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Bekijk Volledige Versie : Ex-House leader advises Israel on war on Iran



Wizdom
06-12-08, 22:46
Ex-House leader advises Israel on war on Iran

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:48:51 GMT


In a rare display of aerial power, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) recently presented warplanes such as the F-16i "Sufas" (seen here) that could be sent into Iran.
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich says it is foolish to want Israel not to prepare for military action against Iran's nuclear program.

"The Israeli government probably would be best served if they created a deadline of sometime next fall," Gingrich said in an appearance on Fox News.

The former Republican House speaker said a deadline would tell President-elect Barack Obama that Israel is "willing to do anything that can help him achieve a non-nuclear Iran."

The US, Israel and their European allies accuse Iran, a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), of having plans to develop a military nuclear program.

Iranian officials insist that the nuclear activities are directed at the civilian applications of the technology and have refused to halt the program. The NPT grants all signatories the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.

Insisting that a nuclear Iran would pose an existential threat to Tel Aviv, Israel has long argued that taking out Iran's nuclear infrastructure militarily is a legitimate option.

A recent report by the Jerusalem Post revealed that the Israeli Defense Forces are drawing up attack plans "that do not include coordination with the United States."


Former House speaker Newt Gingrich says Washington is "not prepared to sanction an attack on Iran."
In his appearance on Fox, Gingrich said the US is "not prepared to sanction an attack on Iran". He, however, warned that there comes a time that Israel "will not run the risk" by waiting for a US green light.

"A handful of nuclear weapons would be a new Holocaust; it would wipe out millions of Israelis. I don't think you can ask the Israeli government to not take steps to proactively defend itself against that kind of threat," he added.

His remarks come after Friday remarks by President George W. Bush that the "bottom line" has been drawn for Iran, vowing that "America will not "allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon."

The UN agency, which has investigated and monitored Iran's nuclear activities since 2003, insists that unless Tehran increases its nuclear cooperation, the UN body "will not be able to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran."

The agency, meanwhile, confirmed in its latest report that it has "been able to continue to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran."

According to the UN nuclear watchdog, Iran has managed to enrich uranium-235 to a level "less than 5 percent".

The rate is consistent with the development of a nuclear power plant -- nuclear arms production requires an enrichment level of above 90 percent.