Opinion
It won’t work without the Americans
Eitan Ben-Eliyahu
Published: 02.08.12, 19:56
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1. The US is broke and has distaste for war after Iraq & Afgani
SG ,   Teaneck   (08.02.12)
It's in no one's interest, neither Israel, the West, or the Gulf States, to allow Iran to obtain nuclear capabilities. However, goading the US into war will likely have repercussions for Israel and American Jews. Difficult situation.
2. with all due respect
alexi   (08.02.12)
we already heard from one of your people halutz who had no bloody clue as to how fo fight nasrollah and teamed with olmert in a dance of ineptitude. israel can do more than what you say.Air force chiefs should stick to planes and not overall strategy. IDF was against iraq and syiran hits so shut up.
3. Wow Eitan, it took a whole article to say absolutely nothing
Noodles ,   Coney Island   (08.02.12)
4. whether or not it works depends on Hashem
Ben   (08.02.12)
5. The author is right
TC   (08.02.12)
But unfortunately there's little chance that something significant will happend before next November from the US because of the elections.
6. BUT AMERICA AINT INTERESTED
DA URBAN POET ,   SAFED OPERA HOUSE   (08.02.12)
Especially under the current US administration .With all due respect to Major General Eitan Ben -Eliyahu ,the United States never tried to save the jews during the Holocaust and they will not do so today.
7. Countdown has begun
mxs   (08.02.12)
8. # You know more than IDF and IAF chiefs?
Jake   (08.02.12)
As well as Mossad and Shin Bet, and IDF Military Intelligence chiefs, who say exactly the same thing? GOOD! Then you supply your own army, Armchair Generalissimo, and do the job yourself!
9. Sure... take strategic advice from a guy called "Noodles"
Rafi ,   US   (08.02.12)
....from "Coney Isand" - as opposed to a former Major General in the IAF.... YOU MUST BE KIDDING !!! Talkbacks #2 Alexi and 3 Noodles: your arrogance knows no bounds. But that's fully in keeping with most of the right-wing nuts.
10. PRAY FOR ROMNEY
(08.02.12)
11. Why ....
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (08.02.12)
.... is everyone assuming that the conflict should be restricted to conventional weapons? Look -- Iran, as currently constituted, represents an existential threat to Israel. Whether in a week, a month, a year -- what difference would that make? Why should Israel live with that kind of a threat? It's not as if Iran hasn't spent the last thirty-three years pledging to "wipe the 'Zionist entity' from the map." In 1945, the United States made a decision: using the A-bomb would bring the war in the Pacific to an end. (Of course, it did end up requiring two strikes.) The alternative, which was an invasion of the Japanese home islands, would have prolonged the war by years, and would have cost one million American lives. A similar decision needs to be made with respect to Iran. Why should Israel live under a constant threat? It's time to stop being squeamish about the introduction once again of a nuclear device in warfare. For heaven's sake, the radiation released into the atmosphere from the disaster at Chernobyl was more than that of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. And what is so beneficial about Iran -- a tyrannical regime, local bully and state sponsor of terror -- that Israel should shy away from introducing non-conventional weapons? Iran has to be stopped. Sooner is better than later.
12. One option Israel always has
Joe ,   Canada   (08.02.12)
Assuming there is no secret US-Israel agreement on how & when to attack Iran's nuclear installations, then Israel is faced with the big uncertainty about the resolve of the West in general & the US in particular to stop Iran before the point of no return which Iran is rushing to reach. Given the declared objective of Iran to destroy Israel, then Israel has to act & might again consider to go alone to the task with the strong expectation that the US (& even perhaps some Euro countries) will be compelled to join in the fight. This expectation is based on the assumption that the Iranian leadership will not believe that Israel has gone on the attack without the tacit approval of the US. Consequently Iran will retaliate against the US & its Arab allies in the Middle East. So willy nilly the US would be involved if for no other reason than keeping Middle East oil flowing to the Western countries already in economic turmoil. The West would not be happy but Israel would get at least a respite from a threat to its existence.
13. Keep nagging !!! ,...
split ,   US   (08.03.12)
Wake up this Great Nation, make them see the true colors of your agenda, AIPAC warmongers and clean up US Congress/media of their moles. Keep nagging ,...
14. The Good Thing
Marty ,   Toronto, Canada   (08.02.12)
The Good Thing is that the Iranians will lash out at American assets in close proximity if/when Israel attacks which will drag the U.S. into the war anyway. The Iranians are too hot headed to limit their retaliation for an Israeli attack to Israeli targets. To #1 - there will be no need for American Jews or Israel to goad the USA into a war - Ahmedinanutjob will solve that problem the minute Israel attacks.
15. So if the U.S. refuses to save it, Israel should just die?
Daniel ,   Formerly Israel   (08.02.12)
Some soldier this man is.
16. leave us alone
george ,   washington d.c.   (08.02.12)
i wish you jews would leave us alone your always trying to lead us into war
17. WHat's happening to the IDF ?
David ,   On this planet   (08.03.12)
I am glad this one retired. Every other day another General is running scare, that makes the Israeli public very uncomfortable, keep your opinion to yourself and shut up already
18. the crop spoilers
moti ,   usa   (08.03.12)
i love the way how these people use to represent the top brass of the military and as soon as they are relieved of their position they $h!t on the system of which they were a part of
19. apparently
shloime ,   toronto, canada   (08.02.12)
apparently not all idf officers are equally gifted with the ability to see creative strategic solutions. this being a case in point.
20. Only Israel can do the job
Brod ,   USA   (08.02.12)
Israel cannot depend on Obama. Already Obama is cutting 500 billion dollars from the Pentagon budget to weaken America. Congress is still sleeping. It should should wake up and impeach Obama for endangering America's national security and defense. Only Israel can lead the Free World and do the job. Only Israel has ever managed to defeat the combined Arab enemies within just 6 days! No other country has ever achieved such victory within a short time. Israel can once again do it. As David tells Goliath, "You come to me with a sword, javelin...I come to you with the GOD of Israel." And the world knows the end result.
21. Major General (res.) Eitan Ben-Eliyahu does not get it
Mladen Andrijasevic ,   Be'er Sheva, Israel   (08.02.12)
“Otherwise we will be forced to live under the threat of a nuclear.” Quite disappointing to see that in contrast to Netanyahu, Barak and Ya’alon Major General (res.) Eitan Ben-Eliyahu does not get it He does not understand the nature and magnitude of the Iranian threat. Prof. Bernard Lewis: Particular importance should be attached to the policies, and perhaps still more the attitudes, of the present rulers of Iran, who seem to be preparing for a final apocalyptic battle between the forces of God [themselves] and of the Devil [ the Great Satan--the United States]. They see this as the final struggle of the End of Time and are therefore undeterred by any level of slaughter and destruction even among their own people . "Allah will know his own" is the phase commonly used, meaning that among the multiple victims God will recognize the Muslims and give them a quick pass to heaven. In this context, the deterrent that worked so well during the Cold War, namely M.A.D. (Mutual Assured Destruction) , would have no meaning. At the End of Time, there will be general destruction anyway. What will matter is the final destination of the dead-- hell for the infidels, and the delights of heaven for the believers. For people with this mindset, M.A.D. is not a constraint; it is an inducement... http://www.madisdead.blogspot.co.il/2012/05/why-are-bernard-lewiss-views-on-mad.html
22. BUT NOBODY CARES
DA RAP ARTIST ,   SAFED OPERA HOUSE   (08.02.12)
Nobody will stick their neck out for the jews.
23. The question is if...
Gunnar ,   Gothenburg, Sweden   (08.02.12)
...anyone, including the United States, wants to halt the Iranian nuclear program? And I mean REALLY WANTS to stop it... Terror balance has worked before and will work again; then why waste a lot of money, time and personnel, reasons most Americans. And why wouldn't they....
24. Nice, Real Nice
Brett ,   Florida   (08.02.12)
Are you just spewing propaganda as a headfake for Iran, or do you really have no faith in Israeli military might against an enemy like Iran? How about if you just believe in the God of the bible, that Israel will never be destroyed again. DO NOT count on Nobama! He hates Israel too. Didn't the open microphone comment tell you anything? He probably will tip Iran off, and they will still attack U.S. forces. Which Nobama will be glad to sacrifice.
25. Israel can do it alone with nuclear weapons
John ,   NZ   (08.03.12)
26. America never came to help
D Kaplan   (08.03.12)
America never came to help during WWII despite knowing millions of Jews were being exterminated., they only entered the war when Japan attacked them. America talked peace when Saddam was building Osirak reactor, but after Israel did the hard work, was able to invade & take over Iraq easily. America is 10,000 miles from Iran, Israel is next door. America is more worried about their economy, Israel their survival. Israel - do what has to be done....before its too late.....Attack NOW !
27. who benefitted from Osirak
(08.03.12)
And who benefitted the most from Osirak attack ? Obviously America, they were able to throw Saddam out from Kuwait & invade Iraq easily. If Saddam had a few nukes, he would have been the Emperor of the Middle-East by now !
28. Old hasben!
michael Pielet ,   israel   (08.03.12)
With all due respect the General is uninformed and living in the past.
29. to #13 Split
Bluegrass Picker ,   Afula   (08.03.12)
First show us that you can even secure your own borders with the blood of your own conscripted children, as we do; then we'll imagine that you're serious. Yes we lead you around like donkeys; guess why it's possible? . If the shoe fits, wear it.
30. Clueless
Rick ,   NY   (08.03.12)
This author must be as smart as his former colleague Halutz . Not even Romney has said the US would strike Iran; let alone the Obama administration
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