Iran’s nuclear facilities are spread across the country, both above ground and deep underground. Such an attack by the IDF, if successful, could prevent that very race to construct a nuclear weapon that is now being presented as a threat by those hoping to dissuade Israel from attacking such a target.
It is unconscionable that the Biden administration has publicly declared that it would not support such an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. It should have said, instead, that it will both support, and provide any weapons, intelligence, and other assistance that the IDF may require, and that it is up to Israel alone to decide what it will target in what is clearly a war for its national survival.
How can Israel possibly tolerate living on such a nuclear knife-edge, where the fanatical mullahs in Tehran are just weeks away from producing enough weapons-grade uranium for a bomb? It has to put paid to the threat, as it did to Iraq’s nuclear reactor in 1981 and to Syria’s nuclear reactor in 2007, and with far greater justification. And now, with the threat largely suppressed both from Hamas in Gaza and, even more significantly, from Hezbollah in Lebanon, it has less to worry about a gripping response from the tentacles, and can aim straight at the head of the octopus.
Those who worry that about an Iranian attack on oil production facilities in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states should keep in mind that such attacks have never needed to be prompted by an IDF attack on Iran’s oil production. The Houthis have in the past attacked Saudi oil facilities, as Riyadh has been supporting the Houthis’ rivals in Yemen’s civil war. These attacks had nothing to do with Israel. Furthermore, were Israel, for example, to attack the Kharg Island oil terminals, through which flow 90% of Iran’s oil exports, that would lead to only 1.6 million barrels of oil taken off the world market. World oil production now amounts to 97 million barrels daily. How much of an effect would taking less than 2% of world oil production off the market have on oil prices? And keep in mind that the fossil fuel share of world energy production is constantly diminishing. For decades, the fossil fuel contribution to global energy supply has been stuck for decades at around 80%, and is now expected to decline to 70% by 2030.
Israel may strike at Iran’s military bases, or at its nuclear facilities both above and deep below ground, or at its oil facilities either at the point of production — the oil wells — or at its export terminals on Kharg Island. Or Israel might again engage in a massive nationwide cyberattack on Iran to cripple its economy, similar to, but much larger than, those it has launched before. Think of the effect of Israel’s Stuxnet that infected Iranian computers that directed its uranium-enriching centrifuges to speed up so fast that they destroyed themselves. Or that attack last December that shut down 70% of Iran’s gas stations. Or the attack by Israeli hackers that this past year managed to infiltrate Iran’s computer systems, steal data, and cause an internet outage.
So many targets for the IDF, so many ways to make the mullahs wish they had never made the destruction of the Jewish state their main reason for being. As of October 8, 2023, Israel decided to stop playing only defense. It has shown in the past year an extraordinary ability to take down the three malignant Iranian proxies Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, and now is going to seize the occasion of the latest Iranian ballistic missile attack to go after their puppet-master in Tehran. And instead of trying to put limits on Israel’s response, as Biden has just done both in declaring that Israel “should consider other options” than striking Iran’s oil fields, and still worse, in declaring that his administration will not support an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear program, the Biden administration ought to at least remain silent, to keep the Iranians in a state of alarm and confusion when what’s to come is still unsure. Ideally, Biden ought to say that Israel has the right to choose how to respond to Iran’s multifarious aggression, and whatever that choice, the United States will support it to the hilt. But he won’t, alas, say that. And Israel, determined to survive, will do what it must to remove that nuclear threat from Iran, no matter how some people in Washington react.
Mike says
Am Israeli Chai!
I have the feeling that Israel has many more tricks up her sleeve, that will make the Ayatollahs and Hezbollah big-wigs wish that they had never started a war with her.
Tatanka says
Israel has my blessing, They should also JFK Khomeini
Taffy says
Israel has a problem bombing the Fordow facility which is about 90 meters (~300 feet) underground. As far as I know, the only existing conventional weapon that can penetrate it is a GBU 72, and Israel does not have this bunker buster nor a bomber to deliver it. Israel needs to hold out until Trump takes office to send a B-2 bomber to take out Fordow. An alternative is a limited nuclear strike on the facility.
James Lincoln says
Taffy,
If the IDF does not have access to the GBU 72, is there another “workaround”?
Taffy says
I screwed up. The GBU-72 is the 5000 lb. Bunker buster, and the GBU 57A/B is the 30,000 lb version capable of destroying the Fordow site.
Israel made good use of its 2000 lb. bunker busters to get Nasrallah who was beyond the depth of a single 2000 lb bomb. They successively hit the same point with multiple bombs until they penetrated to the required depth. That works in Lebanon where the F-15s only have to fly a couple hundred miles round trip, but for Iran they would need a heavy bomber, even if the Saudis let Israel use their bases. Fighters are not really cut out for bombing.
An Israeli bombing could conceivably block the entrances/exists to Fordow without destroying what’s underground, and repeated attacks could stymie rescue missions. That would delay things, but not put the facility 100% out of commission.
James Lincoln says
Taffy,
Thank you for your informative reply.
FYI says
I wonder does Ali khameni know {prophetic}Chess.
En passant…..
There is the “Jerusalem Veto ” Zechariah 12 v 9
There is what i like to call : “Zechariah’s checkmate”:{or really Ha-Shem’s checkmate}
Zechariah 14 v12.
Bad move for islamic nations!
Especially any islamic nations that attack Israel
Who owns the land of Israel?
it’s not allah’s land is it?
allah of the kaaba cult is NOT the Biblical/Torah God
“My land”
Jeremiah 2:7
Ben says
I hope that Israel strikes back hard
Walter Sieruk says
The government authorities and officials of the State of Israel have a duty and responsibility to strike back, retaliation at Iran because the hostile and vicious despots in power in the hostile and in that Islamic regime had order the lunching many ballistic missile into Northern Israel with the malicious intention of killing the peaceful citizens of that Jewish State.
For that is the only language that those horrendous despots of Iran are able to understand. Likewise, the those malice and deadly Iran funded and weapon supplied jihad terror/murder entities Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis need to be on the reviving end of the strong military might of the Israel Defense Force, because that also the only to send those jihadist a message in language are capable of understanding.
Since the aggressors in Iran and of those horrendous jihad “organizations” stated that current was it’s an important and necessary for State of Israel to use the military might of the IDF protect her people. It’s a basic matter of self-defense.
As the fifth President of the United States, James Monroe, rightly and wisely, in a speech had declared “The right to self-defense never ceases. It is among the most sacred, and alike necessary to nations and to individuals.”
Walter Sieruk says
As the answer question posed in the title of this article ,which is “Should Israel strike Iran’s nuclear sites ?’
The answer is Yes, Definitely yes. It’s a basic matter of self-defense.
As the fifth President of the United States, James Monroe, rightly and wisely, in a speech had declared “The right to self-defense never ceases. It is among the most sacred, and alike necessary to nations and to individuals.”
Furthermore, those vicious tyrants who are in power on that aggressive and hostile Islamic regime of should receive severe retribution for those missile attacks into Israel. They and their bellicose regime should be now on the receiving end of the wrath of the strong power of the military might of the Israel Defense Force. For that is the only language that those horrendous despots of Iran are able to understand.
Gregory says
Well when iran gets the bomb the first place it will use it will be on Tel Aviv and then it will be too late. Israel need to attack all the facilities at the same time.
Keys says
Terrible to imagine a nuclear holocaust on Israel!
I believe the bomb, or bombs, would be air bursts, so the Israeli air defenses may not hit the incoming missiles before nuclear detonation.
And, the missiles would not even need to make it directly over target for detonation and “effectiveness”.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I don’t oppose it, but I do think it has too low a probability of success. Better idea is to let the next US government handle it: it won’t be Kamala
Instead, just blow out Kharg island, and take Iranian oil completely out of circulation. Their allies – Venezuela, Cuba,… won’t have a clue of how to support Iran w/o Iranian payments. Once that’s done, let it be known that any new export terminal that Iran builds can and will be similarly targeted. Once Iran’s oil is off the world market, watch that regime implode
James Lincoln says
࿗Infidel࿘ says,
“Once Iran’s oil is off the world market, watch that regime implode”
Yes, and combine it with the very stiff sanctions that were in place under the Trump administration.
julea says
Do it
Troybeam says
One of Israel’s problems is telling the world of their intentions, never do that just destroy the money machine and destroy the nuke sites. if there is poppy fields destroy them as well. Cripple the nations that are trying to destroy you. Then do not by any means offer to help rebuild.
Ralph says
Bomb then back into the Stone Age whence they came.
OLD GUY says
Taking out Irans nuclear facility would be a great service to all mankind.
John Andela says
Hit these Bimbos Iranian Jihads where it counts IE nuke sites , lets not forget that Israel is not fighting for their own survival but for the entire western world and our democratic freedom , we need to support them all the way , till now they have been doing a great job , I believe Israel cannot be defeated .
I wonder how long it will take for islam to realize that they are worshipping a dead horse Mahoumad .
To think that the west is having to fight against this type Ideology totally unbelievable
Lets all continue to support these Brothers and sisters of israel