If Iran close to getting nuclear weapon, what should Israel do?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
There's a growing sense that Iran is getting closer and closer to making a nuclear weapon - and someone may soon have to stop them.
An Iranian flag flutters next to a ground-to-ground Sajil missile. Iran has boasted in the past of developing new weapons systems only to be met with skepticism from Western defense analysts.
Israel is now saying that Tehran has mastered the nuclear technology to make a nuclear bomb, with Israel's military intelligence chief saying "Iran has crossed the technological threshold," adding that the country continues to amass low enriched uranium. He says the Islamic republic is using expected talks with the U.S. and the West to buy time to get enough uranium to build a bomb.
The spy chief also says that even though Iran has mastered the technology, it still hasn't made a nuclear bomb and is probably still a couple years away from doing so. This would suggest they could be stopped before getting their hands on a nuclear weapon.
And Israel just might be the ones to stop them. A recent report by U.S. experts suggest Israel is seriously considering taking unilateral action to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons. The report says Israel's time frame for action is getting shorter due to Iranian advances and the possibility that they will upgrade their air defenses to give their nuclear program a further reach. The report argues international sanctions as well as financial pressure be increased.
Meanwhile Iran has just announced that it successfully tested a new air-to-surface missile. Nonetheless, they continue to deny they're seeking nuclear weapons.
Here’s my question to you: If Iran is now close to obtaining a nuclear weapon, what should Israel do?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
John from Rohnert Park, California writes:
Israel should do nothing. Action coming from them would certainly trigger a global call to war from the rest of Islam and we'd have an enormous mess on our hands. The clever move here is to have Saudi Arabia (who has a good air force) be the entity commissioned to take out that nuclear plant on our behalf. The rest of the Muslim world would accept the action coming from them, but never coming from Israel or us.
Mike from New York writes:
They should come clean about their own program (and thank the French and British for helping them set it up in the first place). That would be a good first step toward instituting a regional nuclear inspection regime that would be in everyone's interest.
Bob from Morristown, New Jersey writes:
The only country with the potential to stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons diplomatically is Russia. Russia may be more inclined to follow that course now in exchange for U.S. halting plans to deploy an ABM system in Eastern Europe. Israel should wait to see how the current diplomatic developments turn out.
Chad from Los Angeles writes:
Just take them out! We have too many conflicts going on, so Israel owes us this one. Any help to control the world's over-population. Thanks.
Deb from Illinois writes:
The question is not what should Israel do, but what will Israel do. Obama had better saddle up and do some big-time wheeling and dealing with other involved nations, to get a plan in place and working before Israel feels forced to act.
Jake from New Jersey writes:
Whatever they do, they need to do it by themselves and not expect us to do it for them or drag us into it with them.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Not a question of if , but when. Since Israel's arsenal of nuclear weapons will long be greater than Iran's, they should spend them time by making friends in the region, negotiating in earnest and defusing the powder keg.
Jack: Obtaining a nuclear weapon is one thing--the question is will Iran have the courage to use it? Isarel will never start the fight--but I can assure they will finish it--Isarel will hold until it sees the eye of the tiger.
Talk, talk, talk, because while you're talking, you aren't shooting.
There are precidents for two nemesis nations to both be nuclear. Putting asside the obvious example of the US and the Soviets, there's Pakistan and India right now. An enemy becoming nuclear is scary, but you know (and they know) that launching a nuclear strike would be suicide. Ahmadinijad is too much of a coward to risk his own skin... he just funnels money and supplies to others to further his agenda.
Israel should do WHATEVER is necessary to stop them. And we should help them.
Nothing will stop Iran, the chief harborer of terrorists left in the world, from selling a nuke which might one day find its way here.
Our country acts as though we have forgotten about 9/11. I have not!
Seeing as Admenijad has called for the destruction of Israel more times than he's called his own mother, Israel would have to act. And if Iran wants nuclear weapons so bad, perhaps Israel could give them their first one...
Hi Jack:
I think Isreal and the Palestian's need to make peace with each other. Learn to work and play well together.
Ron San Diego
Israel just needs to accept that Iran will have the bomb. If Israel bombs their nuclear sites the chances are very likely that radiation will be spewed out around the world making Israel the official monster of the world. Take in mind that if that happened our forces in Afghanistan will be in harm’s way. Also Israel needs to do a whole rethink on this situation. Does anyone really think Iran would nuke Jerusalem thereby killing all of the Palestinians along with the Israelis?
Two choices, prepare for an long, un-winnable, possibly nuclear war or......... be more polite.
Find a common ground to live in peace. NOBODY wins in nuclear proliferation and didn't the last cold war prove that all it does is bankrupt nations?
It would be nice to have an era of moderation in this world, after the centuries and ages of all you men trying to prove who has the biggest...
Israel should continue to do what it has done for decades, defend itself if necessary. If fact we should sell them all the weapons they need to do so. That way we don’t get bogged down in more fallout from the Bush disaster, and we might make a few bucks to help our emaciated economy.
Israel and the world needs to prepare for WW lll.
Jack,
Let Israel make their own decision, but we have to aid Israel by keeping the neighboring countries from entering what ever breaks out.
Israel has to protect itself. It won't make our job in the Middle East any easier, but they are the targets for any nuclear weapon developed in that region and they have to act in their best interests.
This is way beyond my pay grade, but I would hope they would try diplomacy first.
Israel should try to work with the United Nations in moving towards a diplomatic solution rather than immediately assuming the worst. It's one thing if they're close to obtaining one, it's quite another if they're activating and aiming it.
I could not presume to know what Israel should do if and when Iran gets a nuclear weapon. Only they can handle the situation and the USA should stay out of it. We have more than enough on our plate as it is.
If Iran gets a nuke, then Israel should defend herself....for a change.
Eat or be eaten! Its all about survival!
Wildwood Crest, NJ
Well, first Iran is quite a ways away from building a nuclear bomb, but the very best thing Israel could do is a peace treaty with the Palestinians and then one with Iran as well.
Hopefully Israel has learnt the Neo-Con bully, threat and attack tactics don't work..
Jack Israel WILL do what they feel needs to be done and take whatever action they deem necessary to be done. No matter what the U.S. or the rest of the world thinks.
What can they do, as any action by them will move us closer to
World War III. They are in a tough spot but then so is the whole
world. Hopefully our new administration will have some leverage
in trying to bring peace to the midddle east as additional fighing
is not an option.
First off, Jack, there is no solid evidence that Iran has either the desire nor the ability to get a nuclear weapon. Israel had better just shut up and sit tight and quit murdering innocent people in neighboring countries with their invasion attempts. President Obama should tell Israel, in no uncertain terms, that we will not tolerate them stirring up any more trouble in the Middle East and dragging us into illegal wars in which Israel refused to put any of their boots on the ground like Iraq and Afghanistan! President Obama should immediately STOP all the financial and military aid to that hostile little country and tell them "Daddy U.S." is not going to fund their barbaric actions.
Brownwood, Texas
It should be building real and earnest alliances with its neighbors instead of spending all of its military and political energies on preserving an inflexible self-centeredness, which does nothing but invite belligerence and enhance vulnerability.
i don't know..maybe a reasonable solution without causing wars.israel should know what to do anyway..
Israel doesn't need to do anything. Barack will talk to them and make everything good like he always does. And while he is at it maybe he can try to talk to the taliban. Oh wait he has already said that he will do that. For the 60% of the people that approve of this president can you please tell me one thing that you like about him with the exception of his great speaking skill in front of the teleprompter?
Use every legal method through the UN and their international allies to force Iran to stop. However, I don't think it will work. Luckily, their own weapons systems, and technology is superior, and they very well could resolve the issue alone if noone else steps in.
Attact Iran that's what Israel should do before its to late,because if Iran gets a nuke Israel gonna be the testing site.
Just take em out! We have too many conflicts going on, so Israel owes us this one. Any help to control the world's over-population-thanks...
Very simple take them out.
If Iran is now close to obtaining a nuclear weapon, what should Israel do?
Why does Israel HAVE to do anything? Iran, like Israel, has the right to have a nuclear program. Israel denies having a nuclear program and so does Iran.
Guess what is good for the goose is good for the gander., huh.
Will Israel make the mistake to attack Iran's nuclear site knowing that Iran has missiles aimed at Israel and won't hesitate to use them?
Israel shouldn't expect America to step in every time it takes a big stick and pokes the mad dog – we have our OWN folks to take care of NOW.
Jenna
Roseville CA
We need to watch and listen but we should not be inserting our self in to any other country's decision. 1967 was a year that we watch and listen and we should do it now.
Pray that diplomacy works; otherwise, we'll be deep in WWIII.
Israel should do NOTHING. Action coming from them would certainly trigger a global call to war from the rest of Islam and we'd have an enormous mess on our hands. The clever move here is to have Saudi Arabia (who has a good air force) be the entity commissioned to take out that nuclear plant on our behalf. The rest of the Muslim world would accept the action coming from them . . . but never coming from Israel or us. It's time to put the Saudi's claimed friendly relationship with us to the test.
They should come clean about their own program (and thank the French and British for helping them set it up in the first place). That would be a good first step toward instituting a regional nuclear inspection regime that would be in everyone's interest.
Jack, I don't know what the worry is all about, first of all everyone knows and Iran knows for sure, if they ever were to even think of using a nuclear weapon, Israel would snuff them out in a heart beat. The same goes for North Korea. These people might be thugs but they aren't stupid. This is a wagering tool for them that's all.
Israel has one of two choices. One is to learn to live with a nuclear armed neighbor who hates its very existence, or attempt to destroy, then redestroy, then redestroy in perpetuity the weapons infrastructure of their dectractors. I've given up any hope of a more harmonious solution, so I won't suggest that as an option.
Make peace with Palestine.
If Iran is now close to obtaining a nuclear weapon, what should Israel do?
Give them one on the nose of a cruise missile.
Bruce in Ohio
Isreal should find a way to make nice, If Iran gets a nuclear device, Israel will truly be between a rock ( Hamas), and a hard place ( Iran and any Arab nation).
I don't care. My main problem is on this side of the big water. If Iran gets out of hand, Israel will release their nuclear bomb and all will be over.
With Israel, "should" has nothing to do with it. They will do what they need to in order to protect their people. Unlike us, when they say "Never Again," they mean it.
Israel will have no choice but military action which will result in more military action and an escalation of more action.
Its sad that these two religions Islam and Judiasm havent realized that they are fleas arguing about who owns the dog they live on.
Go on the offense Israel! were with you
How about some diplomacy??? How about sending an envoy to Iran, to begin talking to their enemy? How about Israel making every effort to calm the tensions in the middle-east by creating an atmosphere of goodwill and willingness to sit at the peace table with their enemies?
I wont hold my breath.
NOTHING. Iran having even 10 nuclear weapons pose no threat to Israel, nor to any other country. Israel has probably hundreds and we have many thousands. Iran or any other country would have to be suicidal to use any of these weapons, We would wipe the whole country off the face of the earth.
Just another false scare tatic . It apears to be working.
Israel should do everything in its power to halt production of any nuclear program by Iran. Iran is just about the most deadly country .....the past proves that. Israel should do whatever they have to do!
Since Israel is a stated target for such weapons, and is within their reach, they should do whatever is needed to set the Iranian program back or eliminate it altogether, I believe most reasonable people in the world would view their action as one of self defense.
I would suggest "pray". I would not trust any "Spy chief" look what happened to the US when we listened to "WMD in Iraq". Anyone who wants to be bully of the world is going to lose. And take down half the world with them.
If any country threatens the existence of another and is actively pursuing the means in which to accomplish that task, I think it would prove futile to wait and see what happens. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Iran's leadership(?) is looking for trouble & will find it. Israel will not stand for Iran's threating nature. It's way past time that moderate's in Iran do something now, or expect war in the middle east.
David
Oblitherate the threat permanently and don't look for help from the weak willed West. We won't even attack terrorist leaders known to be at funerals.
Jack
It is not for me or any nation to demand Israel do anything. Israel first will try in concert with the US and other nations to solve the problem through diplomacy. If that does not work, then Israel will do what it always does, efficiently and effectively and without apology. The real choice here rests with the Iranians.
Pablo
in Arlington Texas
To put it in perspective - On the promise that he would not use it, would anyone in their right mind allow Rush Limbaugh (and his followers) to obtain the means to wipe out every democrat (man, woman and child) in the USA – ?? Think about it - Now, what would you do if you found out he (Rush) was 3/4 of the way to having such a device - I guess you could try to reason with him??
Israel should start world war III and drag it's #1 ally, the US, along with her. We need to have constant war so that the military industrial complex will profit and the heck with peoples' lives. Let Israel begin the next holocaust.
Defend themselves! If unilateral action is the path then so be it! Who are we and the rest of the world to tell Israel it cannot defend itself against potentially lethal enemies (especially one that wants to wipe israel off the map)? Let Israel and Saudi Arabia handle it (the Saudis don't want Iran to get the bomb either).
Since the Iraqi and Syrian WMD debacles I frankly don't believe anything Israeli intelligence says. The real secuity question is who is Isreal targeting with more that 250 nuclear weapons and under what circumstances would they use them.
If the media and "military intelligence" says that Iran is close to making a nuclear weapon, then Iraq must be close to running out of oil. We'd better send some troops into Iran and make sure there's no weapon's of mass destruction and while we're there.......let's get a pumpin'.
Iran's first nuclear deployment will most likely be a ground attack perpetrated in a way that would create enough plausible deniability for Iran's national PR spin doctors to work with. As construction equipment is becoming the Hamas terror device of choice you might watch out for a road grater with a nuke duct taped to it. There would be a sick irony to using a tool of construction as the delivery device for a weapon of mass destruction...
-Matt from Kansas City
Nothing!!!
First of all Jack there is no such thing as a unilateral action by Israel. Whatever they do and whatever consequences they face will be faced with the shadow of the United States wrapped around them. Israel can either take out the Iranian capabilities or ask the United States to bolster Israel's arsenal and let the Iranians know their country could quickly be turned into an ashtray should they ever attack Israel with nucleur weapons.
Jack
Once again as I have said many many times on this blog.We sit again
in denail dreaming that the bad guys will be good guys.Cow eyes
sitting in congress staring at the wall.We never act we always react........
This is not going to turn out good because we waited too long to talk
to Iran,we start a war for nothing and our greed brought down the global economy.No we can not change the course in Iran too little too late.
David Bebeau
Isreal, as a military state, has proven with the latest Gaza slaughter, that they are not to be trusted with rational decisions!
Think the question would be what the neighboring states should do! The real leadership in Iran is not Armadinajhad but the Khomini's and mullahs...With crude prices down- it would not be prudent to destablize the MiddleEast further!
Think they are reacting to the real threat of the US opening a dialogue with Syria....Sword rattling and etc!
Isreal had better take care of the mess they have created and the bad will that has come as a result!
Build a huge microwave and NUKE them and get it over with. This may start the war the world needs to get past this new recession/depression. It seems that the only way the world gets past this tough economic situations is to kill a lot of people and build bombs, tanks, and bullets for guns.
Hey Jack,
Israel should start fending for itself, stop demanding BILLIONS of Dollars every year from the American taxpayer, and shut down the Israeli corporate lobbiests in Washington that drive/ force/bribe American foreign policy to the point of doom and disgrace.
Israel is not a state in the Union, stop pretending that Israel's security has anything to do with the security of America, because it doesn't!
Israel has the same right to exist as my Grand father's homeland Yugoslavia.
Rich Monk, Carlsbad, Ca.
After the recent massacre in Gaza, Israel should not make any unilateral moves that will draw the U.S. into war. Calmer international heads must prevail here.
Jack, the Israeli government has warned that it will never allow nuclear weapons to be made in Iran. Now the United States is unlikely to give approval for any weapons to be used by Israel on Iran. (But I do recall Israel blowing up Iraq’s nuke production capabilities in 1981!!)
The question now is? What are the powers that be in the world of nukes going to do about the powers that are helping Iran make its weapon, then make a stockpile of them?
Israel should stop Iran with whatever means that is available and necessary for their safety...period, end of story.
Nothing, if Israel attacks Iran the entire middle east will be in flames. There was a US President 8 years ago who went to find weapons of mass destruction in a country that did not have any (Iraq). We may have to apy dearly for this blunder.
This sounds like a story straight from the Commitee to Liberate Iran. It's a shame that we have nowhere to turn for reliable truthful information. All I know for sure is that anyone who is not in business with us is considered dangerous, unstable and on the verge of something. If we continue to demonize Iran instead of engaging them, we will never really know anything about what they are up to. In that vacuum of knowledge, the neo-con view will be all there is.
Jack, I am sick and tired of worrying about Israel like it's our 51st state. I think the best thing that can happen in the Middle East is that Iran gets a nuke, then it'll be forced to "grow-up" immediately. And Israel is foolish for thinking differently.
I am certain that Israel is keeping a very close eye on the situation. If it must Israel will take unilateral action against Iran. Their existence depends on it.
Iran, formerly Persia, has not attacked another country in some 350 years. Compare that to Israel or the US. Iran has stated it would abandon it's nuclear ambition if Israel would dismantle it's illegal nuclear arsenal. Wouldn't that be preferable to starting another war and killing another million innocent civilians. The US could make this happen, they don't want to. There's more money in war than in peace and people's lives are just collateral damage.
Whatever they do, they need to do it by themselves and not expect us to do it for them or drag us into it with them.
The only country with the potential to stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons diplomatically is Russia. Russia may be more inclined to follow that course now in exchange for US halting plans to deploy an ABM system in Eastern Europe. Israel should wait to see how the current diplomatic developments turn out. Unlike their successful military attacks in Iraq and Syria, they do not have the element of surprise in Iran.
Israel should keep this a low-key activity. Perhap they'll learn from the recent diplomatic approach, rather than constantly resorting to military solutions for all of their problems.
"I'm going to Israel to help them make the bomb," That remark came from a nuclear physicist when he quit his job here in the states in the early 1970's. Israel has had a nuclear capability for years – and it's no secret. It's time for Israel to 'come clean' about its own nuclear capability, too.
It's time we all got over our 'poor Israel' syndrome.
Close to obtaining and actually possessing nuclear weapons are entirely different scenarios. Of course Israel wouldn't like it that Iran is close to obtaining a nuclear weapon, but I don't think Israel should bomb Iran.
John
Pampa,TX
Learn from the failures of the campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon. Air strikes against both regions did nothing to improve Israeli security, and only galvanized support for Hamas and Hezbollah. If Israel is to do anything they should look for ways to drive a wedge between the Iranian people and their government, a hostile action against the country will have the opposite effect.
Hi Jack,
Jack,we shouldn't be worry about 1 nuclear bomb from Iran. we are not sure even Iranian have one bomb or not yet . all is assumption . we should be worry about 200 nuclear bombs which Israel has it. Israel should sit on his own tail and watch it same as other middle eastern country's watching and probably worried about 200 nuclear bombs in Israel hand.
Reason with it's neighbors for once in their country's life.
Hopefully the Israelis are brushing up on their Farsi. We at least want them to try and resolve any conflict with Iran with dialogue and negotiation before dragging us into Gulf War #3. On an ironic note, maybe we would actually find evidence of "weapons of mass destruction". Third time's a charm, right?
(Roland/St George, UT)
Stand down. By now they know, the majority of the free world will take up their defense. Its just that way and perhaps the Bible best makes sense of this.
The question is not what should Israel do, but what will Israel do. Obama had better saddle up and do a some big time wheeling and dealing with other involved nations, to get a plan in place and working before Israel feels forced to act.
SinceTehran has already declared a holy war against the Zionists–which means Israel–what other option do they have except to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities? We as a nation and the world might not like it, but sanctions have not halted Iran's nuclear ambitions, and if I was an Israeli living in the holy land I can see no viable solution except taking them out, because peace between these two countries is a pipe dream.
Be "on alert"! Ancient Persia, today's Iran, was the final death blow for the Roman Empire! Persia obliterated it! They have a proud, and formidable history. While the US finds much of its foreign policies vetted by Israel, before they are enacted...Israel doesn't double-check with the US before they do as they darned well please! Bottom-line...Iran does not quake and whimper at the "sound" of Israel's "voice". Israel may play "fast-and-loose"...baiting Iran...and, unleashing a whirlwind! Hence, Israel may just tempt fate, and awaken, one morning, with a bloody horse's-head, in its bed...
Hopefully fade away so we can quit supporting their Palestinian genocide.
They can repeat after me:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
......(and so forth)
If they wait for Iran to pull the trigger first, or Obama to do something, it will be way too late for anything else!
Pray
Well Jack,
It wouldn't hurt if Israel officially admits that they have illegal nuclear weapons before they complain about Iran's nuclear program!
It is not what Israel should do. It is more like what is Israel waiting for !! Mr. Obama's administration is going to get a real awakening when Israel takes out the nuclear facilities in Iran. Iran has clearly shown contempt against Israel. Iran's latest launch of the "satellite" rocket is a clear indication that it is set to attack Israel. Should the world wait until the news break out of a nuclear attack on Israel and thousands are evaporated from existence ?
Jack; the Israeli's can never be accused of being subtle; they will act, and we will find out after the fact.
They should sit down across the table from Admadinjad and politely ask that Iran not drop any nuclear weapons on Israel. They could remind Iran that Israel also has nuclear weapons and any attack on Israel would result in Mutually Assured Destruction of both nations.
They should be afraid. And, when they are afraid, they tend to act decisively. Therefore, we should also be afraid.
If the world community needs any more encouragement to solve this, the prospect of Israel starting a hot war with Iran should do the trick. And if the Arab countries don't want a nuclear cloud drifting across their cities courtesy of Iran, maybe they should think of something to say to Iran which will prevent it.
Sanctions don't seem to matter any more.
Stop killing innocent babies and mothers and bombing randomly in Camp Gaza, that's what Israel should do.
Tino, NYC
Israel should do nothing. The U.N. should take the reins, given Israel’s proximity to Arabic nations they should never be the aggressor. Misinformation and what ifs got the U.S. into a six-year war that has brought us into a financial disaster. Let’s hope Israel has a leader with a lot more common sense that we had. Warheads don’t negotiate people do.
Well, Knowing how Israel operates, its pretty clear how they will handle it. they will send spies into Iran to find exactly where the stuff is being enriched and then they will set up a plan to bomb the place into oblivion. and sooner rather than later. Good luck. Course, it will cause all kinds of repurcusions but then the Israelis haven't particularly cared about them for some time now. sigh. I am from Sarasota, FL (mary)
Jack
We faced down the Russians by threatening mutual destruction. How much trouble is it to re-aim some missiles and promise any nation the same? The Israelis need do nothing.
Jack in Florida
I think the better question would be "what CAN they do about it?". It should be obvious that they can't do a thing. No one can. As much as we like to think its possible, one country cannot control another, even through force of arms. Its humanity's nature to fight against it.
Do what it always does stir the pot, Send troops to Lebanon or
Gaza and show how tough they are. Get the Right Wing going in
the US . The Same-o Same-o
If I were running Israel, Iran would have already been bombed back to the stone age!
Since Israel already has a Nuclear Weapon, what should Iran do? As a matter of fact, what should every Arab nation in the region do? With its occupation of three of its neighbors, Israel is the single most destabilizing figure in the region. Also, the U.S. is currently fighting two wars in the region, so imagine the repercussions when an Israel attack on Iran is seen as American proxy war on a third Middle Easter nation. The simplicity with which you proclaim your premise is precisely the reason why the Middle East is unhinged.
I am sure hell will freeze over before you read this on the air!
Jack–
Who knows? If Israel has a weapon, then they can play A-Bomb tag. Isn't it time for that part of the world to grow up. If they don't they are going to destroy themselves, and it won't be long.
Israel should own up to the fact that even though it has not actually tested a nuclear bomb, it has long been a nuclear power and is now in possession of many nuclear weapons, possibly 100 or more.. The United States should cease its uncritical support for Israel and cease making Israel America's de facto 51st state.
Firstly, where is the proof that Iran has a bomb, when they can't even produce their own gasoline? Secondly, have they proven they can hit a target XXX miles away? Tell me how long it took the US to develop the ability to do so. Thirdly, is Iran going to risk sending an unproven missile over Iraqi and Jordanian airspace?
Perhaps the US and Israel should get a grip...
Jack, If they learned anything from the Bush years and Iran poses a threat, then by all means they should attack Syria.
Jack,
Israel should destroy Iran's nuclear facilities. Although they will never admit it publicly, many of Iran's neighbors like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, etc. will privately sigh a gasp of relief.
Israel should do whatever it deems necessary to protect itself from Iran. And it should do it soon.
Israel has them too. Use them.
Its not a question of what should Israel should do, but rather, what should we do. Israel will take action if necessary and will do so even if they are alone. Iran has made it very clear that Israel should be wiped from the map, meaning Israel will be in serious jeopardy if Iran finally gets nuclear weapons. A new war will occur unless a coalition of foreign nations can somehow negotiate some kind of agreement. The U.S. must intervene in some way, but definitely not alone. This kind of situation requires immense support from various allies to solidify our position and determination to peace. If we cannot come to an agreement, I assure you we WILL be militarily involved in a fight against Iran sooner or later. As the only true democracy in the Middle East, Israel will not be allowed to fail by the U.S. government.
Who is to say really what kind of nuclear power agent Iran would be? If they want to use the energy to further their countries economy, Question is could they become a stanch ally in helping to capture and contain the terrorist in the Middle East, and promoting Peace all over. Could they be the super heroes we have longed since hoped Israel would be? Bringing Law in Order to the Middle East?
If they could be than I think we would be able to trust them more than any other country we now deal with. Talk to the People of Iran, Hear their voices. Talk to the poor see how they would feel about living unafraid and without threat of being defenseless. You know we will only get as good as we give, Except of course when it comes to Free Trade the worst deal our leaders could of every made for America"s welfare.
Does Iran have the right to produce their own energy, or become ,as we are, dependent on other countries?
Jack: If Iran makes a nuclear weapon or gets close to making a nuclear weapon Israel will destory it. The method of destruction is the only question which still as to be answered.
John from Alabama
Why should Israel be allowed to have nuclear weapons if they don't want other countries to have them? Really! After the massacre the Israeli's caused in Gaza, I should think they would want to hide their face in shame. Now Netanyahu is going to have a strong voice in their Knesset and he's one of the biggest warmongers there is. President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton, have the right idea. Let's start talking first, not sabre rattling. Israel doesn't have faith in President Obama, because he doesn't believe the answer to the worlds financial crisis, is in war and the sale of armaments. I was Pro Israels for 3 decades until I started to really look at what problems the Palestinians faced. Iranians want peace as much as Americans do, they won't let their government put them in peril.
Jack, Israel should do nothing when it's based on such a big IF. Iran has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has undergone many inspections by the same folks who told us that Iraq had no nukes. Iran has been found to have a program consistent with the peaceful pursuit of nuclear energy....like just about all of its neighbors in the Arab world. Iran has never attacked another country and has everything to lose if it picks a fight with Israel/U.S.. Those who want to attack Iran want access to their oil, some of the highest quality in the world. Israel is tired of buying Iranian oil through an intermediary because it's illegal for Israel to buy it directly from Iran.
Did we learn nothing from Iraq? Look behind the darn scene for who wins and who loses.
Rich Green
San Clemente, Cal.
Build lots of underground bunkers.
I don't know if they "should" do it, but I know that they will do it, and they won't ask our permission. If we were within striking distance of a nation who vowed to wipe us off the map, we would no doubt do the same thing.
Open talks up now! Clear up any mis understandings, and keep communication lines open. Staying mad is so childish so grow-up, make-up, and keep the peace.
I don't know, but I can guarantee you that whatever their decision is, the general consensus of the world will be that they were wrong. If they take action against Iran they'll be blasted for interfering with a sovereign nation. If they don't take any action they'll be blasted for not acting on the information they had when it was early enough to make a difference. Rule #1 for Middle East politics: blame Israel first, ask questions later.
Jack, Iran is not close to obtaining a nuclear weapon. You have been deluded by Israeli and American intelligence into trying to promote an attack on Iran much like the con job the Bush administration conducted against Iraq. Iran has signed a non-proliferation treaty with regular monitoring taking place unlike Israel who doesn't hold itself accountable to anyone. What gives Israel the right to instigate hostilities in the region when it is not warranted? This is the question the pro-Israeli U.S. politicians should be asking themselves.
This sounds an awful lot like what got us into Iraq and that sure didn't turn out too well. Let's be clear, Israel can act unilaterally, but actions taken by Israel are always perceived to be actions supported by the US. Given the aid it has received from us, the perception is not entirely off-base. We need to use all the diplomatic tools at our disposal, including engaging with Iran and other Mid-East countries to prevent Iran from acquiring a nukes, but we also need to get Israel back to the table as far as a two-State solution is concerned and get it to back-off from the threatening rhetoric.
Nothing! The U. S. and allies do not have a god given right to corner the nuclear market . A world with nuclear weapons is a very frightning place, so far i only know of one country that has used them.
Iran is no closer to getting a nuclear weapon than they were 20 years ago. Israel should try learning how to be a good neighbor rather than stoking the flames of war. Sure, Ahmadinejad is a jerk and he uses some inflammatory rhetoric, but sticks and stones, Jack...Israel is itching for a fight with Iran, and the nuclear canard is just another way of justifying their desires to invade Iran.
Nothing they are far to heavy handed to act on this they will only start another war that we will get drawn into, and we are far too broke right now we do not have the money, equiptment, and soldiers to spare for their over reactions!
Realize that the right wing government has not been working for years!
Jack,
Most of the U.S. news organizations didn't search for the truth about Iraq until it was too late. They were like stenographers writing down and reporting whatever they were told.
This is no different. There is more to this story. We just aren't hearing it. You, Wolf, we all have an obligation to not let another Iraq happen in iran.
Rich Green
San Clemente, Cal.
Despite all the claims that Iran is only interested in peaceful applications of nuclear materials, they seem bent upon building or buying ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. It's quite likely that Afghanistan or Pakistan will donate parts and people to Iran in the interest of furthering the peaceful spread of Islam world wide. There are only two targets Iran needs to hit in order to gain status in the Middle East and South West Asia.
The people of Israel know better than most that nations have no friends. Hollywood can offer apologies after someone blocks Iran's path to nuclear weapons.
Iran has not attacked anyone unlike well us Jack.
Iran says it is seeking nucular power for peaceful reasons Jack. not to build a weapon
Before we start another shooting match with another country again i think we need to take a big long look in the mirror, stop throwing stones at our own glass house and stop having the same people rachet up the war talk again
Thanks to Bush and his ilk there's been enough blood spilled already
They should step up to the plate , since sadly the United States , (it hurts inside to say this, as bleed Red White and Blue) is too either "politically correct" or simply doesnt have the backbone to do the deed, and at all costs prevent the Jihaddi Extremists from reaching any kind of ballistic capability, just like they did in the Early 80s...........no problem a formation of F16s , and Eagles armed with "penetrators" and "Daisy cutters" cant solve.......the entire future of our world rests with the brave in this case, as there is no negotiation with people that either want you converted or dead
Convert to Islam.
Jack: They better start taking with their enemies. Remember: the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Israel needs to take a chill pill. Other countries such as Pakistan and India have nuclear power. What gives Israel or the U.S. for that matter the right to tell any sovereign nation that they can or cannot develop a weapon.
Maybe I'm confused but isn't our sticking our nose into everything the reason the world hates us?
If Iran is close to developing a nuclear weapon, Isreal, in combination with the U.S., Russia, and other countries in Europe, should set up serious talks with Iran to see if talking with them will do any good, before any action is taken. Who knows? Maybe actually talking candidly will work this time.
It sounds like Iseral is laying the groungwork for starting another war to drag the US into. (As if we don't have enough problems already...)
Israel saying they will take unilateral action against Iran isn't helpful. That is what the United States did in Iraq and 6 years later we are hopefully going to put an end to the war there and move east to Afganistan.
From what I've seen since the Gaza war, the rest of the world will probably expect Israel to sit back and take whatever Iran dishes out, and then will blame Israel for starting it.
Where have all the handwringers gone?? Hamas is again firing rockets into Israel and I don't hear any noise from them!! Where is CNN's own Christianne Amanpour?? Why isn't she on the tube vocally demanding Israel stop whatever it is they do that forces Hamas to fire rockets at them??
Sorry I forgot..........it's our mere existence. Sorry, there will be no more Babi Yars.
Israel should get a bomb bigger than Iran's nuclear weapon. One of two things will happen; the bigger weapon will be a deterent for a Iranian nuclear strike, OR; israel could inhialate part of the Middle East and we could all have a good night's sleep for once.
Sleepless in Pittsburgh, PA
I feel it is okay for Iran to generate electricity via nuclear power, but a watchful eye will be needed to ensure that no nuclear or radioactive weapons are made. If they do make a nuclear weapon, they might find themselves having a little "accident" to deal with.
You wouldn't like my answer. I am still reading a bout Kenya. Somalia, and the Indian Ocean/Red sea. Let India deal with Iran They will have to if Pakistan gets any worse.. Read the Map.
Iran is NOT close to developing a nuclear weapon. You've make the mistake of listening to Wolf Blitzer (AIPAC Lobbist) and the rest of the Main Stream Media who spew lies 24/7.
I'm not going to answer this. I can't do it without getting myself on a list.
Well, Jack, if you knew that you were going to be the first one Iran nukes what would you do? Somehow I don't think you would just sit on your thumbs.
Blow it up. So go Israel ....you are the only hope the world has.
We will not be giving Israel any help....Obama has too many foreign catastrophes in the horizon. The bad guys know we way the young, good looking......BUT inexperienced and socialist president..... they are eating his lunch.
-N Korea....threatening to launch missile
-Iran – doing the same and behaving threatening with Nuclear
-Syria -we are to sucking up to them and they are funders
-Venuezela- Chavez.... already insulting him
-Russia–Pakistan- India
Joe Biden's secret conversation to the financial contributors...may come to fruition pretty soon..
If I remember correctly, Syria was in a similar position not too long ago. Israel took care of the situation as they are completely justified in doing with Iran. Iran with a nuclear weapon is a frightening thought.
The question really is "how will the world react to what Israel does". They have proven over the years that they will do what they think is best for their interests regardless what anyone else thinks. So if Iran continues down the nuclear road, we can expect an Israeli response.
The world will condemn them and they won't care.
Moot question Jack... first of all, several intelligence agencies have already said that Iran is years from having a nuclear weapon.
Next of all, they would not be likely to try to use them against us or Israel unless they are feeling like turning their nation into a smoldering hole in the ground. They will be outnumbered and out-armed for at least a generation.
What?Iran is progressing in its nuclear weapons?Didn't Joe Biden,when he was debating poor Sarah Palin,said he and Obama were going to talk to the real power in Iran,the mullahs,to get them to stop their pursuit of nuclear weapons?So what happened, Joe?Did you lie?And where in the heck is Joe Biden since he became Vice President?Anybody seen or heard from him?Maybe he's with the mullahs!
Speaking at Columbia University, Iranian President Ahmadinejad said Iran would accept any peace deal with Israel agreed to by the Palestinians. That's where our effort should be. (Incidentally, Hamas has said the same thing.)
Tamsin Crozier
Boston
With their new (renewed) right-wing Prime Minister they are going bomb, bomb, bomb. Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, boob Iran. It's not the right thing to do but it's what Israel well do. Ralph, Yakima, Wa.
Pray! Alot!!
Stop stealing Palestinian land. Stop killing Arabs. Stop immigration . . . forcing Arabs out. Stop claiming to be religious while continuing to party. Start living within their means without forcing the burden/onus upon people who were ALREADY living in harmony with the desert. Honesty would be something these people who are calling themselves, "Israel", might do.
Andy of Sierra Vista, Arizona
Not much they can do especially since Iran is buddies with Iraq's president Maliki. Now the entire region is together Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt. America blew it when we invaded Iraq.
This Planet today is Cooking. You can't afford to take your: Eye off the Ball. But more so of any Country who alread has Nuke's. All in the Middle East. It is a Hugh Area to cover. You have the access, so use it.
The report argues international sanctions as well as financial pressure be increased.
Jack,
same old solutions. Have they ever worked anywhere! How about straight talk about this world right to security and dignity to live an equal life as equal partners in respecting and learning from each other's culture, religion and language !
Not a thing.
Al
Dallas
Please ask Israel the question, directly! Asking the public such an extremely political and international security question is highly inappropriate! This is a kind of polling that seeks out those adverse to the answer that the pentagon or Israeli military has allready decided on, a long time ago. And as a common man, let the powers that be keep their military strategies and secrets to themselves! The answers would probably horrify the world and nations truly seeking peace! This comment doesn't need " Awaiting moderation."
They probably already have it.israel should strike the facility. One thing is for sure, this would never have been an issue if Jimmy Carter worst president in history would have supported the Shah of Iran in 1979. He was pro west and the country was taken over by terrorists. 30 years later we are paying for it in billions of dollars. Thank you Jimmy Carter.
Can Hillary negotiate a MAD (mutually assured destruction) agreement between the two of them? It would save us a lot of money, all that aid to israel, gaza, a two trillion dollar war with iran. ..
They just cant go to war, unless both countries are completely destroyed with no survivors, then in 250,000 years we can establish western democracies on the cooling soil, and grow 50lb tomatoes to solve world hunger See there is a way for everyone to win.
Funny how few comments there are on this subject. I don't suppose that it has anything to do with the fact that the U.S. government's position of total support for Isreal is not at all the position of the U.S. citizenry their supposed to be representing.
As to the question, Isreal has no option but to continue what they are already doing: spouting propoganda and padding the pockets of their store-bought political support in Washington.
Isreal may be big and bad when it comes to attacking civillians in a walled city, but starting a shooting war with the combined armed forces of the nation of Iran would be nothing short of suicide.
Before or after they come back from the Bombing Raids Jack? We should have already taken out anything that even hinted it was related to Iran's nuclear desires. Maybe Israel should borrow a few of America's VERY LARGE nuclear bombs for those runs.
What gives Israel the right to dictate who should and shouldn't have nuclear weapons? Israel has nuclear weapons itself, and if it feels threatened by Iran, just send one of their nuclear bombs over to Iran...and Iran can return the favor. Just leave us OUT of it !
How many years have we been told Iran, Iran, better yet the whole middle East. We go in and find nothing then, come up with every other excuse to stay while our country goes down the drain and lives are shattered. What ashame!!
Israel should return Palestinian lands, apologize and make it one nation with shared government that separates Church & State. That is the ONLY solution which does not guarantee the total destruction of the Jewish homeland. There will never be peace as long as Israel keeps total control over Jerusalem and treats Muslims as second-class citizens.
Maybe... Israel should get over it. For that matter maybe Iran should too. Generational blood feuds cannot be made logical or ligitimate.
I don't recall the US ever making war with Canada and not with Mexico in a hundred years or more... WOW!! The US is leading the way showing that Peace with your neighbors IS possible! Who-da-thunk-it? 🙂
Shut up sit down and let the world go on. We cannot allow them to get us into another war.
Seems to be an easy question with very hard answers. Iran, with a bomb, is not a stable entity. I can not imagine that their having the bomb is a good thing for anyone except Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He used his position to control the minds of a few around him. Hitler did that too. It took us years to get rid of old Adolf. History has come around again.
So who gets the job this time? The real issue is whether to use force and if that is given, who better to give the job to than the one who Ahmadinejad has threatened? Do you know of any group with more motivation?
Jack, it's obvious that if Iran is about to get nuclear weapons then Israel should also......eh, I guess they already have.
Unless Israel is read to start a war with Iran, my guess would be that they learn to live with the threat of nuclear war, the way we have in the USA for the last fifty-plus years.
Jack,
Iran is a rogue state that has vowed to destroy Israel. If they get a nuclear weapon, there's no reason to believe they won't use it. Israel has a right to protect itself. If they can destroy the weapon with a precision strike, they should. Otherwise, they should make it clear that use of any weapon of mass destruction on Israel by Iran will result in the total destruction of that country. The U. S. should back up that threat.
Jim
Reno, Nevada
does anybody really know.
Barb
Skowhegan Me
Jack,
If Iran gets nukes the Israeli answer is obvious. Attack. Attack now to avoid nuclear disaster. Iran clearly doesn't have the maturity, intelligence, and clout to hold such dangerous weapons. I would rather put Mahmoud Ahmadinejad down than to have him intimidating the national stage with nukes.
This is the one time we fight to present a holocaust.
Jose,
Dallas, TX
we all know Israels dirty little secret that it has USA nuclear bomb
let them use them and that will get rid of all our problems
Iran has to be isolated. Which means Israel has to get Syria, China and Russia on their side. Maybe Israel can get a face book account and "friend" those countries – bombing their weaker neighbor and not listening to the rest of the world – hasn't worked.
Live by the sword...
Why should anyone stop Iran, why shouldn't those people who claim to follow the commandment's of God, and yet would steal land away from others with the tip of a Sword...
Israel should be taken and divided back to those people who it originally belong to: all of us on this Earth. It isn't holy land, just a historical site: equal to that of a world heritage site.
Those who cross the river Jordan with the intent to take that land, oh so long ago... they did not follow the word of God: they broke the contract in killing: so are defaulted on owning the land. They can remain residence, but in truth, the holy place for those hebrew: is the mountains and that special valley within the Sinai desert and its mountains: those who call themselves israeli: israel: founded by placing a man into power: who was corrupted by that power: and ordered a slaughter to have that man's spouce.
Israel... is just a place to call for war to come remove those who would take land by the sword... Iran doesn't want the land: so would the act of sending a nuclear missile: and what then are jewish designs for Iran if they do not possess a A-bomb, will they eventually be taken by force for some infraction or another made up by the international community to stop the just treatment of possible witches: the bible cast out sorcery... to cast a stone in punishment: when the whole of the community commits a murder: they are all responsible: to allow the death of criminals by stoning... to cast the first stone: it would need to be the only stone ever thrown by that person, as they would ever after be with sin.
The people of Isreal exploited a bad situation created of war time: and took land to be free... but they took the land that was taken from others, instead of taking the land which was granted them: culture wins: not violence...
I do not fear an Iran with a nuclear warhead: as they likely already have one purchased from the Russians in the seventies...
Israel needs to come together with the rest of the world to condemn the Iran's efforts to create a nuclear weapon. The United Nations inspectors need to conduct a search of the country like it did in Iraq and everyone needs to wait for their findings and believe what they say unlike we did for Iraq. Another war on the premise that someone is rumored to have nuclear weapons is unacceptable. We do not need to ignore the possibility of WMD's, but we don't need to fabricate what does not exist.
Carry out a pre-emptive strike, obviously. While the Arab world will be all up in arms, I don't see much choice as Iran's stated intention is to wipe the Israelis off the face of the earth!
Israel should rally the UN for support to stop the production of nuclear weapons in Iran. If Iran gets nuclear weapons, its a whole different ball game in the middle east. Look at what's happening now in North Korea.
Well they could pull a Bushie and invade Syria or some other Moslim country or they could try negotiating. I don't think they can depend on the US to help. We lost our street cred 8 yrs ago.
HEY, If Israel wants to bomb Iran, let's not stand in the way.
Before Iran can threaten anyone with their aquisition of a nuclear weapon, they would have to test it. Once they do, Israel should be prepared to 'test' two weapons the very next day in a neutral area. Then send Iran a note to abandon their pursuits or Israel will 'test' another two weapons, only on Iranian soil.
Walk softly, and carry a big stick as they say.
The world must stop radical Islam from controlling any WMD.
Jeff
New Britain, CT
I Think Israel knows they are doomed one way or the other from Arab hatred, if they want to start the war it will be on their shoulders and not ours.
Isreal makes Bush look like a Dove. They've always maintained insane estimates on how close Iran is to a nuke when agencies and reports including the American National Intelligence Estimate (anyone remember that report about a year ago?) keep pegging it at a much longer timeframe.
The first question to ask, Does israel have nuclear weapons? If so they should adopt the same plan as the U.S and the Soviet Union. Mutual destruction. The problem is the Soviets did not think they had 72 virgins waiting for them.
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl
For the time being Isreal should do nothing radical, remember, "weaponds of mass destruction". Beefing up our inspectors, and opening dialogue may have more results than saber rattling. How about Isreal pursuing a nuclear arms disbandment with all the states in the region. Isreal would have a more compelling arguement if it acknowledged what the world already knows, and deal form a more honerable position. Besides, Isreal has enough comventional weaponds to annihilate the entire region.
Israel has 100-200 ILLEGAL nuclear weapons. They don't have the right to tell ANYONE else they can't have nukes also.
only one thing take em out before they can strike
Israel will do the same thing we would if Venezuela had a Bomb and were that close to us - We would attack and wipe out the Plan's of Hugo Chávez. I do not think the UN can help now and Israel has no choice but attack before they get attacked
I think what Israel (and the Palestinians) should do is make peace and reach the two state solution. If this happens, the Saudi peace initiative goes into effect, and if that happens, Iran will never touch Israel.
Christian Haerle
Zurich Switzerland
I'm inclined to take the ravings of a madman at face value. It was certainly the case with Adolf Hitler in "Mein Kampf" and it is no doubt the same with Ahmad Amadinijad. He is a staunch ideologue who has openly stated he wants to wipe Israel off the face of the map. Guess what? I believe him! Even alerting this madman that a retaliatory response would result in the death of 70 million Iranians will not deter him. He believes it is "Jihad" his holy duty. A military strike against Iran would not only spare Israel but the tens of millions of Iranians that would die in the aftermath. I look at it as surgery, cut out the cancer and the patient can live on. Ignore it and suffer the consequences.
Are those the same "experts" who "found" WMDs in Iraq?!
Israel should just accept the fact that there are other nations in the world. And every nation should be allowed to defend itself. If Israel is allowed to have nuclear weapons, Iran should be allowed to have nuclear weapons. Plain and simple.
Israel should NOT get involved , it should ALLOW the UN or the IAEA settle this Issue . Israel is not the world Policeman to interfere , after all Israel has Nuclear weapons since the 50s . so who is isreal to complain about Iran IF indeed the latter is closer to a bomb . Israel Should keep OFF , it has helped Destroy Iraq , Lebanon and Gaza . Enough is enough .
Jack I think we all know what they are going to do, the question should be 'when'.
Roy
Olympia, Wa.
Diplomacy, not war. We talked to the Soviets and now its time to talk to the Iranians, actually its time to listen, we talk way too much.
i think if israel thinks iran is threatening them and they know what there plans are once they have a nuclear weapon then i think they should take military action to defend themselves
What should Israel do? Level the playing field; get rid of all but one of their nukes.
Nothing, they would not dare use them. They are merely acquiring the nukes for protection. Same reason Israel has Nuclear Weapons, its all about who can defend themselves. Nukes act as a deterrent
Frank
Louisiana.
Who else had the guts to face down Iran, so why not Israel. And no one respects Israel anyway... so who best to go in there and get the job done.... done right! Didnt they go into Syria to take out some alleged nuke facility there.
If it weren't for the all of the oil the Arabs and Iranians (and other Muslims) happen to have... if it weren't for the anti-Semitic predisposition of so many in this wonderful world, the Arabs and other Muslims would be seen for what they are: mostly barbarians who don't know the meaning of democracy, of freedom of expression, or of tolerance. If it weren’t for all of their oil, we’d probably be thinking that they ought to be re-colonized. The same is true for some of the African countries such as Zimbabwe, Somalia, and Sudan. Let's face it; some people are not ready to govern themselves. The Palestinians rejected a mostly corrupt regime (the Palestinian Authority or Fatah) and instead elected fanatics (Hamas) and despite the pain and misery that resulted from this self-inflicted choice, they seem to want more of the same. The time for "peace" seems to have expired. Israel surely made some mistakes when it occupied conquered land in 1967, but going back to indefensible borders was not one of them.
The sad thing is that being forced to live in such undemocratic societies; Arabs and other Muslims do not have much choice in deciding their fate. Their leaders take actions that make victims of their citizens. Still, Arabs and Muslims don’t appear to want to view their Jewish cousins as liberators. They are the occupiers, the infidels, et cetera. The Arab people are in need of rescue just as much as the people in Darfur. The "civilized" nations of the world, and I include Russia and China with some reservation, should sit down together and decide how best to re-colonize the uncivilized world and share the precious oil resources while protecting the colonized people from their own leaders. Have we forgotten to examine in the media the contribution that spiking oil prices have recently made to the global economic condition?
Jack, Israel HAS nuclear weapons right NOW...what should Iran do?
Blow up the Iranian government and liberate the people.
Israel is damned is it does, nuked if it doesn't!
Duh! Bomb the hell out of suspected nuclear facilities capable of building the device. Discussions will be a waste of time.
Absolutely nothing! If America and Israel are entitled to nuclear weapons, why shouldn't Iran be? Last time I checked, Israel has been the aggressor in the last few regional conflicts and Iran is still a sovereign nation.
Israel exists illegally. If the US would stay away from Israel, there would be no midle east problem.
Israel is a European country dropped in the middle of Arab lands. It has no legal right to exist there.
I hope Iran developes a nuclear bomb and uses it against Israel. this is the only action which will put an end to all this .
Israel should do whatever they feel is necessary to protect themselves. Too often, the U.S. has begged and pleaded and threatened Israel to get them to do what we want them to do. They are not our puppy dog and should not be treated as such.
Well Jack since Iran has made it's intensions very clear if it does get it's hands on a nuke, the Sampson option for Israel may be the only choice!
Israel should admit it has Nuclear Weapons and make a commitment to dismantle all of them. Thus, Iran will not have an excuse to create one.
If Israel wants to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, Israel should offer to get rid of her nukes.
Jack,
The Israelis do not suffer from a lack of common purpose. Especially when it comes to defense of their homeland. Rather than engage in the whole "what about this, what about that" hand wringing, they'll just take them out.
Israel is going to have to do what it always does...do the US' dirty work. Israel will most likely have to complete air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Of course, after the dust settles, all hell will break loose between the two countries. Obama will have his first foreign policy test. If he's smart, he will back our only actual ally in the middle east...Israel.
Israel is in no way justified to take "unilateral" action against iran. Sick and tired of entire world pantering to israel's unreasonable requests and expectations form other nations why they themselves have no accountability! US should stay out of it, and israel should worry less about what other countries are doing and more on working on stopping its oppression of millions of people everyday.
Maybe its time for them to move, Iceland might be for sale real cheap..
Israel, should worry about it own 200 nuclear bombs, and stop trying to convince us that Iran poses a threat.
Israel in a serial UN-resolution evader , an occupying power.
How can people worry about Iran, when you have a nation, which occupies, another people's land, violates their rights, destroys their houses, exploits their natural resources, and you are asking if Iran is a threat? Gimme a break.
easy, help israel blow up their nuclear plants
Simple! Israel should attack Iran's nuclear reactors with the tactical nuclear weapons Israel got from the United States! In case you didn't know it, Israel has nukes . . . So why not Iran?
Dennis
PRAY AND WAIT UPON GOD AFTER ALL THEIR HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE
Jack,
Just like the story preceding it, about the Chinese sailors harassing a US Naval ship, Israel is also testing the US. The Israelis want to know what the depth of the Obama administration's commitment to Israel is. Look for the Obama administration to offer a relatively low level of moral support. The last thing we need is to fight another war – especially for someone else.
Dave
Nothing. Israel has had the technology for years. Remind me again, why can they have it and others not? Keep in mind, most middle eastern deaths over decades have been because of the Israel Palestine conflict, while Palestinians have only stones and a few smuggled weapons.
Let me ask you this, given that Israel and the threat they cause in the middle east, what should countries all around it, do?
We talked to the Soviets, lets talk to Iran. Iran has a long history of America being involved in its politics and policies, and usually beneficial to America. Americans forget the past century of the "interventionist" strategy that has led to more and more enemies across the world. In and Iran for example, we established a Jewish state in 1948 in Israel and forced millions of Palestinians from their homes, this is like Mexico taking over Kansas and wanting us to do nothing about it. In the 1950's when a popular prime minister nationalized oil with the approval of the people, the American and British CIA and military ousted him and put in place a leader that was in our interest. In the 1970's we stood by the Shah as he tortured and killed his own people and would not listen to their cry for help. Now we wonder why there cannot be peace in the Middle East. The Middle East will never see peace until the powerful, intimidating US presence is gone and the "friend of the world" America returns.
Jack,
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called the dissolution of the state of Israel.
That tells us what Israel will do.
Mr, Cafferty rightly asks the question about Israel's *right* to protect itself from its own perceived threats. The answer, IMO, is a resounding "YES"! Would you, in a dangerous neighbourhood, ask someone from thousands of miles away to protect you, much less understand the conflict itself?
Israel should agree to give up the nuclear weapons it already has, and agree to international inspections, if Iran would agree to stop its quest for nuclear weapons, and allow the same international inspections.
What, about that is not, fair?
Israel should declare its neighborhood a Nuclear Free Zone and pledge to destroy its more than 200 bombs and other WMDs.
It is clear, Isreal should wipe out the nuclear capabilities of Iran. A better solution however, is for Hillary to tell Iran to get all personnel away from the development area, send in th the B2's, and take care of the problem. We (USA) need to take the initative and take care of the problem now. Why wait? Why make Isreal take the blame? Don't we still have broad shoulders?
Israel should try talking for once and maybe offer to get rid of their nuclear weapons in exchange for Iran not seeking theirs. After all, Iran is probably seeking nuclear weapons in fear of Israel. Besides, why should terrorists be afraid of talking to other terrorists?
A nuclear Iran is a danger to Israel, having publicly stated their desire to destroy Israel. Israel should use diplomacy, sanctions and as a last resort, military action.
What should Israel do Jack? Nothing. A Nuclear Iran means the US will think twice before starting a war there. What right does Israel or the US have to deny Iran the means do defend themselves?
Diplomacy has given way to the military. The military has become a political weapon used to place white Christian American ideals on the rest of the Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Arab, Persian, Asian world. America we are no more favored by God than Iran or any other country in the World. Lets take a common sense approach for a change, what we are doing has not worked and keeping our enemies at bay and starting the third world war is not the answer. God Bless the World!
israel people should pack their stuff and leave the area as soon as possible
They should do exactly what Iran did when Israel got its nukes. (Nothing) In fact, if Iran wants a nuker so badly, we should just give them one. Then we could explain how nukes haven't done us any good over the past 60 years, and if you ever shoot one of these things off, the retaliation will be the end of your country and everyone in it. They could be just like us.
ok jack lets say the united statesmakes a deal with iran so big so what there going to do it any way the enedeble is on its way dont kid your self iran has its own area 51 theres only one way to deal with iran and that is to be ready very ready.
If Iran has a nuclear weapon, it won't launch it Israel for fear of retaliation. Instead, it will give the weapon to radical Islamists to launch it because they want to see Allah to get away from desparate lives!! Only cheap oil prices will keep Iran and the Jihadists from building an atomic weapon. Thomas Pitner
If we wait for Russia or China to help with this situation we may as well well for a miracle from God. The world at large has been told that Israel is to wiped off the map. If I had any say, let the Israelis be proactive. It is hard to complain from the grave
Iran is controlled by islamic radicals and is not the most stable goverment. They hate america and our allies and want to devastate a certain race.let them develop nuclear weapons? jack, some folks are just crazy.
That's easy Jack,They should all take off their clothes,both Israel and Iran .When they stop laughing ,they should talk to each other!
Maybe Israel should consider giving up their own nuclear arsenal and signing the nonproliferation treaty. Then Iran would have no reason to pursue a nuclear bomb. Why should we allow Israel to possess such weapons, while denouncing others in the neighborhood for trying to get them? Unlike Israel, Iran has never actually attacked any of its neighbors. If anything is ever going to change in the Middle East we need to quit giving Israel a free pass and treat the parties with a little more neutrality.
In exchange for Iran destroying its nuclear weapons capability Israel should offer to destroy its 200 plus nuke!
I'm sure that the U.N. would happily agree to monitor their compliance.
Of course Israel will do no such thing. They want to be the ONLY ones in the neighborhood who can threaten their neighbors with annihilation.
Hey Jack, maybe if Iran did have the bomb, there might be some stability in the region,,you dont think the Iranians are really stupid enough to actually use it do you? And the last i heard [ from sources] is that they werent pursuing nuclear bomb material. Let them have the bomb and see what happens
Re: Iran and a nuclear bomb; Israel has had a nuclear arsenal for years, provided by the U.S. government (taxpayers) Israel has used that threat to attack and harass its neighbors, such as Lebanon and Syria, and is steadily taking over Palestine. Why should Iran not have the right to its own nuclear weapons? Perhaps we should remove Israel's nuclear arsenal as an inducement for Iran to back off.
This Israeli saber rattling is just one more of their attempts to influence US foreign policy. The IAEA and other experts have stated unequivically that Iran is years from a nuclear weapon even if they are seeking one . The experts say that Iran is refining uranium at 2.5% for lectricity while they re a long way from 95% required for a nuclear weapon if they are in fact trying to develop one. It is all insane . Israel has at least 200 nuclear weapons on land and and in subs . Iran would be utterly destroyed if they sent one or two to Israel. It is all part of the great game of geopolitics
I am a persian jew. So I have cultural feelings for both Iran and Israel. First of all Israel has nuclear weapons and should not be pointing fingers. Two strong armys getting crazy on eachother.., there are 5 millions jews living in israel, 80 million persians in Iran.... You do the math.
No, not yet.
What shoud Isarel do? Not a damn thing! Here we go again! How do we know what is said is true?
We will end up another war because of another bald-face lie. Our military is exhausted; our equipment needs replacing; we are broke and are borrowing.
If we start another war, we don't have enough sling shots.
David
of
Olympia
Israel constantly finds itself in the position of the "bad guy," yet when it is explicitly threatened, which it is constantly, almost nobody comes to help it. The country is sentenced to a sad fate where it is the lone defender of freedom in a sea of intolerance.
The US should all such intelligence rumors from Israel. The track record of Israeli intelligence advising the US is below par. Prior to 9/11, Israel did not advise the US about a pending attack. Prior to the Iraq War, Israeli sources declared that Saddam Hussein was in control of WMDs - and they urged us to attack. It is sad to see Cafferty and CNN providing a platform for further anti-Islamic war mongering from such an untrustworthy source. The IAEA has declared that the Iranian nuclear program is domestic only. The Supreme Spiritual Leader of Iran, Ali Khameini, has issued a fatwa against nukes defining them as, Un-Islamic. The US has too many wars already and there is no casus belli vis a vis Iran. Any further heightening of tensions would undermine the new trend in foreign policy orchestrated by President Obama, Secretary Clinton and their team of advisors including George Mitchell and James Jones.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Where is Mr. Bond when you need him? What the CIA doing to get the US and Israel informed? Don't we have any good spies anymore to give us the proper informations? Get all the western countries together (for a change after 8 years) and let's work on it. It has to be a way to stop them and it seems to be more important than the destiny of Irak.
For hundreds of years they've been fighting with each other and now we're suppose to referee.
How Much Does It Pay? Because I don't do free. I do pay me.
For 50 million I'll have peace and pancakes served up.
Jack,
Israel is free to do what it wants and history has shown that. If they do choose to attack Iran they should be very prepared to deal with the consequences. However, I believe their rhetoric is just that, there will be no American backing to an attack and the last thing that we need is a third war in the Middle East.
HELLOOO ITS NOT WHAT ISRAEL'S GONNA DO ITS WHAT THERE GONNA HAVE TO DO. SO TIRED OF THE IF WORD LOL. IRAN WILL GET A NUKE.
Jack –
I can tell you what they won't do...and that is to do nothing. The stakes are way to high and the risk too great for Iran"s closest number one enemy and target. I will assume however, that Isreal will gather international support for a multi-national coalition and push for a worthless UN resolution all as a prelude to a United States backed war Machine! The US can't afford to do nothing either. We'll see how far Iran wants to test the new administration as well.
Israel should not back down in pursuing to take actions in stopping Iran even if it means acting on their own, Iran should know by now what Israel is capable of, Ahmadin Najad should ask Hamas how Israel deals with radicals...
America and Israel have nuclear weapons . America says that Iran can not have nuclear weapons because they might use it . Of all the countries who posses nuclear weapons , only the United States has used it . Why can the Jews have a nuclear weapon and not Iran ? Why can America have nuclear weapons and use it but nobody else can?
israel is in no way justified to attack another country without any justifiable reason, speculation of WMD being created in another country without hard proof is just illegal and no justification for it. its only fair, i didnt see any country saying anything on israel's nuclear weapon, they are just full of hypocrisy.
If Iran gets the weapon nothing is likely to happen. Why? Because the strategic rivalry between Israel and Iran will fall under the MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction) scenario, much like the US and the old USSR did during the Cold War. The mullahs in Iran are not ascetic men like we believe in the West; they are rich, spoiled and rule with absolute power, I hardly think they'd give that up for the sake of destroying Israel. The mullahs may be crazy but they are not stupid.
Please! Isreal is currently in violation of several UN sanctions and they have the "bomb". Obama and Lugar ought to take what they started together in the US Senate to the next level. The next step is complete nuclear disarmament accross the globe! After all, the only nation to ever use the bomb ought to be the nation that leads the way to getting rid of those awful weapons, until then we and Isreal probably have little credibility on this issue.
Nothing! Israel has no right to do anything, especially when all previous intelligence reports have been fabricated. Maybe Israel should go search for the Iraqi WMD. If anything, Israel should give up its Nuclear weapons, which pose a real threat to the entire region. At least let Israel sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which by the way Iran did sign.
Instead of a "never again" militant approach, Israel should use a "never again" diplomatic approach. Israel should consult and work with its Arab neighbors– and the U.S. and the U.N. Diplomcy is a good thing- even if the U.S. has chose not to practice it in the last eight years.
Jack, who is Israel to be telling Iran not to build nuclear weapons, when Israel itself is working on 5th generation nuclear weapons?
Iran has its rights and although we may not like their politics, Israel attacking them will have a slippery slope effect, which can escalate tensions beyond imagination.
Israel must exercise restraint!
I don't believe Israel's claims (not even a bit). Of course, Israel has no shame in killing innocent people, but it better not in this case! The consequences are dire!
Well, here we go again. Another war we don't need. I can't say I'm surprised. Now if Israel bombs Iran we will undoubtedly get blamed. We keep funding Israel and that has gotten us into enough trouble already, now what good could possibly come from us founding Israel's own crusades in the middle east? Maybe we should take all this money we spend on our over seas empire and take care of ourselves for once.
Stop talking about the leaders in Iran, and tell me why Iranians should not enjoy the benefits of nuclear technology? why not for peaceful purposes?
The amount of war mongering on this blog is disgusting. Comments like "Bomb Away" and calls for Israel to "test weapons on Iranian soil" are sickening. No wonder we let Bush get away with what he did. There are psychopathic Americans praying for more war.
Israel should live with it and stop exaggerating every technological and scientific advancement that Iran make. Why is it that little to no major braodcasting network in the U.S. mentions the nuclear weapons that Israel have? If Iran really are developing a nuclear waepon, do we really believe they are stupid enough to bomb Israel knowing Israel would simply reply by bombing them back. Lets be honest here, a nuclear Iran would not be the end of the world.
Iran is just trying to level the playing field. Israel has them because we gave them to Israel, if Iran has them it may help keep Israel in line and behave towards it's Palestinian citizens. Iran has no reason to attack Israel, a country with no natural resources unless Israel attacks them. Israel has a Napoleonic complex towards it's Muslim neighbors and with our backing has felt like it's above the law. In short, I don't care if Iran has them, I'm just worried that Pakistan does and is close to collapse!
Frankly i reject the notion that iran has any nukes on its face, didn't we already play this game with Iraq? We know how that turned out. i think if anything we should actually use diplomacy for a real change. Beating the war drums constantly does not solve any problem. Also I think its time to cut Israel out of the budget, if they want to attack Iran they should do it with their own money because we don't have any...
los angeles,
CA
Iran has made its intentions toward Israel clear - it's leaders have stated that Israel should be wiped off the map. And by supporting terrorist regimes such as Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran has proven that it intends to do just that. So, I ask you this: What would the U.S. - or any sovereign nation - do if they were being similarly threatened? Hopefully, it will not be necessary for Israel to take unilateral action, but it certainly has every right to do so.
The US should ignore all such intelligence rumors from Israel. The track record of Israeli intelligence advising the US is below par. Prior to 9/11, Israel did not advise the US about a pending attack. Prior to the Iraq War, Israeli sources declared that Saddam Hussein was in control of WMDs — and they urged us to attack. It is sad to see Cafferty and CNN providing a platform for further anti-Islamic war mongering from such an untrustworthy source. The IAEA has declared that the Iranian nuclear program is domestic only. The Supreme Spiritual Leader of Iran, Ali Khameini, has issued a fatwa against nukes defining them as, Un-Islamic. The US has too many wars already and there is no casus belli vis a vis Iran. Any further heightening of tensions would undermine the new trend of rapprochment in foreign policy orchestrated by President Obama, Secretary Clinton and their team of advisors including George Mitchell and James Jones.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
If Israel is serius about stopping the nuclear advances they sould be a good neighbor and get rid of there weapons I am more afraid of them than Iran. Think about it whos always stiring up the mideast.
How much longer does WE AMERICANS have to suffer and be outcasted in the world, just because there are some rich jewish familys and lobby groups controlling american army, politics, media, etc. Lets skip Israel and lets be friends with the rest of the world instead.
This is hilarious! Iran has not gone to war for more than 20 years! It is much more of a peaceful country than "Israel". If any country should not have nuclear weapons it should be Israel with their continuous war crimes. Even Pakistan has nuclear weapons! The same Pakistan that the Taliban resides in. I think just like any other country Iran should be able to acquire nuclear weapons for the safety of its people in today world!
Thanks Jack your awesome!
It's easy to stall and hope that the reports are untrue. However, when you are Isreal and you are a lone country surrounded by muslim fandamentalist whose intent is to destroy you-than you must act. It was in 1981 when Isreal acted unilaterally against Saddam Hussain when they bombed a plutonium reactor located in Iraq.
Perhaps Isreal ought to make an example out of Iran as well.
It is better to stay clear out of Iran. There is a big difference between Syria and Iran. So Isreal should not take any aggressive steps. Let's talk to Iran. Clam them down and figure out a best possible solution to this problem. Bombing a country wouldn't help. Iran can retaliate in such a way that would cause harm to the whole region. We need to tell Israel that Bush no longer rules USA!
Jack, if they'll depend on the U.S. to carry out a war against Iran...nothing. Leave it to President Obama and Sec. Clinton, they know what they're doing.
Rob
West Palm Beach, FL
so the country that has never been inspected by the IAEA is complaining about the country that has been the most inspected by the IAEA? really? thats like north korea complaining that the US does not have a free market. As for what Israel should do, they should do the same thing Iran did when Russia, Pakistan, India, and Israel go nuclear weapons. They should mind their own business. Iran has never threatened another country, but if it is attacked by Israel, it can only be done with US coordination and therefore the US will also face retaliation.
Mr. Cafferty,
I beg your pardon but what sort of a question is that? Is Israel the policeman of the world?
Isreal is a country I would like our great nation not to support. It kills and maims innocent civilians, it is doing to the Palistinians what the Germans did to them. It is an aparthied state that has its power due to our tax dollars. Israel should disarm its nuclear arsenal instead of preaching to others.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Isreal and or the Zionist, "MUST" leave Palestine as a whole. The "ONLY REASON " that there exist turmoil in the middle east because the DisUnited States of Ameri'Can't continues to hold their hand. If foriegn aide was "NOT" consistently given to the Zionist to have a so-called "HOME LAND" because of a scientist creating a chemical invention during World War I. Ameri'Cant's should really study "HISTORY" and argue with those that put their children to unthinkable wars so that they can continue oppressing the world as a whole.
Israel should no nothing and leave the issue to the UN.
Israel should stop throwing its weight around in the Middle East and stop rattling its US supplied sabres .
If Iran is a threat, let the UN (the world) will deal with it.
Should Israel take an action as they did previously elsewhere, and bomb Iran, this will unleash the feared armageddon.
What Israel should do, let the Palestinians have their own state in their own country and try to get along with its neighbours.
The U.S. and western european nations consistently call for sanctions against Iran hoping the government there will change their minds on a series of issues that they don't agree with. Iran continues to do as they please mostly ignoring our protest. If Isreal feels threatened by nuclear developements in Iran, I agree they have every right to do what they deem necessary. They should not have to wait for missle sirens to react when they can prevent what the world knows is a iminent threat. Two examples; Gaza, and 1930's Germany. Are we willing to sleep on this one too. Two years, one year, six months; when is it time to show them that this will not be tolerated. Bullies are all the same, until you bloody their noses, they will not take you seriously.
Thank you. Love your segment.
Israel should consider making peace in Palestine! They may win a lot of the battles, but realistically, they can never win the war!
Israel has been bullying Palestine for years and we all see how thats working out for them. So why don't they try bullying Iran? Seems to me that Iran is more of a threat than Palestine!!
Kind of ironic that sabre rattling and warring sounds good now. In the past these types of events have also been ways to pull an economy out of turmoil and turn it around. We should let all these poorly run companies fail. What happened to Capitalism and Free Enterprise?? It would be painful in the short term but the end result would be better for all. NO Bailouts. Get back to buying only what one can afford. Do away with the massive leverage and debt that got us into this mess.
That poem makes sense. Hooray!! David Jeffrey Hooray!!
End settlement activity NOW and find a way to work constructively with the Palestinians towards a two state solution to be accomplished within a defined timeframe (no more than five years).
jack, Israel should take off the cowboy hat that "w" left in their care and give Obama a chance to bring reason to the situation. We are thankfully entering an new era of negotiation...maybe, just maybe we can show that violence is no way to thwart violence.
First, the question has already been answered by Israel.....in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007......they will not permit a country (Iran) who has called for their own destruction. Lets take it back a few years, actually multiple decades. When a nuclear threat was from Iraq....who attacked the facility and destroyed it? When Egypt said it was building a Nuclear facility, who attacked and destroyed it? Answer to both, actually all three when including Jack's question.......Israel. You may or may not agree with the Bush Doctrine of Preemptive Action.......but most of you, if you apply the same rules and threats to your families....I wonder if you would stand for your family or run and hide while the perpetrators kill your family members? It's the same scenario, just a larger scale, take out all the political crap.....and simply ask yourself what you would do.
Nice to see that we have all these Intelligence Experts in the audience who suddenly "have the need to know" and actually know when Iran is going to have a weapon. I served in the military for 20 years, I don't know and I don't believe the talking heads in the media, because they don't know either.
Maybe you trust your "middle east friends", and to prove it why don't you book your next family vacation to Iran, Syria, or Jordan? See how far that gets you. So don't stand on your high horse and claim everyone is our friend and all they produce is love and affection. Please for the love of God take that vacation and take some of your like minded friends with you!
First thing Isarel should do is give up it's nuclear weapons. I don't know how we expect the Arab states in the region to stop trying to gain nuclear capability if we continue to ignore the fact that Isarel has been allowed to be a covert nuclear power and a proxy for US military power in the region. This is the 800lb gorilla in the region that almost everyone in our Western media ignores completely.
The best solution is to make all the Middle East "Free of nuclear weapons". When Israel give up its nuclear weapons no excuse will be left for Iran or other countries in the region.
Vienna, VA
My question is, Why the Hell anybody have WMD? America/Russa/Israel/China. Pakistain for god sakes... Whatever Iran do, we should stay out of it. We have serious budget problems. Build a better Ground to air defence. In the meantime Israel should try eatting a little, "Crow" I hear it's not so bad
It's simple Jack: Israel , along with their partner in crime the U.S. should stop invading Muslim countries, stealing their resources and land, and murdering their women and children. Israel and the U.S. are the biggest threats to world peace. Next 9/11 we need look no further than Israel's latest round of U.S. sponsored ethnic cleansing in Palestine.
I believe that if your house is on you cannot leave your house burning out and go put out fire on your neighbor’s burning house. So as Israel should worry about its own issues and not Iranians. Otherwise they are trying to be bully, that’s why Iran want to have nuclear from the first place, because “one mans traitor is another mans freedom fighter”. If it wasn’t Israel to use its muscles and become bolder every year, Iran could not have them nuclear. Oppressing other human being is making them to emerge stronger and aggressive, that is the nature to all human being. The world should make Iran feel safe, because going to Iraq and have Israel bombing all its neighbors, six day war, made Iran to pursue their own safety and stand on the world. Let every one have them nuclear, who want to be bombed?
The question is not what Israel SHOULD do. Not our decision to make. Israel WILL do what Israel has always done - whatever is necessary to protect the people and land of Israel. I have no doubt they will destroy Iran's nuclear capability while it is still in a nascent stage. This is problematic for us since Israel's air offensive capability does not permit a round trip to Isfahan so we would have to supply aerial refueling capability, or not, if the Israelis do a suicide mission. Of course it is highly likely, since this crisis has been years in the making, the Israelis have developed a system to overcome this difficulty on their own, or with our covert aid. I hope that is the case since as sure as God made green apples Iran cannot become nuclear capable.
What you do, if you kid gets a good grade at school?and what you do, if your neighbours' kids get a good grade?why is it, Israel can have it all and Iran cann't? Israel would do nothing, if she is wise. your question from American people, whose nation has so much at stake to get peace and stability in ME, should be: how Iran would answer in a case of Israel invasion and how that would impact the region and US interest? Iran is trying to open a new era with US under Persident Obama administration. US should warn Israel no to destabilize the region, as she does in the regular bases.
The same thing IRAN did when ISRAEL obtained a nuclear weapon...NOTHING. It is insane to think that Israel is justified in going around the world and pre-emptively attacking countries they deem unworthy of having a nuclear weapon. Iran has NEVER attacked another country...which is more than can be said for Israel.
I hope Obama has the guts to stand up to the Zionist lobby...or we will end up like the last European-based multicultural empire that was also dominated by the same culprits...Austria-Hungary. Any type of entanglement in Israel's pre-emptive war against Iran will destroy our economy and give China and Russia the opportunity to effectively destroy America's military and economic prowess in the world.
Israel has the bomb- lots of them in fact- and obviously thinks that an Iranian nuclear weapon will constrict its own freedom of action.
Sounds good to me, for as Chas Freeman noted, "Israel exels at war [but has] shown no talent for peace." With some deterence restored to the region, Israel might think twice before trashing the neighbours.
In the long run, Israel and the U.S. would both benefit.
Well, Its obvious that Israel would have to strike Iran in its own safety interests, but that could lead to a world war scenario bringing russia to Irans aid, and then ours to israels. So the real question here is what will russia do if Israel attacks Iran?
Jack,
Israel should do exactly what the U.S. does with countries who hoard weapons of mass destruction. They need to form a coalition of the willing, invade, find and dismantle them. It's worked well for the U.S. in the past and I see no reason Israel can't use the same tactics.
Nothing. What we are doing now, and what Israel can do, is bluster. Bluster is a sign of weakness.
Cheney and McCane wanted to bomb Iran. That didn't pass the laugh test. But that bluster is what the Iranian people and the people of the Middle East think we want.
Where is the VOA when we need it? We brought down the world's second largest nuclear-armed nation without firing a shot. Why can't we do the same with Iran? We thought the leadership of the Kremlin didn't care about the consequences of a nuclear war they started, and now we think the same about Iran's leadership. That perception was wrong then and it is wrong now.
Iran is as entitled to protect itself against enemy threats as Israel. No-one complained when Israel quietly developed a nuclear capability. What makes them better or more entitled?
The US should scale back its unreserved support of Israel. It is ths support that has contributed significantly to the unrest in the Middle East and the terrorist threat against the west.
I cannot understand how America can stand behind a nation that shoots children, bombs UN buildings and holds the entire Palestinian nation hostage. It's no wonder the Iranians are worried about their national security!
Israel's horrible teatment of the Palestinians makes them as much an aggrssor nation as Iran. Let's hope that they don't ignite a firestorm over there that is left to the US to put out. We want out of the middle east – permanently.
Do nothing.
Subscribing to the kindergarden-level philosophies of us/them or an eye-for an-eye are at last out of fashion.
The US now has an administration with political and diplomatic intelligence. Let them handle it.
Iran will most likely be Obama's first international victory, simply 'cause he seems to respect other peoples and their accomplishments. As simple as that.
Israel and Iran must have a true negotiation to peace because only Irans government can insure that the terroist factions do not get hold of the technology or bomb making parts. This is where leadership comes into play..
Kim, Florida
Refrain from using force or threats against Iran, as that is what some of Iran’s politicians want. If Israel uses force against Iran, WWIII could very easily be triggered, with Russia and China aligning with Iran and the US allying with Israel, which would be a terrible thing, but predictable. Turmoil in the Middle East will not lessen until the US stops blindly agreeing with everything Israel does, much of which is and has been against International law for decades. If the US under Bush had used the same ethos for invading Iraq, there was far more reason to invade Israel or Zimbabwe, regardless of whether any country is supposedly an ally of the US or not. When other countries see the US being so dangerously hypocritical, starting unnecessary or immoral wars while turning a blind eye to other countries committing far worse atrocities, it only increases extremism around the world. Hopefully Obama is intelligent enough to understand this and use diplomacy to encourage Israel not to use force or to make matters worse in the Middle East and around the world. For a start, Israel should stop seizing Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem and should stop building even more illegal settlements. Such action ignites extremism around the world and Netanyahu knows it. Like Arial Sharon, his hard-line approach is all about creating chaos, not encouraging peace. Remember, Israel refuses to officially admit that it has nuclear weapons and has had for many years, while the rest of the world is expected to sign up to the IAEA if they are even considering developing nuclear weapons.
Israel is one of the smallest countrys yet one of the biggest in fighting Terrorism. Israel did enough over the years on stoping the terrorists the west should be united and stop this Extremist Regime in iran because they are a threat to all.
Jack,
There are obvious parallels with 1981 and the Israeli strike against Iraq's nuclear facility. At the time, world opinion was almost universally opposed to Israel's actions; a decade or so later, there was equally universal acceptance that that act saved countless lives – in the Middle East and quite possibly in the West. I have friends in Israel who are very scared that their government will act unilaterally; the only thing that scares them more is not acting. Simple question: if we – or any country – were threatened with "annihilation" and being wiped off the map by a neighboring country with a nuclear program similar to Iran's – with a history similar to Iran's and a leader like Ahmadinijab, what would we do?
Jack,
For years I have listened to the concerns we have about other nations getting the neuclear bomb. I fail to get it. America has more neuclear bombs than any other nation. What gives us the right to be so concerned about Iran. We need to remember that America is the only nation that has ever deployed a neuclear weapon in anger. Besides, what nation on the planet is more guilty of attacking other nations and killing thousands of their innocent people such as Iraqui civilians in the interst of "National Defense." In my view we paranoid Americans are the most dangerous. Why is no one complaining about our weapons arsenal.
I think Israel need to step back and look at her own illegal nuclear stokpile before starting anymore problems in midlle east. I do not understand why we keep supporting Israel it has caused us nothing but problems.
Thank you
jack it's a crappy thing to say but i think isreael shoiuld leave. we should just brake them off a piece of a alska............let's see here israel is about the size of mass. or n.j. hell we could double or tripple the size of there country and still never miss the land.
all kidding aside i dont think that israel can stop iran from doing anything.............including building a bomb.
seing's how my first idea wont fly and diplomacy dosent appear to be going anywhere fast it looks as though we will be getting sucked even deeper into the quagmyer known as the jewish/muslim thing involving an allout war.
nowedays the word depression dosent just apply to the global economy it has merit here regarding these two partys and there crappy battles and pooopy outlook on one another.
the whole thing just suck and most of us are way tired of it.
george
chester,ct.
Nothing!! Israel has 150-200 nukes. What is wrong with Iran having one as a deterrent. Can you blame Iran for wanting a nuke after what we did to Iraq and Afghanistan? Iran is a very peaceful country and they would NEVER attack another country first. It would be suicide for them to do so.
Michael
It seems to me that Iran has the same rights as Israel.
Israel could offer to put their nuclear facilities under IAEA inspection.
There is no alternative, People can dither and debate but it will make no difference. The fanatical Islamists in Iran are on a mission to destroy Israel and lord it over the rest of the world with a necular/terrorist sword. If Iran developes it nuclear weapons capasity, then world terroism is only beginning. Israel must attack first. The sooner the better. Better war now than when Iran has nuclear weapons!
Why can't Middle Eastern countries prosper and gain technological advances? Isreal has nuclear weopons.It's not justice that Israel has it and Iran should not have it.
Dear Mr Cafferty,
I can't believe you just finished news statement with, "Which is a good Idea". While I am clearly against armament, Your speculative opinion seemed unnecessary and inappropriate.
– Jeremiah
Wow, some of these responses really offend me. Where do YALL get off saying you or anyone else has the right to kill anyone? Iran has just as much right as Isreal does to have illegal nukes. Just like American overseas policy, you think you have the right to impose your beliefs on everyone else....amazing mentality YALL got down there.
Iran hasn't learned from the cold, war then they need to know what happens when you don't listen to experence. The US and Russia have been at it for a long time, and both side almost destroyed the planet, with the push of a button. Why would any other country allow something like this, when the rest of the world is trying to get rid of it. Iran should listen to everyone and if they want nuclear power, for energy, then they should work with countries who have the expertise.
Let me see... If Israel is close to getting a nuclear weapon, what should Iran do? Put the shoe on the other foot!
Jack, honestly, the only solution is to contact Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah, and the rest of the persian opposition and start talking to them instead. Israel has started more Wars in their 60 years history, than Iran and Persia has done in their hole 2500 history.
In regards to Iran obtaining a nuclear weapons, I don't see why Israel can't launch a preemptive strike to protect its existance. Especially when Iran has been VERY public that it seeks the annihilation of all Israel. Then again, aren't these all the same reasons why the United States invaded Iraq???
The fact is that Istael has the bomb and Iran does not. The question is what should the US do as Israel would need our help to take out any major Iran target. The questionm is do we waNT TO PLUNGE DEEPER INTO TROUBLE IN THE MID-EAST? WE SHOULD TALK TO iRAN try to settle the Israel-Palestine problem. and concintrate on our problems at home. Iran poses no threat to Israel as long as we are Israels major protector. This sounds more like we just need another war. i pray that rational heads come to the fore.
They should destroy their own nuclear weapons before they comment on others. Remember it is Israel that are the occupiers not the millions of Palestinians who have been living in refugee camps since Israel's military forced them from their homes and farms.
Isreal should officially admit that they themselves have nuclear weapons. They should also admit that Iran's muscle flexing is for the benefit of their own (Iran's) propaganda at home.
When the facts are presented saliently for the world to see, it would be apparent to all that Iran would have little to gain in entertaining ideas of such stupidity and far more to lose with a military confrontation with Isreal.
The roosters should all go home to roost.
You don't need a magician to tell you that Iran has desires of building a nuclear bomb. Israel needs to continue pressurizing the UN security council for more sanctions to be impose on Iran. Attacking Iran is not a good option because it will lead to a chain reaction in this already volatile region. I still believe more economic sanctions can stop Iran.
LOL .... I don't think America has the right to comment on this .... What was our position on Cuba .... of course the American public chamges its mind so often that no one in the rest of the world really has any respect for or faith in us.
Israel must and will do what is necessary to survive. If the current Iranian regime remains in power after the coming elections, I expect Israel to take unilateral action, including the bombing of Iranian
facilities that are developing and building atomic weapons. No one can deny that every nation has the right, nay the moral imperative to defend itself aganst an impending mortal destruction such as that
promised by the tyrant in Iran. The Arab world will publicly condem an
Israeli unilateral strike, but privately it will breathe a huge sigh of relief.
It will be easy for Israel to destroy Iran's nuclear ambitions. The real question is what will happen after that. Iran will not stay silent and could potentially invoke havoc in the world and in the region. I'm sure no-one is ready for that.
Aamer
Jack,
Israel should do nothing because they have nuclear weapons too. If they attack Iran, Iran has enough ;long range missiles to attack their nuclear plants which would draw America into it and that would be a disaster. What they should do, is give the Palestinians their freedom and they wouldn't have to worry about Iran using nuclear weapons.
There is enough trouble in the world now. Shame on Israel for treating the Palestinians like that.
Israel should sit back and wait. It's not like when Iran gets(If they are making one) a nuclear weapon they would point it at Israel and I dont think Iran would call Bin Laden to offer a weapon package(buy 4 nuclear weapons and get 1 free)
When the Iranian leadership not only denies the holocaust but wants to see Israel wipe out of the map, what other choice doest Israel have than to strike first?
Miss Lead
APO
It is uncomfortable but as with all threats they should wait to see what develops. Doing something at this time would be like a premeditated conclusion. It is unfortunate to some degree but prevention does not mean condemning prior to a threat actually occuring. Jack by the way. Yes I am interested. Does it mean if they had fired a water canon one more time at the Chinese that we would have seen The Chinese Moon? Just curious knowing that they have a great interest in Astronomy. Gees, or was that “show me the beef”
Some time you have to allow two fools to fight to get it out of their systems, when one lose badly they will become buddies, until then they will continue to throw insults at each other to egging the other on!!
Jack, nothing can prove Isreal's assertion. No one but the United States knows Isreal's nuclear capability. All Isreal is trying to do is to foment a war between Iran and the United States. After the Iraq proxy war, we all should take a step back and think twice before we engage in another war based on unreliable foreign intellegence. We have two wars to deal with I think that's enough for the American people. The financial cost is astronomical. Give us a break.
jj
Wait a minute. First they didn't have enough fissionable material a couple of months ago, now they do? What's right and how do we know? I think cooler heads need to prevail until we have some real, solid information. You can't take action until everyone has their story straight.
The only thing Israel should do is build a missle defense system just like the one the US is proposing to put In Poland. It is not the perogative of the US or Israel to decide who has nuclear technology. If we should be concerned about any country, Pakistan should be at the top of our list. May God bless us all
The time of dubbelstandards are gone, you cant smoke a cigerette and tell others not to smoke.
Jack give me a break, for Gods sake Israel fail to take out Hisbulah and Hamas, and if They start with Iran they will only draw us the U.S.A in to another WAR and I am sorry no time for another useless war.
Seattle
Israel has long stated its policy towards aggressive/belligerent neighbors in the past–Syria and Iraq. With it outspoken denial of Israels right to exist and going so far as to question the veracity of the holocaust, Iran has placed itself squarely in the sights of that policy. The diplomatic process has stalled and the door for a global resolution is closing rapidly. Israel will do what it has always done, use it military to ensure its right to exist.
Chris
Las Vegas NV.
Are these the same people that said Iraq had WMD? Iran doesnt have these weapons, and they wouldnt use them if they did. However, if they did make them I would be worried about a terrorist organization getting their hands on one.
Jack: If Israel is for peace and democrracy? They should sit down with the leaders of Iran and work out an agreement. If Iran will stop nuclear research – Israel will destroy all nuclear weaponry. Will not acquire any in the future and will demolish all nuclear sites aimed against major capitals of Europe.
Israel should give-up one of its nukes for every bomb Iran is willing to make. Sounds fair, knowing that Israel has got more nukes than Iran could ever build.
are we being doped by Israel, and dragged to another war??? Iran is playing a psychological game and is having loud bark but no bite, looking through the history Iran did not start war in its history, while it may used proxy, Israel is too, and is continuously steeling land under cover of settlements expansions while we are saying 'No, no and shake our finger. Let Iran keep talking and keep Israel fro doing stupid thing and pulling us into another unnecessary wary
Iran is a parasite, having done nothing that has benefitted the world in any sense ever since the extremists have set up shop in the country. There is very little for the world to lose, except for its oil reserves, should Israel decide to turn Iran into a smoldering parking lot.
Negotiating with Iran is like trying to negotiate with a runaway tractor, and you don't stop something like that by talking nicely to it.
And should Iranian influence grind to a halt, then it would be rather stabilizing for the entire region as Islamic terrorists won't have their sugar daddy to turn to.
Let me start by a few quwstions of my own, then I go to yours, Jack?
If any country in the world, publicly denounced that they want to exterminate us...would we wait till they have nuclear weapons and the missiles for their delivery to us? And its obvious follow up question...
Do we really believe that if Iran takes on Israel that they will really stop there ? My guess, on both questions, is tha the answers are NO.
It is apparent that THE WORLD cannot wait till Iran becomes nuclear ready. The Iran's program is not like Iraq's nuclear power of the 70's. Most of the associated plants in Iran are very scattered, mostly under mountains and other hard coveage. I am sure Israel will go alone if it must, but the world, and particularly the arab world, know that a nuclear Iran is a severe problem for the world.
THe US and a moral, but also a practical reason to join Israel in "cleaning" the world from a nuclear Iran. Because is not about our ally, IS ABOUT US.
Eddie Duek
Florida
You cannot expect israel to evacuate its own country. However if Iran is infact anti-israel, and does not respect the horror a nuclear device can bring upon human life, only then should israel make a full military assault to stop a larger catastrophe from happenning. It is the right of iran, not a priviledge, to pursue anything they want. Depending on what they pursue and why, should be carefully considered.
World War II was what got us out of the Great Depression, with any luck Israel will take action and the resulting war will end the current economic crisis. Granted, it might knock the whole world back to the bronze age before it's over, but that wouldn't be a bad thing.
The Arab world has indicated that Israel does not have the right to exist. Obviously Israel is therefore obligated to it's citizens to eradicate such a threat as a nuclear Iran. I have lived in the mid-east, the hatred towards Israel is tangible.
This is a dumb question Jack! It's only a distraction if the media makes it one? Besides it's nice to talk about something else once and a while.
Israel is the bigger bully over there, and as soon as Iran insult them back they cry foul, they both get on my nerves!
Israel should give a good example by getting rid of its own nuclear weapons:)) Nobody should be allowed to possess any nuclear weapons in this region including Israel.
Isreal has the right to defend itself. Personally, I'm more concerned about North Korea- China has lost it's grip on that situation and there's no telling what could happen. Also, there's also a real, imminent threat of a Nuclear power plant meltdown – because North Korea refuses to allow inspectors in. We still have troops stationed in South Korea- I'm concerned about them being in harm's way.
If Iran blows up sky high, the rest of the middle-east would be busy coping with radioactive fallout , so things would be calm, for a change, though we would see ghastly high oil prices.
Israel shouldn't have already developed their own nuclear arsenal. Iran with nuclear weapons is a dangerous proposition, but it is widely known that Israel has secretly developed nuclear weapons. This loosens U.S. leverage against Iran and makes the U.S. and Israel look hypocritical.
Hello, Jack
Israel = over 500 nujes.
Iran = no nukes
even if they had one..no weoponry to actually bring it out...
Iran's the only voice for the oppressed Palestinians...
Nick, Houston,TX
P.S You should get your own show!!
I don't think it up to the USA to tell Israel what to do. It is up to them or they go to the United Nations and ask for help. Our country cannot police the world.
I definitely Iran is working to obtain nuclear weapons and it's not just because of Israel. I think they're just as concerned about China and it's fast growing need for oil to help power their growing economy. China has already shown it's willing to use military force if they believe it's necessary and Iran knows this.
As for Israel, I wouldn't presume to tell them how to run their own affairs as i have no right to do so. The rest of the world, however, should stay out of the way unless they're committed to work with both sides using every resource available to achieve an equitable solution that lasts. If they aren't committed to that they have no business telling anyone what to do.
You know what Jack first i think Israel need to be disarmed from their nuclear arsenal then they can have the right to talk about when and how and who can have the nuclear technolegy and if u look at the sizes of the two cuntries Iran clearly has more rights on being a nuclear power! for the most part this is the correct answer now we don't wanna get ahead of ourselves .
Iran hasn't learned from the cold war, then they need to know what happens when you don't listen to experience. The US and Russia have been at it for a long time, and both side almost destroyed the planet, with the push of a button. Why would any other country allow something like this, when the rest of the world is trying to get rid of these types of weapons. Iran should listen to world and if they want nuclear power, for energy, then they should work with countries who have the expertise.
Israel could have taken care of the problem long ago if it wasn't for International Political Correctness. The reality is that if Iran isn't stopped, the United States may well be on the receiving end of one of their missiles. Of course by then, when nothing will be left standing much like the after mass of 9/11, Americans and Europeans who each weekend become quarterback coaches, analysing football plays, will instead be saying, "We should not have stopped the Israelis. Our leaders made the wrong call. Of course the analytical conversation may well take in the rubble that left standing if at all is still around.
How about Israel "walking the talk"? When will Israel blow up her own gigantic nuclear arsenal in a verifiable way? When that happens Mullahs in Iran will feel a moral obligation to follow Israel's example. We can only build a nuclear free world for our children by the power of our example. Nuclear "apartheid" will not work.
We can't afford another war..especially in this recession.
From what I've read, Israel is the fifth largest nuclear superpower in the world now having over 400 nuclear and hydrogen weapons. They are the last ones who should be telling Iran what to do. The bottom line is, today Israel and the other nations possess too many nuclear weapons. One is too many and a hundred is pure insanity. Now, in the 21st century, all nuclear weapons should be dismantled and all weapons of mass destruction should be abolished.
Mr Crocket says that "the world must stopo radical Islam from controlling any WMD"... why the double standards? Shouldn't the same be applied to radical Christians and Jews?!
israel has hundreds of nuclear warheads and that is the main reason other countires, like iran, would want to have the same and to protect themselves from israel and its expansion goals. israel should make peace with the palestinains by uniting all of the holy lands into one country with seperation of religion and state and equal rights to all citizens, jews and arabs alike. if that ever happens, you will see the "holy land country " prospor to no limit and the iranians search for nuclear wepons come to a hault on its own.
The question isn't " what should Israel do", the question is " what should the world do" ? I remember when Pres. Bush Senior stopped at the Iraq border years ago...first thing I said was.." we'll be back there again, he didn't finish the job" 🙁 Iran is the same kind of cocktail. The whole world knows their objective is to be a nuclear power, whether Iran admits it or not. If the world is naive enough to permit it ??? ....only time will tell.
Jack, the premise of your question is faulty. Just last Sunday, on another network (NBC MTP), Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said that the Iranians are "not close to a stockpile, they're not close to a weapon at this point, and so there is some time."
The US Intelligence community has said the same thing since the end of 2007. Remember that Jack?
Having low grade enriched uranium is fundamentally different than going to the next step of high grade uranium. There's no evidence that Iran has or plans to go in that direction.
The only "growing sense " of an imminent Iran threat is that being whipped up by the same lobby that pushed us into a war with Iraq back in 2003.
Jack,
What should Israel do? I think that is pretty much up to Israel. It's about time we cut ourselves loose from Israel. Let them do as they will, and then live with the consequences. If they think it is wise to Bomb Iran, then by all means they should do it. If the United States stays out of the subsequent fight the matter will resolve it's self in very short order, one way or the other.
I know that it is not a popular position to be opposed to our policy of support for Israel . Let me say first I have nothing against the Jewish people , or any other ethnic group of people. That being said, I think that it is important to point out that Israel is the only country in the Middle East with a history of invading other countries. With of course the exception of Saddam. We should also include the United States and George Bush .
I think that anyone with half a brain could figure out that there would be peace in the Middle East if there were no Israel. I think that Iran would be perfectly within their rights to build a nuclear weapon since their avowed enemy has a stock pile of them.
The only reason Israel is afraid of Iran obtaining a nuke is that they would be able to defend themselves. It is the Zionist ambition to conquer all of the land from the Tigris River to Gaza. That is the Israel that God promised them and that is what they intend to have. Any one who believes that Israel wants peace is deluded.
Hemet Ca.
Anything but an attack. There is time! Iran has to have roughly 90% enriched uranium 235 for a bomb and about 15 kg of it to reach "critical mass." Right now, they have low-enriched uranium 235(about 3-5%), which is used only in power-generating reactors. To obtain "highly-enriched" uranium 235, they would need to run their low-enriched fuel MANY times through their centrifuge cascade systems for it to be used in a weapon and create an uncontrolled nuclear reaction. As long as the IAEA is not kicked out, or not allowed to monitor Iran's nuclear program, there should be no attack on anyone. You cannot "force" peace on the world, if you do not show that you are capable of being peaceful yourself.
Israel should be sure that their intelligence on Iran's nuclear program is better than the intelligence used by the US to justify the Iraq invasion.
What if iran actually uses an atomic weapon against Israel , will the world react appropriately /immediately and retaliate against Iran or will there be a lenghty investigation ....trying to determine who's at fault and the muslim pass the blame around game and so on.. just thinking about it ...i think we should support Israel in a pr-emptive strike and take out a threat that the USA will have to deal with in the near future .. rules of engagement have changed somewhat if Iran has the capability to pass off a dirty bomb to a terror cell and deliver it via a ship to west coast
Unfortunately Israel might not have any choice. The way President Obama thinks that he can negotiate with the Iranian government is a fantasy which will never materialize! Iran is on its way to becoming the next nueclear power in Asia and there is nothing the US can or will do under this administration. I sometimes think, Mr. Obama is in wonderland and is walking on the blood stained red brick road. God willing Iran will be stopped before it destroys the world!
Israel should hire G.W. Bush to work with the major regional stakeholders in order to develop a long-term solution that has huge international backing.
Let's let Israel take care of that. Please let's not draw first blood there. If Iran had tested the nuclear device they would now be glowing rubble. The idea of setting up a country in the area they did meant that they were spoiling for one hell of a way to live. Don't give me anymore of the "God's chosen peeps" and the promise to Israel by God of THIS land. Please, oh please. So sick of that mumbo-jumbo.
Bottom line, any testing means total war in the mideast.
They're going to do whatever they want to do, Jack. Who'll stop them you? Get your head out of the sand and report on a real issue.
Israel, should offer Iran, to disolve Israeli nuclear weapons, paid from American tax pockets, and Iran would need disolve their
nuclearplans. How much more does Americans have to suffer for Israel?
Israel is not the only counrty in the Mid East we got Saudi Arabia, UAE,
Jordan, Iraq, Egypt & Lebanon these country's are just as threatened Iran is ruled by an Extremist Islamic Regime they can never be trusted.
Israel has over 100 nuclear weapons and does not belong to the IAEA. I'm a lot more concerned about Israel using nukes on their neighbors than visa versa. Americans are starting see and hear the truth about Israel and the way they are treating the Palestinians. There is an unrecognized genocide going on and no one seems to understand it. More peaceful Israelis have realzed this than Americans. Follow Israeli news and you'll see more real information than we get in the USA. Our news is filtered and our media is afraid to show the truth. Our polititians are also afraid to tell the truth. Investigate it yourself.
I am sick of the jews and their constant complaining and war mongering .
They themselves should not have nuclear weapons being as they are the trouble makers in that area.
Iran says they don't want nuclear weapons. Why not try believing them first after all what country have they been attacking lately?
I am just fed up with the jewish thing and I don't believe a word they say . They are trouble makers and they are manipulative. Santa Rosa CA.
Most of the today's world problems is caused by Israel actions and we Americans are paying a heavy price for that. Why should Iran stop its nuclear program where Pakistan, India and Israel have nuclear weapons and Israel herself does not even respect or obey the international laws.
since the Israelies don't have match time to act. The only option is to chang the plan. Instead of westing time to prepare to distroy the nuclear plant, why not help them finish the project. let Israel help them have the bomb. Who knows, they may chang they mind tha say, hmmmm, we have been wrong about this ppl. then there'll be hag and kiss's.
Ermias
Baltimore
Jack, israel should do nothing! They prosecuted Jesus, they attack neighbours daily, and they do not care of innocent lifes. SAVE AMERICA FROM ISRAEL.
The enriched uranium Iran has is a long way from a bomb. You have to have enough to test one so you need at least two. Iran means us no harm. They have never attacked another country only when provoked. We overthrew a democratic government in Iran to install the Shah as our puppet but it backfired on us. Our memories are short so what the hell. Israel on the other hand is a mad dog and dangerous to our well being as a country. If you look honestly we get zero benefit from our relationship with Israel. We get our oil from their enemies. We play both sides which is folly. Israel the country used to be known as Palestine. Look on any map before 1949. I can see why the people of Palestine are angry. Look it up!
Hi I think that first of alI ,Iserail should stop making nuclear weapen,come on who have nuclear weapon now,iran,or israel,Ofcourse it is isreal and us who has nuclear weapon,the world getting smaller,try to be honest withpeople,soon or later the truth comes throw,Isreal doesnt have any right to do anything ,it is not their bussiness,stop making war here and there,people know you now after Iraq war,If they telling true why and why USA and isreal dont stop making weapon,they want to start war,STOP war in the world we are all sick and tired,If israel start another war we people of the world dont support them and I think Iran has all right to defence self ,Dont let anotherwar begin,Iran doesnt have and never had nuclear weapon,but everyone knows who has it!!!!!thank you
Israel needs to accept that Iran will go nuclear. If they strike their nuclear facilities they will be stirring up a hornets’ nest the likes of which we have never seen. Think of the fallout engulfing Iran's neighboring nations-including one with 50,000 NATO forces in it. Think of the reaction Russia will have seeing one of its closest trading partners bombed and a facility they helped build get bombed to the ground. Think of the reaction of Iran sending missiles at American forces in the region because they don't distinguish between Israeli and American military forces. Much like the decision to drop the A-Bomb on Japan I consider NOT attacking Iran the least abhorrent choice.
Jack,
My fear whoever attacks 1st there could be consequences of WWIII. Israel's hands would be tied to do nothing if Iran has the bomb. Iran's government is a threat to all of us.
Jan,
Oregon
I'm from Africa so feel fairly impartial in relation to Israel/Iran.
In my opinion Israel has no right to attack Iran no matter what they might believe or tell people that they believe. The Iraq war has shown us how wrong military 'intelligence' can be. Iran is buying nuclear technology which they say is not for weapons, that should be accepted and Iran left alone.
The US and Israel should both aim to reduce the degree to which they interfere with and bomb other countries. Generally these actions look very bad to observers in other parts of the world.
Why should we care what Israel does? Israel is strong enough. We provided enough aid to maintain their 50 year fight against the Palestinians. We have provided enough aid to pay for their lobyists to loby us. Lets be clear with them, no more American lifes to fight their wars.
Jack if israel does not stepp in who will?
The U.S has its hands full with the 2wars
and the economic crisis at home!
That maddmen The president of iran has said time after time if it obtains a nucleor bomb it will strick israel or the U.S !
In my opinion Israel must take action cause all that everyone else is doing is just giving time to iran to built a nucleor bomb in my opinion if israel has to take millitary action agaist iran then do so !
If Iran is now close to obtaining a nuclear weapon, what should Israel do?
US Govt experts disagree over what to expect from Iran's nuclear program especially over the long term...for the time being Israel should defer to the Obama administration's stated objective to mount a diplomatic initiative to resolve...on the other hand Iran's Guardian Council must be persuaded that obtaining nuclear weapons is not in Iran's best interest, indeed things could conceivably change with upcoming elections in that country...a long shot that will depend on many factors...
Dont let isreal start third world war I know that CNN is supported byisrael,but let our views been seen by free peoplein the world
Israel has no choice but to strike if Iran is close to having nuclear capabilities. Achmadenijad has said it's his clear objective to eradicate Israel, whereas Israel never publicly threatens to use nuclear force on any country.
Israel can't afford to be as cavalier as some of the naive posters in this thread. They are a small country with densely packed cities that would be eradicated by nukes, crippling their ability to defend themselves within a region where most of the surrounding countries dream of their demise. Fortunately, the average American sides with Israel, a stable presence and a true ally that opposes Islamic fundamentalists who hate the West. And the US will back Israel's play, as they should, given Iran's threat to regional and world peace, and the need to look strong with other unstable countries (venezuela, North Korea, et al) looking on.
Any other take is either naive or biased toward the skewed Iranian perspective.
What wright does a nation of 5 million people that is only 40 years old tell a nation of 40 million that is 2000 years old what they can have ?Israel has been at war with it"s neighbors over !0 times in 40 yr and do the Palestinians have equal rights in their country?
Israel can't afford to let Iran get nukes. I'm surprised they haven't already taken them out. The middle east has always been, and probably always will, remain a powder keg. Allowing Iran to get nuclear weapons is no more than giving them a match that will mark the end of Israel.
Simply "Chill".
If Iran is determained to get a nuclear weapon, someone should push a button and give them one. If the free world stand silently by while people that openly want to destroy us builds the technology to do so, then we shouldn't be surprised when one of our cities evaporates into a mushroom cloud one day.
Whatever happens with the Government involvement in healthcare: efficient and inefficient physicians - REMEMBER: IT IS STILL CALLED THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE!
Lets see,
Israel has 200 nukes.
United States has a few thousand pointed at Russia and vice versa.
And you worry about Iran?
Israel should start off by signing the "Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty", a step that would remove them from the company of such shady nuclear nations as North Korea and Pakistan. Next, Israel should come forward and open up about its own nuclear program, which amasses to at least 100 nuclear heads, as exposed by Mordechai Vanunu, an ex Israeli nuclear technician. After that, Israel should openly and willingly proceed to the destruction of its own nuclear arsenal.
Then, and only then, should Israel and the rest of the world start thinking about forcefully thwarting Iran's nuclear ambitions, if in fact proven that Iran is close to getting a nuclear weapon in the first place.
Dig trenchs and be on alert for 24/7 an god be with us.(UNITED STATES) all..........
I think Israel need to be disarmed from their nuclear weapon first before they try to disarm others,if hey belive that nuclear weapon isharmful for humanbeing,so do it ,stop making more weapon self
What should Isreal do? They should show IRAN what their Nuclear weapons look like....up close and personal 😀
Put the eagle in the air and keep it there untill armageddon.
Bud.
Israel has more than 200 illegal nuclear warhead and Iran has non, as Joe Biden said Israel must accept nuclear IRAN and if Israel stop killing civilians and give them back their land, Iran and all Arabs and Muslims will pursue peace with Israel.
This are all stories to make another war.
If israel attacks iran it would be same as iraq`s mistake(the 8 years iran vs iraq war).
iranian goverment said Go ahrad and check every thing ... have you find anything that shows they are working on nuclear bomb?
i think they are just lookin for war in middleast witch is their biggest mistake.
Yes Jack that question is a slam dunk: First and foremost Israel has to come clean and give up there mass stock pile of nuclear weapons, that the U.S. Supplied them with back in the fifties, who ever gave Israel total exclusivity on holding the biggest arsenal in the world of nuclear bombs ? ( We need to disarm the hole region,) Arabs and Jews both, that hole area should not have any weapons of mass destruction, the entire region is a powder keg ready to go off at any moment Winston, Huntington Beach, Ca.
Dear Jack,
Just as most of the US news media did during the run up to the recent war on Iraq, you are asking the wrong question. The right question would be something like: Why should Israel do ANYTHING if Iran obtains a nuclear weapon.
After all, what would Iran do with it if they had it? Attack Israel – a nation with an estimated 200 to 400 nuclear warheads including thermo-nuclear warheads? Or attack the United States – a nation with thousands of nuclear armed missiles?
You might ask: What would you do if you were an Iranian leader and a nearby nation with a record of ignoring international law and UN security Council resolutions, and which has attacked no fewer than six nations (Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Tunisia) in the last 43 years had 100 or more EXISTING nuclear weapons atop Jericho 2 missiles pointed a your country?
I think you’d want to have something with which you could deter a nuclear attack on you. And if Iran did have a nuclear weapon, it would only be practical or useful as a weapon of deterrence.
You see, what CNN won’t report (and you should ask why CNN doesn’t) is that Israel has at least three or more 2,000 Ton, state-of-the-art diesel-electric (read: QUIET) German made Dolphin Class submarines modified to launch nuclear armed submarine launched cruise missiles.
That constitutes an Israeli second strike capability that insures that Iran could not launch a nuclear attack on Israel without assuring its own destruction. So an Iranian nuke is ONLY practical for deterrence.
But our (US-Israeli) policy is one of NUCLEAR RACISM that insists that Israel can have one of the largest nuclear arsenals in the world but a Muslim or Arab nation that just wants to have a weapon of deterrence to protect itself from hundreds of Israeli nukes will be attacked by Israel or the United States.
And people wonder why the US is hated around the world? If Obama continues this policy of racism and threats — and the world knows that Israel will have US support no matter what it does – Obama’s popularity around the world will disappear like smoke in the wind. A fresh start in the world scuttled by our slavish support of Israel.
It makes me sick. And I am Jewish.
Any attempt by the US to ask Iran to limit it’s nuclear development – without first asking Israel to begin to build down its nuclear arsenal and subject itself to IAEA inspections – is pure hypocrisy.
Eduardo Cohen
Redwood City
I am wondering if the "intelligence" agency is the same type of "intelligence" agency that reported that Iraq had "weapons of Mass destruction". It probably not wise to rely on such "intelligence" when the consequences are peoples lives.
Israel- usa wake up , bomb bomb irans nuclear facilities, you know were they are. stop the talk , too late for diplomacy now.
wake up, are you waiting for another post fedil castro october missile crisis . lets not repeat history,but make history for once and for all.
what should isreal do?are you kidding?after the senseless massacre of the innocent,while the world turned the other way,now they are to decide if iran gets a nuclear bomb.this problem might have been easily solved if iran was building the bomb for a gift to isreal...turn the other way again..
It is a reticulates question. Israel knows that they can not even get close to Iran let alone to strike. Iranians are at lease 18 years away from the bomb and everyone knows that. By announcing this at this time they are trying to do the following:
one, they are feeling the pinch from the UN and the world community over Gaza. They are trying to divert the worlds attention from killing civilians in Gaza. Second, they are trying to start a new psychological war with Iran since they know that Persian New Year is couple of weeks away.
Do they really think that Americans have short memory and forgot who was master mind behind Iraq war? If they think that we are going to back them up this time they are sadly mistaken!! Not even with 10 CNN channels with Wolf Blitzer as an anchor news caster. With two wars on our hand and state of our economy the way it is... and now... confrontation with china! I don't think so.
What interesting comments from a lot of ignorant people. What would the US do if a country that had been threatening it with extinction, obtained nukes? The response to this is usually Iran never attacked anyone which is true – not directly. But they have attacked using their proxies ie Hezbollah, Hamas. As for the new line about "stealing land" Arab = Arabian peninsula, Jews – Judea, Hebron ... are you getting the picture. Look at the archeology ... the Mosque is built on TOP of the Jewish temple? The artifacts found are from the Hebrews ... the land was stolen by the Arabs and those living there are descendants of the invaders. Finally, the Muslims have no desire to make peace, never had and never will. Jews are less then human to them Christians not much more. When the Palestinian Arabs want peace they can stop their terror, until that happens, nothing will ever change except Israel will continue to progress, create, grow, prosper .... and that's the facts
Jack,
Communication first.
Relations with Russia could help.
Speaking with Iran.
Israel needs the wait and see approach and be patient.
Only fools rush in. We know what happens with weak intelligence.
prepare to defend themselves and start fleeing to the mountains!
I think thta Israel needs to give President Obama a short time to see if his new deplomatic initiative can work.I would say that if there is no movement and Iran appears willing to go forward then Israel must go forward with a military option. They cannot have an Iran run by radicals threatening( and maybe using) nuclear weapons.
Come on jack !!!
this question is a survey for Israel and pentagon to make an excuse to attack Iran.
We all know that nukes were only used once in Japan during WW II, and ever since more than a handful of countries have developed nukes for the SOLE PURPOSE of advancing their agenda of interests against their counterparts. whom ever they may be. it may not be fair or just but this is how the world is.
Iran supports the Palestinian cause and also know that nuking Israel means killing Palestinians too.
Why are so many people eager to bomb? America has never lived with steady bombardment and it easy to say nuke 'em, but it is definitely not the answer. Remember you are referring to the government, not the countless, innocent people who are just trying to get on with their lives. The most important thing is to find out who the suppliers of uranium are and stop it at it's source.
The only solution for peace in the middle east is very very clear as world sees it. That is Israel must give back the land that belongs to its neighbours and stop building new settlements in the Palestinian land. Think what would you do if your neighbour puts fence inside your land? Obama administration MUST put pressure on Israel to do the above or there is grave situation for the World peace. Vic Australia
Well, if it is too late, just accpet it and let's live with it. Means make them feel and accpet their equivalency with France, UK, etc, so peace will continue. Whatever they said about Israel is just a bluff, means if they think to wipe Israel, they will be wiped out too. So that is just bluff.
If it is not too late, do the best for it not to happen. Keep in mind don't try, but do something you believe you can do. Othewise the outcome could be catastrophic. We all have to think as a smart adult who wants to benefit from earth/life. We don't want our ego to be our core of thinking. Ego is for stupidos and beautiful life is for smart ones. Anyhow one day we all leave this world, so I say let's enjoy it together.
Now I am broke from unemployment, what I wish is someone who will give money. Any wealthy to write 5-10 million so I can retire and enjoy life or open my business etc. email me.
Israel should act normaly and stop provoking arab countries.It should actively seek peace."he who draws the Sword shall perish by the Sword.".
Mike
Canada
I can understand the arab/muslim frustration that such a tiny country in the middle east has kicked there asses for the past 60 years. From 1948 to 1973 it used to be an army to army war, and the arab lost each and every one. Israel is too strong fot them so now a days they use Terrorism & suicide bombing. The Arabs need to wake up and finally Realize that israel is here to stay, they had a history for 3000 years and they will exist for eternity.
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone". Does this sound familiar to anyone? Now, I'm not about to turn this into a religious discussion; but who is Israel, or anyone with a nuke in their back pocket, to tell Iran that they cannot build a nuke of their own? Despite Ahmadinejhad’s less than favorable comments towards Israel, what ill intent has Iran displayed? Didn't Israel just slaughter over 1,000 Palestinians over the Gaza dispute? The topic of discussion makes Israel look like a big hypocrite.
Iran is NOT close to getting nuclear weapons this is pure false information fed to you by the Elite powers so we can all be scared of Iran.
Ask yourself when is the last time Iran has did ANYTHING to Israel. And has there been any proof other than what the mainstream media wants to tell us.
Isn't this the same news media that told us that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.. Sound familiar?????
Israel knows what to do if they have'nt done so as yet bunch of smarts.
Isreal should do what ever they have to do to keep Iran from nucular weapons, and US should back them. Whi isn't the UN doing something about it? It's about time Nato got to gether and take care of this problem be fore it is to late. If Isreal does something every one will blame them for being aggressor. Talking is not going to get the job done. Don't wait stop them now, Please before it is to late.
We have a nuclear weapon – and we've used it. They want one too. Who wouldn't!?
What Israel needs to know, as well as any nation that is intent on developing nuclear technology for peaceful or for other means or have already developed it and are already using it, but especially Iran because, perhaps they still have a chance to stop their development activities is, why atomic radiation is so dangerous to any living thing.
The earth is a living planet, but it is changing, it is aging. At one time it was more alive and less radioactive than it is today and the sign that the planet earth is getting old and will perhaps one day die like all living things and become a star that has completed its cycle, is that it becomes more and more radioactive and less and less able to sustain any living thing. This is why radioactivity is so dangerous to anything living. If this is an evolutionary phenomen, then mankind will someday have to face it, but what it wouldn't want to do, if it was wise enough to have figured this out, is to be involved in speeding up the planet earth's own natural aging process through the enrichment of uranium for any purpose, peaceful or otherwise. If there is a judgment somewhere, someday, I don't think mankind, a nation or an individual would want to flaunt such an experience on its curriculum vitae! If one says, with his accumulation of ageless, living wisdom, " I don't believe it," ok, go ahead and develop it and leave it as a proud legacy for your children and for the generations that come after you, but don't forget to put it in a prominent place on your curriculum vitae so that your own, your race, your nation's contribution to the evolution of the planet will not go unrecognized or be forgotten. I think mankind is still responsible for its actions even if it claims, "stupidity."
Nothing. If Iran were to tell everyone right now, that it has nuclear capabilities, its leaders can rest easy knowing Israel lacks the proper hardware to effectively take out its assets. Iran's defenses are much more well-coordinated and better equipped than the Syrians or Iraq back in the days of Saddam. Striking multiple facilities in the heart of Iran is beyond the reach of the Israeli military for now...
First and formost, "Make for SURE that they actually have the nuke!!! Don't take the word of one lost man and his lying administration, we all know where that will get you.