Washington – Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, said on Sunday that Israel and the United States view the Iranian nuclear threat differently.
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Speaking to reporters on his arrival to Afghanistan, Dempsey said that the US and Israel have a different interpretation of the same intelligence reports in regards to Iran’s nuclear program.
“Israel sees the Iranian threat more seriously than the US sees it, because a nuclear Iran poses a threat to Israel’s very existence,” Dempsey said.
“You can take two countries, give them the same intelligence and reach two different conclusions. I think that’s what’s happening here.”
He also acknowledged that he and his Israeli counterpart, IDF Chief of Staff Lt-.Gen. Benny Gantz, regularly confer on Iran. “We speak at least once every two weeks, we compare intelligence reports, we discuss the security implications of the events in the region.”
Dempsey added: “At the same time, we admit that our clocks ticking at different paces. We have to understand the Israelis; they live with a constant suspicion with which we do not have to deal.”
Dempsey last visited Israel in January, where he met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Gantz and President Shimon Peres. During his visit he stressed the “mutual commitment” between Israel and the US.
However, he has previously warned that any Israeli strike would not destroy Iran’s nuclear program, only delay its work.
“I may not know about all of their capabilities but I think that it’s a fair characterization to say that they could delay but not destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” he said.
Meanwhile, former Military Intelligence head Amos Yadlin on Saturday urged US President Barack Obama to visit Israel to allay fears that Washington is not fully committed to stopping the Iranian nuclear program.
“The US president should visit Israel and tell its leadership – and, more important, its people – that preventing a nuclear Iran is a US interest, and if we have to resort to military action, we will,” Yadlin said in an opinion piece published in The Washington Post.
Washington has repeatedly stated in recent weeks that diplomatic efforts and sanctions aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons have not run their course.
Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post
as they say “every man for himself” the US (or read Obama) don’t care if Iran gets nuclear power “and weapons”. Its deemed as a guarantee against wars, just like the US vs. Russia. Same story was Pakistan Vs. Afghanistan, or Turkey Vs. India.
However, its a dead wrong error, as Iran has a mission on hand. With its widespread terrorism campaigns and weapons delivery to banned organizations, they can never be trusted. Its a big difference if I country has to attack directly and suffer retaliation, then giving it to a third party and officially wipe the hands and even condemn it publicly.
Iran is big trouble for Israel and for klal Yisroal who live there. The clear repeated goal of “wiping off” isn’t what they say, its what they want. Its a shame that Obama (with Muslim strings in his blood) has trust in these arabs and Muslims.
Said it before and will say it again.
I hope and pray that it does not happen but all signs point to the need for an Israeli pre-emptive strike and sure will turn to be all out war but see no other choice.
affraid will need Israel to use some type of a nuke or massive type bomb.