[Marxism] Defense Chief: Israel Has 'Operational Plans' To Strike Iran

[davidquarter@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

http://www.spacewar.com/2005/050128211316.bypt8f74.html


Agence France-Presse
January 28, 2005


Israeli defense chief tells French parliament Iran at
point of nuclear no-return


PARIS - Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has told
French lawmakers that Iran is at "the point of
no-return" on building nuclear weapons, according to a
transcript of his remarks to the National Assembly
made public Friday.

*Mofaz, who warned openly in London this week that
Iran would not be permitted to build a nuclear bomb,*
has in the past said that Israel has operational plans
in place for a strike against Iranian targets.

Mofaz told the French National Assembly's defense
commission that "he ardently hoped that a recourse to
military action would not be necessary" in Iran,
according the transcript of the Tuesday meeting.

But he said that to avoid this, there would have to be
careful inspections aimed at removing any ambiguity
about the existence of a military nuclear project.

Even if Iran recognized Israel's existence, Mofaz said
"the possession of a nuclear weapon by an extremist
regime is not acceptable."

"The danger is great," he said. "The possession of
non-conventional weapons could allow Iran to carry out
terrorist actions with complete impunity and
destabilize the free world."

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned earlier this week
that any attack against the country would be met with
an "astonishing" retaliation.

The Islamic republic also responded to the Israeli
allegations that it was close to developing a nuclear
weapon, saying the latest accusations were designed to
shift attention away from Israel's own weapons and its
"terror" against Palestinians.

While Iran insists its nuclear activities are strictly
peaceful, Britain, France and Germany have been
engaged in diplomatic efforts to secure long-term
guarantees that the Tehran regime will not seek the
bomb.

Mofaz, an outspoken and hawkish former army
chief-of-staff who was responsible for adopting
increasingly tough measures against the Palestinian
intifada, told the defense commission that controls on
Iranian nuclear activities by the International Atomic
Energy Agency were "largely insufficient."

Mofaz accused Iran of doing "nothing but play for
time" in order to build up its production of enriched
uranium.

He said the United States and the European Union
should take the matter to the United Nations Security
Council "so that a a more substantial control can be
put in place and sanctions are considered."

Mofaz said Washington, as the world's super-power,
needed to put pressure on Europe in a joint attempt
"to stop and not merely retard the Iranian program."

On Monday, President George W. Bush said he could not
rule out using force if Iran failed to rein in its
nuclear plans. Vice President Dick Cheney also warned
that Israel might launch a pre-emptive strike on its
own to shut down Iran's nuclear program.











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