Senior U.S. official: We don't expect Israel to strike Iran

[Behind the Aegis]

A senior American official expressed doubts that Israel will attack Iran, during a meeting with Israeli reporters yesterday.

"I do not think that Israel will attack Iran," the official said. "In all our discussions, the Israelis have emphasized that Iran is an international problem and Israel does not wish it to become an Israeli problem," he added.

The senior U.S. official also cast doubts on Israel's ability to strike at Iran's nuclear facilities.

"It would be significantly more complicated than the <1981> attack against the nuclear reactor in Iraq. That was a single reactor, and in Iran there are approximately 200 nuclear sites. True, some are more important than others, but it is difficult to be certain that all will be destroyed in one strike, and this is understood in Israel. The worst thing would be for you to try and not succeed," he said.

more...

(edited to correct link. Thanks for the 'heads-up' radfringe!)

[radfringe]

1. link doesn't work

takes you to "DU reply" page

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Corrected...Thanks for letting me know...

I am getting used to a new system and screwed it up. I should have checked it. I appreciate it!

[TomClash]

3. Duh

No kidding. A brilliant senior administration official. This sounds very much like Hadley.

If anyone strike Iran it will be the US.

[leveymg]

4. Olmert won't do it without Bush's backing and complicity. Bush won't do it

do it now that he's effectively in a straight-jacket.

Seems the inmates are no longer in charge of the asylum. Thank, gawd.

Time for a fresh approach. Hasn't Iran and Israel long had close mutual interests in common with the U.S. - isn't it time for all involved to acknowledge and work together on that basis?

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. After Lebanon

Olmert knows it would be a disaster for Israel to go after Iran or even Syria. Especially, now that the neocons are on the run and Rummie is packing his bags. I think their plans to remap the Middle East just got flushed down the toilet.

[DrDan]

6. I agree with you

This message would have been completely different had the election not gone well for us.

This school-yard bully is harnessed for a while . . .

[rodeodance]

7. whenever someone says that, their job should IMMediately be outsourced.

[Joe Bacon]

8. Yeah, and I bet they believe in the TOOTH FAIRY too!

That's right you Republican idiots. CLAP HARDER for Tinkerbelle!