( US included ) is ever going to sell it a nuclear submarine to much of a politically sensitive issue. This is the same reason why the Dimona Nuclear reactor is still operational, combine the words nuclear and Israel and you have a political nightmare. Then there is also the cost issue which is whats stopping the navy getting more heavily subsidized and I imagine much cheaper German subs. Israel's surface fleet is badly in need of modernization but its not happening because the politicians don't see strategic value of a strong navy. Israeli politicians still think its 1967 when all we need is a strong air force and some tanks then we can take on and defeat the whole world in a matter of days, they just don't understand enemies change and tactics need to be change.

you obviously don't follow history or the world news very much, Israel has given and given nothing seems to "appease" these beasts until there is no israel...after that time to work on that pain in the ass North America...smarten up child

"withdraw and make peace" you say? both halves of your statement contain falsehoods. the only place where israel can "withdraw" is from a place called "israel". the jewish claim to the land of israel is every bit as valid as the arab claim. jews have lived there longer, have purchased the land from rightful landowners, and have also conquered land legally, in defensive wars. "withdrawal" means surrender and suicide. no thanks. as for the "peace" that you offer, it is worthless. the very charters of hamas and fatah vow to never agree to peace with the jews, but only, after the example of mohammed, to make ceasefires to regroup and continue their ultimate destruction. at best, it should be called a "piece process". subs may be expensive, but the cheaper alternative is suicide. literally,

2 billion for a Virginia-Class is probably too much. For tiny Israel, four high-tech conventional subs strategically deployed would cost far less than buying AND maintaining one Virginia. Unlike the US, we cannot afford even one bad, messy nuclear hit in our country. So we need maximum flexibility and first strike, with exceptional intelligence. Retaliation is a distant second benefit. I'd like to see a fleet of 12 subs, realistically 9 minimum. Possibly we can build sub pens in Ashdod, but the navy doesn't consult me and what do I know. I still think the US and Britain made a mistake to completely eliminate stealthy conventional subs. The US did lease a Swedish sub and crew for 2 years, I think, to develop tactics. They ought to buy a dozen or so. They have some advantages over big nukes--and even a Virginia is too big for some stealthy coastal ops. But yes we agree on a more robust defense. 100%

Israel does NOT have conflict because of its armed forces. You have reversed reality, friend. We have a strong military because of the irrational and complicated violence aimed at us. We are the first people to dislike all the money spent on weapons, and being in uniform, and away from family. We are responding to violence, not looking for trouble. Hence the submarines.

Lauder makes a lot of sense. Israel does need to vastly expand her naval strength with nuclear weapons capable submarines. However, there is no substitute for destroying Iran's nukes. It must be done and fast.