Comments on: Israel and Iran at the eleventh hour

By: PhD student

PhD student — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 00:44:14 +0000

dear sirs,

i suspect that your knowledge of israeli politics and strategy is not as good as it should perhaps should be. we were assigned this last year; you may wish to read part 2:

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13600826.2011.577031

By: zenwick

zenwick — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:45:25 +0000

“… a newly-nuclear Iran could decide to share some of its fissile materials and technologies with assorted terrorist groups, [but] the harms suffered from any such instances of nuclear terror would probably be less overwhelming.”

There’s a spectacular bit of hand-waving for you: let’s just not worry about losing a city or two. And if a terrorist bomb erases Tel Aviv and/or New York, and we can’t immediately trace it back to Iran (especially after the post-Iran-bomb round of proliferation) – then what do we do? Investigate for a week or two and THEN nuke Teheran? In any case, it boils down to an altogether possible religious strategy for the ayatollahs: precipitating an all-out war for survival between Islam and the infidels.

By: Andy Hall

Andy Hall — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:29:48 +0000

@Adina Kutnicki:

It strikes me as distinctly *unhelpful* to toss off a throwaway reference to “Iran’s Hitlerite regime” in what needs to be a clear and careful discussion about the current situation with that country. Such rhetoric really only serves to inflame the discussion, without adding anything of real substance. The threat of a nuclear Iran needs to be met — with thought, discussion, and action — on its own terms.

By: Adina Kutnicki, Israel

Adina Kutnicki, Israel — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:13:24 +0000

There is little of value I could add to Professor Beres’s astute analysis,particularly since he is a world class expert on nuclear strategy.

Nevertheless, I would be remiss in failing to point out what should be obvious to all.The 11th hour prognostications,(from policy wonks all over the world) re Iran’s Hitlerite regime, would be a moot subject if President Bush and PM Sharon heeded Professor Beres’s policy prescription contained in ‘Project Daniel’.

There are very few people of substance who are not familiar with its basic recommendations, of which pre-emption was shown to be an entirely lawful and viable option.

Fast forward 8/9 years later. Due to the grave failures in leadership,(from Jerusalem and Washington) Israel is currently facing options which range from absolutely grave to decidedly catastrophic.

History will record a devastating indictment of those who could have stopped Iran’s genocidal/regime in its tracks, but failed to step up. Statesmen would have acted otherwise.

On the other hand, history will prove that ‘Project Daniel’ was more than just another policy paper filled with strategic recommendations. It will be placed among one of the most important missed opportunities of this generation.

A tragedy that could have been averted, but most likely won’t be.