Prepare for attack on Iran: Bush to Israel

Press Trust of India
Sunday, July 13, 2008 (London)
US President George W Bush has given Israel a go-ahead to begin preparations for a military attack on Iran, in case talks over the country's controversial nuclear programme fail to yield results, a media report has said.The Bush administration is said to have informed Jerusalem that he would back an Israeli plan to strike Iran's main nuclear sites with long-range aerial weapons if diplomatic talks over Tehran's nuclear programme broke down, the Sunday Times said quoting a Pentagon official.The US President has given Israel an ''amber light'' to start preparing for a possible offensive, the official told the Sunday Times.''Amber means get on with your preparations, stand by for immediate attack and tell us when you're ready,'' the official was quoted as saying to Sunday Times.The US President's voice of support comes despite his military officials' opposition to an attack on Iran, given the risks of an aerial strike.However, the US would not deploy American forces for such a strike nor would Israel be able to depend on its military bases in Iraq for logistical support, the official said.Washington would also not give a ''green light'' to the attack without unquestionable proof that the Islamic Republic is involved in military preparations of its own, the report said.Iran last week test launched a series of medium-range ballistic missiles it claimed were capable of striking Israel.The tests prompted a threatening message from Israel Defence Minister Ehud Barak, who said that the Jewish state would not hesitate from taking military action against Tehran.


Israel should not wait for Iran to actually strike Israel. Iran's leaders have already declared that its nuclear weapons are meant to strike Israel. Israel must therefore destroy Iran's nuclear weapons programme before they become operational. Otherwise, many millions would die. Minimal harm now rather than horrendous harm later.