Former head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency, Meir Dagan, hasn’t been shy about his opinion on Iran. But just in case his previous statements haven’t resonated in quite the way they should, Dagan hit the nail on the head today, when he told an audience at an Israeli think tank that, “A strike could accelerate the procurement of the bomb. An attack isn’t enough to stop the project.”
Dagan went on to say that, “We would provide them with the legitimacy to achieve nuclear capabilities for military purposes… The ability to stop the Iranian nuclear program in a military strike, at this point, is very limited.”
And in case you get the feeling that Dagan has gone rogue, remember that both former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intelligence head Shlomo Gazit and former internal security chief Yuval Diskin have stated similar beliefs.
Their view highlights one of the most unfortunate consequences of what might seem like the easy way out. And at this point in time, the risk just isn’t worth it.
In fact, for this reason and others, even current leaders within the Israeli defense establishment have chosen to speak out in support of current policy, and against the views of their own Prime Minister.
Recently, Israel’s military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, told the Israeli daily news site Haaretz, “I think the Iranian leadership is comprised of very rational people. … Iran is moving step by step toward a point where it will be able to decide if it wants to make a nuclear bomb. It has not decided yet whether to go the extra mile.”
Add to that list the views of both US and Israeli intelligence officials, who continue to assert their belief that time remains to pursue talks with Iran, and you’ve got a pretty convincing argument.
But maybe that’s just me.
