Israel ups war training despite US discontent

[Scott]

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is training against warplanes in service with Arab nations and Iran amid worries in the White House that Tel Aviv would start a war without US consent.

The IAF has trained against Soviet-designed MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters -- loaned to Israel by an unidentified foreign country -- to prepare its pilots for missions where they might have to fight a foreign air force, Isra More..el's Channel 2 reported.

The MIG 29, one of the fighter jets used by Arab countries and Iran, has been developed to counter American-made jets such the F-16, used by the IAF.

"We have studied them and are using them to practice dog fights. It is a good opportunity to see how effective our Air Force can be in dealing with a possible adversary," an Israeli test pilot told the channel.

The report comes amid US efforts to gain reassurance from Tel Aviv that it would not launch a surprise attack on Iran without notifying the Obama administration.

America's spy chief and CIA director, Leon Panetta, was reportedly sent on a secret mission to Israel in early May to warn its leaders against launching a surprise attack on Iran.

In a turnabout from the policies of the Bush administration, the Obama White House says it seeks to diplomatically engage Iran over its disputed nuclear program.

Iran says the program is directed at the civilian applications of the technology. The US and Israel, however, accuse the country of seeking military objectives in its pursuit.

President Obama's decision to engage Tehran in direct talks has raised concern in Israel where officials regularly threaten to attack Iran.

Moreover, the Israeli army has long been preparing for such an eventuality. With the emergence of the hawkish government of Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, officials in Washington fear that Israel's new prime minister can blindside the US government and drag President Obama into an undesirable war with Iran.

The most recent IAF training comes ahead of Netanyahu's maiden meeting with the US president in Washington where the two leaders will discuss their divisions on stalled peace efforts with the Palestinians as well as Iran's nuclear program.

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=94859&ionid=351020202

[ghost]

Obama is spineless, and the Israelis know this. Besides, if the Iranians obtain nuclear arms(and we know they sure as hell want to), that can only mean one thing; the obliteration of Israel. The Iranians have announced this countless times, but I'm sure there's people who will be completely dumbfounded when they hear "the news".

Yes. Many countries in the world have nuclear weapons, but they are there generally as a deterrent. A nuclear weapon in the hands of the Iranians will not be used as a deterrent, but as an actual weapon. In order to understand this, you cannot look at it from a political perspective. You have to look at it from an ideological standpoint, and try to understand their belief system. Something is going to happen, and soon.

When war does break out between Israel and Iran, let's hope that we're not stupid enough to actually put boots on the ground. If we do assist, it should be covertly, by the use of UAVs, or not at all. We're stretched out far enough as it is. Although, I'm sure there may be other countries in the fight, besides Israel. After all, they are not the only ones affected by this.

We'll just have to wait and see.

[mickk]

Well spotted Ghost. Obama is already sipping cha with the palestinians. It will be interesting watching. My guess is that the israelis will wait till US is out of Iraq. Then it will be "all fall down go BOOM".

I dont think Iran has much support in the Arab world apart from Libya, which is so quiet, it must be up to something. Definately re-arming and training atm.

Ghadaffi still wants to form an African Army, but isnt having much luck.