Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., December 17, 2008 Kislev 20, 5769 | | Israel Time: 21:46 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File
U.S. President Bush and Secretary of State Rice listening to South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, not pictured, speak at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam on Saturday. (AP)
Last update - 00:00 20/11/2006
Bush: I would understand if Israel chose to attack Iran
By Yossi Verter, Haaretz Correspondent

The United States lacks sufficient intelligence on Iran's nuclear facilities at this time, which prevents it from initiating a military strike against them, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has told European politicians and diplomats with whom she has recently met.

Rice mentioned three reasons why the United States is currently unable to carry out a military operation against Iran: the wish to solve the crisis through peaceful means; concern that a military strike will be ineffective - that it would fail to completely destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities; and the lack of precise intelligence on the targets' locations.

U.S. President George W. Bush and President Jacques Chirac of France met several weeks ago. Bush told his French counterpart that the possibility that Israel would carry out a strike against Iran's nuclear installations should not be ruled out.
Advertisement
Bush also said that if such an attack were to take place, he would understand it. According to European diplomats who later met with Rice, the secretary of state did not express the same willingness to show understanding for a possible Israeli strike against Iran.

Nonetheless, Rice did not discount the possibility that such an operation may take place.

In recent talks with their Israeli counterparts, French government officials estimated that Iran would reach the "point of no return" in its nuclear program by spring 2007, in approximately five months.

At that point, according to Israeli sources, Iran will be in a position to simultaneously operate approximately 3,000 centrifuges for enriching uranium.

Various estimates by international experts hold that Monday Iran is operating 340-600 such centrifuges.

In talks with Israeli sources several days ago, a French government official asserted that an Israeli military attack against Iran would be "a total disaster" in terms of its implications for the entire world.

According to the French official, such a strike would at best delay the completion of Iran's nuclear program by two years.

The attack would also result in Iran cancelling its membership in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, cause a great deal of agitation in the Arab world, lead to a rise in oil prices, and could result in a major Iranian military response that would not target Israel alone.
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Picking up the pieces
U.S. Jews ponder 'catastrophic' effects of Bernard Madoff affair.
Adolf Hitler, toddler
Three-year-old Adolf Hitler finally gets his name on his birthday cake.
  1.   LOL - the great demon 03:58  |  David King 20/11/06
  2.   Bottom Line: France is On Board 03:59  |  dave 20/11/06
  3.   Thanks a lot George 04:07  |  Paul Freedman 20/11/06
  4.   COWARD BUSH 04:09  |  MARCO 20/11/06
  5.   Iran will retailiate 04:20  |  John 20/11/06
  6.   #1--the Iran threat is real 04:27  |  Paul Freedman 20/11/06
  7.   Israel and tehran 04:35  |  Twogunz 20/11/06
  8.   Well now 04:39  |  Guy From NYC 20/11/06
  9.   Lebanon War all over again? 04:45  |  justiceseeker 20/11/06
  10.   I wish 04:51  |  Nasser 20/11/06
  11.   Bottom Line 04:54  |  angiolillo 20/11/06
  12.   Then Attack Now 05:11  |  Finn 20/11/06
  13.   Senseless leadership 05:12  |  Josh 20/11/06
  14.   Cowing to such threat 05:14  |  Brod 20/11/06
  15.   Bush 05:19  |  Dee Dubb 20/11/06
  16.   What the heck? 05:21  |  Polybios 20/11/06
  17.   Bush would understand 05:23  |  Shmuelshachor 20/11/06
  18.   "...according to Israeli sources..." 05:26  |  chet 20/11/06
  19.   I look forward to it 05:27  |  omolll 20/11/06
  20.   What Bush`s statement really means. 05:30  |  Voice of Reason 20/11/06
  21.   To # 2-Bottom line... 05:30  |  Shmuelshachor 20/11/06
  22.   Condi Rice the Coward 05:31  |  David ben Avraham 20/11/06
  23.   I`d understand if Israel chose to attack Iran 05:44  |  Galvin Templar 20/11/06
  24.   Bus to Israel: Have fun and good luck!! We will watch 05:44  |  Natallie Durson 20/11/06
  25.   Israel vs. Iran 06:07  |  Dee Dubb 20/11/06
  26.   THE LAME DUCK OF THE CENTURY 06:31  |  indrajaya 20/11/06
  27.   right on. must protect frances right to under the table oil cash 06:40  |  ralph 20/11/06
  28.   a total disaster would be not to act 06:43  |  Like it is 20/11/06
  29.   Never again Masada!= I..D.F. oath. 06:51  |  Michael M. 20/11/06
  30.   Condi Rice the Coward 06:58  |  David King 20/11/06
  31.   God bless USA God bless Israel. 06:59  |  David King 20/11/06
  32.   NOT THAT EZ.... 07:02  |  MIKE KATZ 20/11/06
  33.   Iran having nukes will force Israel to seek peace 07:07  |  Gregg 20/11/06
  34.   Response to Galvin Templar. 07:09  |  Michael M. 20/11/06
  35.   Understand if Israel attacks Iran 07:12  |  yenta Fagal 20/11/06
  36.   be a good little doggie 07:24  |  david 20/11/06
  37.   me: i`d understand if bush could stop talking... 07:25  |  avni 20/11/06
  38.   If Israel goes in the USA will back them up 07:25  |  The Warrior 20/11/06
  39.   #16 ben Avraham 07:37  |  Michael H. 20/11/06
  40.   Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran in between. 07:38  |  Michael M. 20/11/06
  41.   Israel has no right to start wars 07:42  |  Holden 20/11/06
  42.   #2 Bottom line: US is on board 07:48  |  Jonathan 20/11/06
  43.   The man shouldn`t be President 07:51  |  Colin Wright 20/11/06
  44.   Gladiators ?? 07:51  |  From the Moon 20/11/06
  45.   The US and US 08:01  |  Adam 20/11/06
  46.   bush 08:19  |  matt 20/11/06
  47.   Target One for Retaliation 08:19  |  Mark of Lewiston 20/11/06
  48.   France`s worry 08:20  |  George 20/11/06
  49.   #26 08:21  |  From the Moon 20/11/06
  50.   I really don`t understand !! 08:29  |  David 20/11/06
  51.   All Jews, Christians and Muslims should 08:32  |  justiceseeker 20/11/06
  52.   Iraq-Iran-Afghanistan=Iran surrounted by U.S. troops! 08:35  |  Michael M. 20/11/06
  53.   OF COURSE HE WOULD UNDERSTAND IT 08:35  |  Robert 20/11/06
  54.   #25 Well Said I agree Impeach Bush 08:59  |  Mark 20/11/06
  55.   #10 Bush playing all sides!! 09:05  |  MARK 20/11/06
  56.   Chiraq 09:08  |  RJ 20/11/06
  57.   IMPEACH GEORGE BUSH , Anyone Agree? 09:09  |  Mark 20/11/06
  58.   Israel can do it 09:16  |  Efox 20/11/06
  59.   Bush: I`d understand if Israel chose to attack Iran 09:17  |  Sly 20/11/06
  60.   but the world wouldn`t, and we`d still have to live here 09:18  |  Bruno 20/11/06
  61.   the mad landlord & the maid 09:19  |  insightful 20/11/06
  62.   #40 Sly Bush wants Armageddon 09:41  |  MARK 20/11/06
  63.   34. Bruno - the bully turning on its friend 09:43  |  sicko 20/11/06
  64.   Too Stupid for words.. 09:44  |  steve 20/11/06
  65.   Weasel-mouthed Rice forgot the 4th reason 09:46  |  Clickfool 20/11/06
  66.   An Israeli attack on Iran is as big a fantasy as a US attack 09:52  |  Clickfool 20/11/06
  67.   Interesting photo of Condi Rice 09:53  |  Clickfool 20/11/06
  68.   No A.Bomb in Iran 10:03  |  Dav 20/11/06
  69.   Shark Bush 10:03  |  David King 20/11/06
  70.   Bush: I`d understand (Idon`t think he realy does) 10:05  |  Mary 20/11/06
  71.   the best defence is attack 10:06  |  dr. amir faizi 20/11/06
  72.