Iran No Threat?

Really?

Well of course, if you but ask the Demorats and those who cheered when the newest NIE was released last week. Last Thursday, I posted about my thoughts on the NIE. John Bolton questioned the veracity of its contents. The Israelis questioned its contents as well.

Most recently, an Israeli Minister said (please note my red italics for emphasis):

The manner in which the Americans relate to the intelligence report on Iran is similar to the way in which they viewed those reports they received during the Holocaust on railways transporting hundreds of thousands of Jews to their death at Auschwitz," Minister Yitzhak Cohen of Shas said during a security cabinet meeting Sunday morning on the Iranian nuclear issue.

"It can not be that (US President George W.) Bush is committed to peace as was declared at Annapolis, and then the Americans propagate such an intelligence report which contradicts the information we have proving Iran intends to obtain nuclear weapons," Cohen said. "How can we rely on the Americans if they publish this report that emasculates what the world explicitly knows regarding Iran, and renders impotent the entire struggle against the Iranians?"

This, my dear readers, is what is termed a swift, public kick to the US groin by Israel.

Ynetnews nails it further:

Minister Cohen asserted that the report must have been "ordered by someone who wants dialogue with Tehran" and formulated an historical analogy to express just how serious the situation is: "In the middle of the previous century the Americans received intelligence reports from Auschwitz on the packed trains going to the extermination camps. They claimed then that the railways were industrial. Their attitude today to the information coming out of Iran on the Iranians' intention to produce a nuclear bomb reminds one of their attitude during the holocaust."

Cabinet Member Cohen had this to say to his fellow ministers not present in the meeting: "Whoever thinks that the president of Iran is a lover of Zion, with Kosher certification from the Americans, misleads and is mislead. He is not a lover of Zion, but instead an aspiring strangler of Zion. Someone in America fell asleep on his watch, but we must remain awake and aware."

Earlier a senior security source told Ynet that "Iran will do all in its power to proceed on the path (to a nuclear weapon), while trying to confuse the western world." In the meeting, policy makers attempted to formulate the Israeli response to the American National Intelligence Estimate, published last week, which asserted that Iran suspended its activities for acquiring nuclear weapons in 2003.

In the meantime, a UK Sunday Telegraph report says British intelligence has serious doubts that Tehran has shelved nuclear weapons program. 'Iranian nuclear staff, knowing their phones were tapped, deliberately gave misinformation; they will say anything to throw us off,' a UK official was quoted as saying.

According to senior ministers, Israel has information proving that Iran did not cease in its efforts to obtain a nuclear bomb, and is only acting in secret. Nevertheless, none of the three top ministers, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, or Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni seeks to create a confrontation with the American administration.

A senior security official who has seen the materials Israel possesses claims that there is enough incriminating information regarding Iran's intentions.

"Even if the world lacks clear evidence, the (Iranian) agenda is clear. We have no doubt that it is (President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad and the Ayatollahs who are directing the program. Israel has gathered enough information to obligate the international community to continue with its intensive activity against creating a bomb," he said.

As Yoni Tidi wrote in his December 4th blog entry, Israel appears to be quite alone:

So America hangs Israel out to dry at Annapolis, with a follow up visit by President Bush to Israel in January 2008 in an attempt to push forward the birth of a terrorist state and now Israel will have to shoulder the fight against Iran alone.

America may talk the talk but mark my words when the Iranian nuclear program is taken out it will be with missiles that proudly wear a Star of David not Old Glory.

Israel needs to look at our relationship with America with a new honest assessment, about who are our real friends.

To me, Yoni's words hurt; they hurt a great deal. I can only say this to Mr. Tidi: I suspect the bulk of America stands with Israel. Perhaps not our current short-sighted administration, but the rank-and-file American. Make no mistake: I stand with Israel.

Those who believe the NIE is accurate are naive and just plain wrong.

BZ