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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Sharon: Iran constitutes very great danger |
| 2004-09-15 |
| Israeli PM plays down prospect of pre-emptive strike on arch-foe Iran's nuclear facilities. JERUSALEM: 9-15-04 - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Iran and its nuclear ambitions represent "a very great danger" to the Jewish state but played down the prospect of a pre-emptive strike on its atomic facilities. "Iran constitutes a very great danger, due to its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons and means of launching them," Sharon said in an interview with the Yediot Aharonot daily published Wednesday. "This is a country where the moderates speak in terms of destroying Israel and the Jewish people, and in fact engage in terror." Tehran insists its nuclear programme, currently being scrutinised by the UN nuclear watchdog, is strictly limited to meeting energy needs. But the head of Israel's military intelligence, General Aharon Zeevi, claimed earlier this week that Tehran could be in a position next year to develop nuclear weapons without outside help. Asked if that meant Israel needed to carry out a pre-emptive strike against Iran, similar to the one launched against Iraq's French-built Osirak reactor in 1981, Sharon said that times had changed and instead called for the threat posed by Iran to be addressed by the United Nations. "Menahem Begin (the Israeli prime minister at the time of the Osirak bombing) made a very brave decision," Sharon said. "I had great influence on that decision. "In the meantime, things have changed. Israel is not leading the campaign against Iran's nuclear armament. "What Israel needs are protective means and deterrent ability. The world must put heavy pressure on Iran, economic and diplomatic pressure. We have not yet reached the point of no return. We must bring this matter to the UN Security Council." Israeli deputy chief of staff General Dan Halutz also called for more international pressure to be exerted on Iran but said a time could come when Israel had to take matters into its own hands. "We will rely on other parties for the moment but only up to a point when we will have to rely only on ourselves," Halutz told the paper. Sharon's government has come to regard Iran as its greatest enemy since the downfall of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq last year. Israel itself refuses to confirm it has a nuclear arsenal but is estimated to possess some 200 warheads. Unlike Iran, it is not subject to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency as it has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |
| #15 Sharon's statement is a directive for US to invade Iran. News and Current Events |
| Posted by: Anonymous6463 2004-09-15 8:51:26 AM |
| #14 Sharon's statement is a directive for US to invade Iran. News and Current Events |
| Posted by: Anonymous6463 2004-09-15 8:51:26 AM |
| #13 The Mossad takes no holidays. We do get comp days though. |
| Posted by: The Mossad 2004-09-15 8:30:20 PM |
| #12 JP - this differs from your site - troll? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-09-15 7:34:27 PM |
| #11 Logic is a matter of perspective. Iran should be very afraid - they are betting on a weak response from the Israeli government. Israel has the means and the will to defend itself if the US can not mediate. Israel will do what they must to survive - that is the only logic that matters. This matter has not reached its conclusion. |
| Posted by: JP 2004-09-15 7:15:37 PM |
| #10 A pre-emptive attack is not in the cards. If Israel could have taken out Iran's nuclear facilities they would have done so long ago. We've long known of Iran's intentions, and Israel has means motive and opportunity to carry out the strike. The only logical conclusion is that such a strike is not feasible or practical. |
| Posted by: lex 2004-09-15 12:02:37 PM |
| #9 The Mossad is not going on holiday? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-09-15 11:59:14 AM |
| #8 Sharon: "We are not planning any attacks, therefore Iran needs no antiaircraft alerts or hiding of facilities. We will be sure to notify you when we are ready to attack, thanks, bye now" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-09-15 10:56:18 AM |
| #7 The Jew haters & rabid anti-Americans hide behind "Anonymous". If they are asked would they be in favour of a nuclear Iran attacking Israel, or the U.S. of course the answer will always be 'YES', but only behind the coward's mask of "Anonymous". |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-09-15 10:48:03 AM |
| #6 Boris, why can't you use your real name? Are you ashamed of being Serb? Do the girls laugh at you because you live in Simi Valley? Is your drooling subnormality such a turn-off that you think you ought not be identified? |
| Posted by: Boring Serb Tick 2004-09-15 10:42:51 AM |
| #5 Hello, UFOOL. I'm still here. A name change. How slick. How did we ever catch on? You can try to run, but you can't hide. No one should know that better then you, right? |
| Posted by: The Mossad 2004-09-15 10:38:47 AM |
| #4 nah. Invading Iran would be a good thing to do regardless of what our ally Israel might want. (these muslims must really admire and be in awe of Jews if they think they control the world -- or they should, at least) |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2004-09-15 9:41:38 AM |
| #3 Note to Pest control: Aisle #1 Troll infestation and droppings! |
| Posted by: Zarathustra 2004-09-15 9:03:08 AM |
| #2 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted] |
| Posted by: Anonymous6463 TROLL 2004-09-15 8:51:26 AM |
| #1 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted] |
| Posted by: Anonymous6463 TROLL 2004-09-15 8:51:26 AM |