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Reports: Israel resigned to nuclear Iran, while Obama ready to strike?
By Ryan Jones
In the first report, which appeared in London newspaper The Times, it was revealed that a group of former Israeli ambassadors, intelligence officials and army chiefs had requested a package of simulated scenarios for the day after Iran tests its first nuclear weapon.
The study, conducted by the Institute for National Security Studies, concluded that while Israel would still have a military option, it would be more likely to relent under American pressure and instead forge defense pacts with Western powers as a deterrence against Iranian attack.
Iran would use its nuclear threat to improve its position in the region, while simultaneously kicking off a Middle East nuclear arms race with Saudi Arabia and possibly Egypt.
Meanwhile, a former national security advisor to US President Barack Obama told Bloomberg News on Monday that the American leader will not hesitate to use military force to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
"The Iranians should never think that there’s a reluctance to use the force," said former National Security Council member Dennis Ross, who added that Obama has "made it very clear" that he views a nuclear-armed Iran as one of the world's greatest threats.
Until now, it has been widely assumed that while Obama didn't want Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, he would under no circumstances use military force to prevent it. On the other hand, reports in recent months have suggested that Israel is busily preparing to launch its own strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, with or without American assistance.
Original Article
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