Senior Israeli, US intelligence figures warn of Israeli attack against Iran

July 29, 2011 – ISRAEL – In 2010, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting of the seven senior ministers in his government responsible for major policy decisions of war and peace. He and his Defense Minister Ehud Barak sought approval for an Israeli attack on Iran. What they didn’t bargain for was the adamant opposition of almost all the senior military and intelligence chiefs including Meir Dagan (Mossad), Yuval Diskin (Shabak), Gabi Ashkenazi (Israel Defense Forces). Alternate versions of the story also include President Shimon Peres and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intelligence chief Amos Yadlin among the opponents. Dagan in particular, who was invited to the meeting to brief the ministers, waged war on the plan. Maariv says that Dagan came to believe that the two leaders were intent on getting Israel into a “dangerous military adventure in Iran.” Now that those who opposed the attack have departed the scene, Israel’s former top spy worries that “there is no one to stop them.” In one of his rare public utterances, Dagan called Bibi’s plan one of the lamest ideas he’s heard in ages: “It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” Dagan said that the problem [in attacking Iran] doesn’t involve his doubting the abilities of the Israeli Air Force, but rather whether it could perform the job to its completion and attain all its objectives. When asked what would happen after such an attack, Dagan continued: “There will be war with Iran. This is one of the things we know how to start, but not how to end.” He noted that Iran could be expected to fire its missiles into Israel for many months afterwards. It could be expected to engage Hezbollah with its tens of thousands of Grad rockets and hundreds of long distance SCUDs. Iran can also engage Hamas on its behalf and Syria might join the war. These ideas are nothing new inside Israel. There have been intelligence and military analysts saying precisely this for some time. But never before has the voice been that of someone as senior, someone tested in the crucible of battle as Dagan has been. Recently, the Knesset intelligence committee invited the new chief of staff, Benny Gantz, to address the question of Israel’s options concerning Iran. Defense Minister Ehud Barak refused Gantz permission to testify even though the hearing would’ve been secret. I have speculated that one of the reasons for Barak’s refusal may’ve been either foreknowledge or concern that Gantz might not give a robust endorsement of the military option to the Knesset members. At any rate, the committee compelled Gantz to testify and overcame the resistance of Barak. But the Israeli media has not revealed the substance of what the general said. –Truthout.org