Israel asks US for more bombs

[xchrom]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0308/breaking27.html

?ts=1331217173
US president Barack Obama meets with Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House earlier this week. Photograph: Martin H. Simon/Bloomberg

srael has asked the United States for advanced "bunker-buster" bombs and refuelling planes that could improve its ability to attack Iran's underground nuclear sites, an Israeli official said today.

"Such a request was made" around the time of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington this week, the official said, confirming media reports.

But the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the issue, played down as "unrealistic" reports that the United States would condition supplying the hardware on Israel promising not to attack Iran this year.

Mr Netanyahu told US president Barack Obama at a White House meeting yesterday that Israel had not yet decided on military action against Iran, sources close to the talks said.



*** i think U.S. bomb manufacturers are in for a nice check.

[Octafish]

1. Wish they'd've asked for medicines and books.

That way, instead of killing your enemies, you can make friends with them.

[Johnny Rico]

4. Ha! That is hilariou...waitaminute.

You're being serious? Did I miss the <sarcasm> tag?

[Octafish]

5. Dead Serious

Know your BFEE: Scions of the Military Industrial Complex

[ladjf]

2. They've already got more than enough bombs to wipe out everyone in the middle East. nt

[dipsydoodle]

3. Drop those bombs

and Iran would block the Straits.

A game with no winners.

[Johnny Rico]

6. Iran would block the Straits...until we blew up the units doing the blocking.

The US would never allow the Straits to be blocked for any length of time. Would there be negative consequences to even a temporary blocking? Certainly...but temporary it would be.

[dipsydoodle]

8. They mine it

.

[Johnny Rico]

9. We blow up their navy & air force (such as it is) as they attempt to do so.

We then use minesweepers just in case.

[OnlinePoker]

10. Didn't stop shipping during Iran-Iraq war

Even U.S. navy ships (Samuel B Roberts) struck a mine during Iran/Iraq war. It didn't close the Straits and U.S. naval forces retaliated against Iranian oil facilities. At it's narrowest, the Strait is 21 miles wide (about the same as the Straits of Dover in the English Channel). Some ship's may be damaged by mines which is what minesweepers are used for, but the oil will still flow. Over 500 ships were targeted by both sides during the Iran-Iraq war without blocking the Straits so I can't see Iran having the capability now.

[Marrah_G]

7. He needs to get them all to sit down at a picnic table and have a beer!

No seriously.... if people would just start talking TO each other instead of AT each other, the world would be a much more peaceful place.