The News International, Monday, October 13, 2008
News Desk
LONDON: Former British foreign secretary David Owen warned on Sunday that Israel could attack Iran in the near future. In an article in The Sunday Times, he wrote that some key decision makers in Israel were convinced that it was the most suitable time to attack Iran when Bush was in office.
“Some key Israel decision makers fear unless they attack Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities in the next few months, while George W Bush is still president, there will not be another period when they can rely on the United States as being anywhere near as supportive in the aftermath of a unilateral attack,” he said.
Owen, who served as the British foreign secretary from 1977 to 1979, observed the Israel-Iran conflict would involve the whole world, economically. “In the past 40 years there have been few occasions when I have been more concerned about a specific conflict escalating to involve, economically, the whole world,” he said.
Owen further warned that if Iran was attacked, it would be supplied with arms by China and Russia, adding Iran’s one immediate reaction would be blocking the Strait of Hormuz. “In the narrow strait just one oil tanker sunk would halt shipping for months,” he added.
The former diplomat is convinced that the Revolutionary Guards of Iran are committed to a war against Israel and prepared to take on the rest of the world. “They have good equipment and operate from the land, sea and air. They will be suicide soldiers, seamen and airmen,” he said. Owen said that after Israel attacked Iran, the American military would be bound to follow Bush’s orders. “The experience of Georgia has given an amber, if not a green light to Israel and only Bush can switch that to red,” he said.
Owen advised Bush to publicly warn Israel that the United States will use its air power to prevent it bombing Iran, while announcing that he was sending Rice to Tehran to start negotiating a grand bargain whereby all sanctions would be lifted if Iran forgoes the nuclear weapons option.
Peace and Justice Post 
Israeli army brass advocate timely war on Iran
November 24, 2008The Global Research, Nov 23, 2008
Press TV
An Israeli security assessment has recommended devising contingency plans to attack Iran even if it means courting a conflict with the US.
The leaked paper drawn up by Israeli military chiefs maintains that Tel Aviv has a ‘limited’ window of opportunity to act against Iran before the country obtains a nuclear weapon, claiming that in 2009, Israel might have to face a nuclear Iran ‘alone’.
Senior Israeli officials had earlier expressed concern that an Obama administration might lead up to the restoration of Washington-Tehran relations.
President-elect Barack Obama has vowed to begin direct and unconditional talks with top Iranian officials on the country’s long-disputed nuclear program.
Israel alleges that Iran, a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), has plans ‘to build a nuclear weapon’. Under the allegation, Israeli officials have long argued that the use of military force is a legitimate option in retarding the country’s nuclear progress.
Iran denies the Israeli claim, insisting that the country’s nuclear activities are solely directed at the civilian applications of the technology.
The Israeli army assessment claims ‘Iran’s threat to Israel’s survival’ is at the top of the list of challenges facing Tel Aviv and recommends close cooperation with the US to prevent a Washington-Tehran rapprochement.
According to the assessment, Israel must therefore draw up a plan for military action against Iran, in case other countries show reluctance to counter the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
The paper is to be presented to the cabinet next month as part of the National Security Council’s annual situation assessment, Haaretz reported.
This comes as outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arrived in Washington on Sunday for talks with US President George W. Bush.
During his three-day stay, Olmert is expected to attempt to make President Bush pledge to counter the Iranian nuclear program.
Earlier in November, an unnamed senior European Union diplomat said that the bloc is concerned that ‘a possible Israeli strike against Iran is not completely off the radar’.
The official suggested that the perfect time for Israel to strike Iranian nuclear installations ‘is between now and January 20’ — when US President-elect Barack Obama takes office.
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