Remember when Meir Dagan, upon leaving office as head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency, gave a briefing to the press, where he warned against hasty military decisions and said that “Israel should not hasten to attack Iran, doing so only when the sword is upon its neck”?
In a clear reference to Dagan’s words, Israel’s defense minister, Ehud Barak, has just said, in a lecture delivered earlier today at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies that “the metaphorical sword is now on our neck.”
Israel is the only country in the world that launched, not once but twice, a preemptive strike on an adversary’s nuclear facilities. These words should not be taken lightly by Western policymakers intent on stretching the ongoing negotiating round with Iran at least until the November U.S. presidential elections.
Barak’s speech is a warning then – and one that diplomats reading progress into Iran’s foot dragging last week in Baghdad would be foolish to downplay.
Though these tough words are a welcome antidote to the craven moans of Israel's former Mossad chief, Ottolenghi should admit that Barak's credibility has been vastly diminished by his empty threats and frequent boasts over the last two decades to severely punish the Fakistinians for their relentless violence and aggression against Israel. As a most feckless prime minister Barak threatened Arafat to end the bloody violence against Israelis in late 2000. When Arafat refused Barak bombed empty PA buildings and was quickly booted out of office by a victorious Sharon who ended the Terror War. Since Barak has returned to office as DM he has repeatedly threatened the Gazans to stop their missile attacks on Israel. Failing to do so, they have suffered no serious consequences for their continued aggression. If one is honest, one must ask why should Barak, who has utterly failed to stop attacks on Israel by poorly trained militia on its own borders, be believed when he threatens targets in a huge country of 80 million at least 1,000 miles away that is well-defended by both long-range missiles and modern anti-aircraft defenses? Commentary readers deserve better than quicky morale boosters; they merit serious analysis.
it's time. send the planes, Bibi. send them tonite.