Israeli general: Forces ready for Iran attack RAW STORY

Published: Saturday December 6, 2008





Print This Email This A Saturday afternoon report said that Israeli Air Force Commanding General Ido Nehushtan has declared the country's forces 'prepared' at a moment's notice to 'halt' Iran's efforts to enrich uranium.



The claim, which was carried by Persian news network Press TV, was buried in paragraph eight. The network instead led with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's recent demand that US President-elect Barack Obama "face up to Iran" and force the country's nuclear activities to a close.



The mention appeared to be a reference to a quote published in German newspaper Der Speigel, in which the general said, "We are ready to do whatever is demanded of us" to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.



"A strike against Iran's nuclear facilities 'is a political decision,' the Jerusalem Post reported. "'But if I understand it correctly, all options are on the table,'" the general said. "'The Air Force is a very robust and flexible force. We are ready to do whatever is demanded of us.'"



A recent report (PDF link) by the International Atomic Energy Agency declared, "Since March 2007, twenty unannounced inspections have been conducted at FEP ... The Agency has been able to continue to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran." The Agency claimed there to be "no indication" that Iran is reprocessing materials for a nuclear weapon.



The news received little mention in the mainstream United States press, but was widely discussed in Arabic media.



"Tehran has been accused of launching a 'green salt project, high explosives testing, and the missile re-entry vehicle project," reported Press TV.



"Iranian officials say the allegations are based on 'fabricated data' and have requested the UN nuclear watchdog to provide Tehran with the original documents.



"The International Atomic Energy Agency, however, says it is in no 'position' to do so due to US reluctance to provide the agency with the original copies of the documents."



