If Israel wants to attack, it better do it this summer
If Israel wants to attack, it better do it this summer, Iran Times, May 16, 2014
(A “friendly warning” from Iran, although Israel might not need to use aircraft that require en route refueling: EMP attacks via drone or satellite, for example. Israel does not brag much about her offensive military capabilities and we don’t know what she has or could use. Nevertheless, it’s a good talking point in favor of attacking Iran sooner rather than later. On another point, in view of the increasingly friendly religious and political ties between Iran and Iraq, why is the U.S. beefing up Iraq’s military?– DM)
By the fall of 2017, Iraq will have received 36 F-16 fighters, said Mark Johnson, a spokesman for Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-16.
A logical plan would have the combat planes suck up fuel from aerial tankers over Iraq where there is no threat. But starting in September, those tankers will be sitting ducks.
The Israelis must still whiz across Jordan. They could face a threat coming back when the Jordanians would have been alerted. But, on the other hand, Jordan might not want to object to an attack on Iran the way a Shia-led government in Iraq would feel a need to object. [Emphasis added.]
F-16s….on their way to Baghdad
If Israel really wants to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites, maybe it better do that in the next three months—because in September the United States will start sending Iraq F-16s to build its Air Force.
Except for some helicopters and small planes, Iraq has not had an air force since the United States buried it in 2003. Until the United States withdrew from Iraq two years ago, the US Air Force protected the skies of Iraq.
But for now, the sky is open for Israeli jets to fly back and forth over Iraq if they choose. To strike Iran, Israel would have to refuel its combat jets once along the way. A logical plan would have the combat planes suck up fuel from aerial tankers over Iraq where there is no threat. But starting in September, those tankers will be sitting ducks.
The Israelis must still whiz across Jordan. They could face a threat coming back when the Jordanians would have been alerted. But, on the other hand, Jordan might not want to object to an attack on Iran the way a Shia-led government in Iraq would feel a need to object.
The first two F-16s are slated to arrive in Iraq this September, according to the US State Department.
By the fall of 2017, Iraq will have received 36 F-16 fighters, said Mark Johnson, a spokesman for Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-16.
To date, 11 Iraqi pilots have trained to fly F-16s at Tucson, according to the Air Force. Capt. Mohammed Hama Ameen became the first Iraqi pilot to graduate Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training for the Iraqi Air Force F-16 program in March 2012.
Currently, the Iraqis have some Cessna C-208 propeller-driven aircraft, which can be equipped with Hellfire missiles, and they have thin-skinned attack helicopters.
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WarSclerotic 
May 17, 2014 at 4:19 PM
the F16 being sold to Iraq have friendly fire control they simply wont be able to enaguge israels jets end of
May 17, 2014 at 4:25 PM
If Israel were to attack now 10,000 plus missiles would be launch. It’s way past time for such action. The Rubicon has been crossed.
May 19, 2014 at 8:47 PM
dont be ridicules irans missiles ineffective and simply wont work israel can attack by conventional means anytime it wants with total impunity,
May 20, 2014 at 3:10 PM
“Total impunity?” Hardly… Success? I agree with you.
The relevant question is whether the success is worth the cost, both military and political.
The US has so far been leaning hard on Israel not to act. When the danger from Iran exceeds the danger of alienating our closest and most powerful ally, Israel will attack as it did Osirak.
May 20, 2014 at 3:34 PM
we told you we have your backs now front it,the anger is really caused by the Palestinian issue,and not Iran if you had signed the peace agreement ,Which israel should of you would have got a green light months ago,Israel must act now on its own,The mood is in Washington that the nuclear negotiations is a stall devised by the Russians,and that hitting iran will hurt Russia now get on with it,as the Russians intend to wipe israel off the map via iran,then NATO might well take israel seriously
May 20, 2014 at 4:30 PM
What Israel should do and eventually will do is cut off Iran’s hands that are now gripping Israel by the throat. Taking out Hamas and Hezbollah and if need be Syria (draining the swamps) will cut off Iran’s ability to hurt Israel up close.
All these targets are easily within Israel’s reach, unlike Iran. If, Iran were then to get involved, KABOOM.
May 20, 2014 at 5:01 PM
I could be entirely naïve, but going to war means going to a lot of funerals and I don’t like either one. No matter how much you loath another country and feel they deserve to get their asses kicked, war is still not an option. If under attack, then yes. If under threat, I think not.
Herein lies the dilemma. At what point is a threat perceived to be an attack? Anything short of an attack is a hard sell to your allies. To me, a threat is a threat, a wakeup call, a reason to prepare for war, an invitation to threaten back. Still…not an attack.
If you feel Israel must attack Iran ‘before it’s too late’, I say you are still rushing off to war. No one wants to rush off to die.
May 20, 2014 at 5:48 PM
Hear, hear…!
Everyone making these decisions are veterans of multiple wars.
We’re not as quick to go to war as the “armchair warriors” of Internet forums.
May 20, 2014 at 7:57 PM
sticky wicket, for sure. I wonder if the appeasers of WWII made the same arguments. I wonder If Hitler had been nipped in the
bud…..but who knows.
May 20, 2014 at 8:06 PM
“Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war. “
May 20, 2014 at 8:20 PM
As I said, a real stick wicket, Unfortunately when dealing with evil hesitancy can be deadly. Does anyone hear think that radical Islam is not evil? Or, that the mad mullahs in Tehran don’t represent radical Islam?
May 20, 2014 at 8:59 PM
Agreed JW,the end of the day JP and LS you wont be coming back in a black bag,nor probably any of your friends
May 21, 2014 at 4:54 AM
hesitancy in dealing with Hitler caused 70 millions deaths in WWII
Nazis and Radical Islam same evil and hoping for different results.
Good luck with that!
May 21, 2014 at 2:33 PM
Yes well john hesitancy in dealing with Putin has caused this and believe me Putin is going to make the fuhrer look like the sugar plum fairy just like Stalin did,want to stop iran hit russia at the same time now thats parts being delt with in Europe and America its Israels job to deal with Iran and israel will when it becomes the last resort ,No warrior want to go to war believe me its all bad,and its going to get worse this is just the beginning,and its going to get far worse its already coming to your borders and its here in Europe its all linked this may well be the final Battle ,you cant blame Israel for hesitating,and i tell you this when people like me are rattled its really serious ,The opening salvo will be the beginning of WW111
May 21, 2014 at 3:38 PM
Before we fire the opening salvo of WWIII, let’s take a look back at WWII:
“In all, there were 2.3 million Japanese Army troops prepared to defend the home islands, backed by a civilian militia of 28 million men and women. Casualty predictions varied widely, but were extremely high. The Vice Chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Takijirō Ōnishi, predicted up to 20 million Japanese deaths.
A study from June 15, 1945, by the Joint War Plans Committee, who provided planning information to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, estimated that Olympic would result in between 130,000 and 220,000 U.S. casualties of which U.S. dead would be the range from 25,000 to 46,000.”
That being said, we all know the result. The decision was made to nuke Japan. Ironically, it was done to save life by ending the war quickly. Still many died and many survivors suffered from it’s effects for the rest of their lives.
Now, let’s fast forward to 1962 and the naval blockade of Cuba. I remember my Dad telling me, “Son, we might be getting into a nuclear war”. It was pretty damned scary, but fortunately, Mr. Khrushchev backed down and removed the nuclear missiles from Cuba, something the Russians may never do again.
“OK LS…so much for the boring history lesson. What are you getting at??”
What I’m saying is ‘World War’ has evolved. Today, countries with nuclear arsenals cannot afford to engage each other conventionally. At what point will the conflict go nuclear. Let’s face it, things can and have gotten out of hand in war. As a result, we find ourselves doing the unthinkable while some unlucky souls think the undoable.
So I submit, WWIII would be totally nuclear and must be avoided at all costs. Yes, I said it…ALL COSTS. Why? Because a nuclear war between the big players on this planet will render it totally uninhabitable for all except roaches.
We will be left with nothing. For those who are lucky (maybe not) enough to survive, they will have no clean water, no clean air, contaminated crops, fried energy grids, overflowing cemeteries, empty store shelves, wholesale starvation, street violence…not a pretty picture. Not a pretty picture at all.
Will we have an opening salvo that starts WWIII. I cannot say. What I can say is that if we do, it will be more like a closing curtain on mankind.
May 21, 2014 at 9:04 PM
Good grief Justice, knock it off with WWIII. You’ve been banging that drum long enough. There will be no WWIIO with Russia, no one would gain everyone would lose. So please cool it, you sound silly.
May 22, 2014 at 2:09 PM
your in the clouds land john i told you right at the beginning this is scaled escalation ,remember i have access to what you will never know and for the record were about 30% into that scaled escalation watch the events of the next 3 months,its already started,and thi9s is the first time i have ever mentioned ww111,your dollars about to be hit thats this month and next watch Obama come out of his box,the real shit will start in September,make a note of all this because i wont be repeating it,maybe sanity will prevail we will have to see,But if Israel hits iran which we all think is soon,then its set in stone,war has many manifestations,you dont seam to grasp this ,rarely does it start off bang bang,in this case its started of in cyberspace,For example the attack on ebay which ebay is covering up is far more sinister than ebay would have you believe ,the PLA AND FSB joint operation has not just,taken log ons that’s the red herring they used the attack to plant viruses on ebay all users are now infected,this is now everyday the shooting may take some time meanwhile we are shipping massive amounts of firepower secretly into europe ,The wales meeting there will be a declaration of war on our enemy’s this is going to be behind closed doors with the press out the loop and you people so i warn you,bad weather is on the horizon,
May 22, 2014 at 3:11 PM
OK Justice, we shall revisit this come Sept.
May 22, 2014 at 3:19 PM
Wait….did you say a declaration of war behind closed doors Justice? Does this not require legislative approval?
May 22, 2014 at 3:25 PM
Steve…
Did you get my email?
May 22, 2014 at 3:58 PM
no its doesn’t require any legislative approval,that’s already been given,just like articles 4 5 and 7 didi not need any the approval was given at the start of NATO this happened several times in the cold war,when a leader of a Nato country announces it its just a formality these decisions are generally taken months ahead,Its more a formality,None of this means tghere may be a shooting war ,like i saild war manifests itself in many ways,The outcome is all ways uncertain,You can assume for now that the notion in NATO is that we are at war,you only need to read the latest NATO statements ,theirs no going back.Allso NATO is a collective defense organization,it couldn’t function the other way round ,.The real deciding factors will be what will the next round of Russian and Chinese provokatsiya we shall see
May 22, 2014 at 8:21 PM
JW- Received….replied a few hours ago. Thanks.
May 17, 2014 at 7:01 PM
In the animal world (of which humanity is a member) a classic way to fend of predictors/attack is to make yourself appear bigger/meaner than you actually are. Both Iran and Israel engage in such activities. Although Iran in a conventional war would be beaten it can meet out huge damage against a foe in asymmetrical warfare. Although Israel is that little country that could and has potent weaponry it too puffs itself up as much as possible. Unfortunately Israel is not invincible. Enough firepower could decimate that country no bigger than NJ.
May 17, 2014 at 8:12 PM
Six months ago I said Israel will not attack Iran, today I say Israel will not attack Iran and six months from now I’ll say Israel will not attack Iran. But, what Israel will do is drain the swamps around Israel. By doing so, Israel lessens the threat to its people and takes Iran’s proxy armies out of the picture. If Iran intervenes in the process Israel will defend itself. Read between the lines if you will.