President Obama and CIA Director Leon PanettaFrom Times Online:
America’s spy chief was sent on a secret mission to Israel to warn its leaders not to launch a surprise attack on Iran without notifying the US Administration.
As Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, prepares to visit Washington, it emerged yesterday that Leon Panetta, the head of the CIA, went to Israel two weeks ago. He sought assurances from Mr Netanyahu and Ehud Barak, the Defence Minister, that their hawkish new Government would not attack Iran without alerting Washington.
Concerns have been rising that Mr Netanyahu could launch a strike on Tehran’s atomic programme, in the same way that Israel hit Saddam Hussein’s Osirak reactor in 1981. Israel has been preparing for such an eventuality. It has carried out long-distance manoeuvres and is due to hold its largest civil defence drills this summer. The country’s leaders reportedly told Mr Panetta that they did not “intend to surprise the US on Iran”.
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My Comment: When the CIA Director is knocking at your door .... the news is never good. I fail to understand why President Obama's administration is making these moves publicly. It only reinforces Iran's determination to proceed with the development of its nuclear program with the understanding that (for now) the U.S. does not have the stomach to launch an attack against their nuclear facilities.
For the Israelis .... I am sure their concern is magnified by a factor of 100. They are probably seeing the same thing that I have noticed after 100 days with this new administration in Washington. They have a great vision on what they want to do .... but they do not have a strategy. For example .... they want to close down Gitmo .... but they do not know where to place these inmates. With reference to Iran .... they want them to stop their nuclear processing .... but they do not know what steps are necessary to get there.