[Peace-discuss] Threats and counterthreats.

[Brussel Morton K.]

The article below summarizes recent threats from both sides of the  
Iran/Israel-USA conflict, so far of words.

A danger not mentioned, extremely serious, is that if in fact Israel  
attacked Iran (with U.S collaboration of course), and Iran could  
respond so that Israel would in fact be badly hurt, Israel might be  
tempted to use its nuclear weapons. And then, what would we have?  
Horrible to think about.

But most pros doubt that Israel could be severely damaged by Iran.  
They claim that Iran's missiles are second rate, not accurate.  
There's much psychological bluster/warfare going on.

  Official says Iran would destroy Israel if attacked

By Hashem Kalantari and Zahra Hosseinian 2 hours, 32 minutes ago

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran would destroy Israel and 32 U.S. military  
bases in the Middle East if the Islamic Republic was attacked over  
its disputed nuclear program, a senior Iranian official was quoted as  
saying on Saturday.

The Islamic Republic and Israel have been embroiled in an escalating  
war of words in recent weeks, increasing speculation of military  
confrontation and helping to send global oil prices to record highs.

Iranian missile tests this week further stoked tension and rattled  
financial markets.

"The U.S. knows full well that with the smallest move against Iran,  
Israel and 32 U.S. military bases in the region would not be out of  
the reach of our missiles and would be destroyed," the semi-official  
Fars News Agency quoted Mojtaba Zolnour as saying in a speech.

Zolnour is the deputy of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's  
representative in Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.

Israel staged an air force exercise last month that sparked  
speculation about a possible assault on Iranian nuclear sites.

Israel, long assumed to have its own atomic arsenal, has sworn to  
prevent Iran from emerging as a nuclear-armed power.

Washington has said it wants a diplomatic end to the row but has not  
ruled out military action should that fail.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has close ties with Iranian  
leaders, said on Saturday he wanted a political solution to the  
dispute, adding: "To the best of our knowledge, Iran has no intention  
of trying to obtain nuclear weapons."

He made his comments at a joint news conference with French President  
Nicolas Sarkozy after talks in Paris.

Iran, the world's fourth largest oil exporter, has vowed to strike  
back at Israel, U.S. interests and shipping in the region if it is  
attacked, threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, conduit for  
about 40 percent of globally traded oil.

On Wednesday, Iran said it tested nine long- and medium-range  
missiles, including one which it says could reach Israel and U.S. bases.

"MADNESS AND STUPIDITY"

Some U.S. facilities across the Gulf are little more than 200 km (124  
miles) from Iran's coast. The United States has air and naval bases  
in nearby Arab states, including Qatar and Bahrain.

In Jerusalem, Arye Mekel, Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesman,  
declined to comment on Zolnour's remarks.

Tehran says its nuclear projects are aimed only at generating  
electricity. Western nations and Israel fear the Islamic Republic is  
seeking to build bombs.

Analysts say any U.S. or Israeli attack on Iran would be limited to  
air strikes, rather than a full-scale offensive with U.S. ground  
forces, which are tied down in Iraq and Afghanistan.

They say Iran could also respond with unconventional tactics, such as  
deploying small craft to hit ships, or using allies in the area to  
strike at U.S. or Israeli interests.

Earlier on Saturday, Iran's government spokesman, Gholamhossein  
Elham, warned the United States and Israel it would be "madness and  
stupidity" to attack Iran.

The United States and five other major powers have offered Iran  
economic and other benefits if it halts its most sensitive atomic  
activities, something Tehran says it will not do.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili is expected to meet  
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Geneva on July  
19 for talks on the long-running dispute.

Elham said Iran was ready for talks in "fair conditions" but would  
not accept giving up what it sees as its nuclear rights.

The United Nations and Western countries have stepped up sanctions on  
the Islamic Republic over its nuclear plans, which analysts say are  
deterring foreign investors.

Tehran says its windfall oil earnings will enable it to carry out  
projects on its own and also that it will find other firms  
particularly from energy-hungry Asia to invest.

Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari said Tehran would press ahead with  
"renewed strength" in developing a major gas field in the Gulf, days  
after French firm Total said it would not invest in the South Pars  
Phase 11 project for now over political risks.

(Writing by Fredrik Dahl; Editing by Jon Boyle)
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