Israeli and USA Have Differing Views on Risk for Striking Iran

Israeli leaders have dropped highly specific hints that a strike against Iran will likely result in relatively few losses and be a very short conflict (I also added another article about the possible timing as a late addition):

August 20, 2012

A high-volume public debate in Israel over a possible imminent military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities is designed to pressure Washington to back its ally more firmly, experts say…

Defence Minister Ehud Barak and other senior officials have estimated a conflict could last 30 days and claim 500 Israeli lives…

Obama has said Washington will stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, but has spoken of military action as a last resort that should be preceded by diplomacy and economic sanctions. Netanyahu on the other hand has aggressively pushed the idea of a pre-emptive strike.

There is concern in Washington that a unilateral Israeli strike may not destroy Iran’s underground nuclear facilities and could spark Iranian retaliation worldwide, dragging the United States into another war in the Middle East. http://gulfnews.com/news/region/iran/israeli-media-buzz-on-iran-aims-to-pressure-us-1.1063833

Netanyahu ‘determined to attack Iran’ before US elections, claims Israel’s Channel 10

TV reporter adds: ‘I doubt Obama could say anything that would convince PM to delay a possible attack’

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is determined to attack Iran before the US elections,” Israel’s Channel 10 News claimed on Monday night, and Israel is now “closer than ever” to a strike designed to thwart Iran’s nuclear drive.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-determined-to-attack-iran-before-us-elections-claims-israels-channel-10/

I believe that the Israeli assessment is likely to prove too optimistic (the tv reporter may or may not be right about the timing–others have made similar speculations). The position of the Obama Administration of the dangers is closer to the reality of the situation. The situation in Syria, for one example, is quite tense and fighting Israel may be perceived to be in Syria’s best interest (Syria is a strong Iranian ally). Syrian involvement with Iran could, of course, backfire on Syria and result in major losses (cf. Isaiah 17:1), but that does not mean that its President Assad will not fight Israel (technically, his nation is still at war with Israel) if he feels he and Iran need to do so.

While USA President Obama hopes not to have a major war if Israel strikes Iran, I suspect that a regional war in the Middle East could get out of control.

Iran has objected to Israel’s very existence in various ways. Notice a recent one:

Iranian president calls Israel an ‘insult to all humanity’

Detroit Free Press – ‎Aug 17, 2012‎

TEHRAN, Iran — Israel’s existence is an “insult to all humanity,” Iran’s president said Friday in one of his sharpest attacks yet against the Jewish nation as Israel openly debates whether to attack Iran over its nuclear program.

And while the above justifiably upsets Israel, this does not mean that Israel will have it super easy if it fights Iran.

Now, according to the Bible, the King of the South (Daniel 11:40) will rise up and we will see if this happens sometime after an Israeli conflict with Iran. Since Iran is not destined to be the King of the South, I have long written that it will somehow be neutralized (through a conflict involving Israel and/or internal strife, etc.)–thus Iran would likely suffer major damage (though a limited strike is possible, by Israel, but that view may prove to be optimistic).

This does not mean that I believe that Israel (or the USA and/or its allies for that matter) will end up without potentially severe losses (actually I do think that Israel and/or one of its allies will), only that Iran and Syria may start to feel so desperate that they will conclude that military conflict with Israel is their best option–if so, this would be a mistake on those nations’ part.

But Israel, and or the USA, are also at risk. Iran and/or Syria have chemical and biological weapons that could affect Israel and the USA, as well the potential for emp type bombs (see UCG on Iran’s EMP Threat), “dirty” bombs, and other nuclear-type bombs that Israel and/or the USA may have underestimated. Terrorist and other attacks are also possible.

Wars do not always go as planned, for either side (or their allies).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2012 or 2013? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What is the “beginning of sorrows”? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? This is the longest and most complete article on this page on Barack Obama prophecies. Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing.
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? If so, what does that really mean for the USA and its Anglo allies.
Is Tony Blair Apocalyptic? The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom converted to Catholicism shortly after leaving his office and has been active in European affairs. What role might he play?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?