Kagem waosan :
*THE WISDOM FUND
TWF.org*
January 10, 2010
The Sunday Times
*Israeli general Brigadier-General Uzi Eilam denies Iran is nuclear threat*
Uzi Mahnaimi in Tel Aviv
A general who was once in charge of Israels nuclear weapons has claimed that
Iran is a very, very, very long way from building a nuclear capability.
Brigadier-General Uzi Eilam, 75, a war hero and pillar of the defence
establishment, believes it will probably take Iran seven years to make
nuclear weapons.
The views expressed by the former director-general of Israels Atomic Energy
Commission contradict the assessment of Israels defence establishment and
put him at odds with political leaders.
Major-General Amos Yadlin, head of military intelligence, recently told the
defence committee of the Knesset that Iran will probably be able to build a
single nuclear device this year.
Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, has repeatedly said that Israel will
not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran. Israeli forces have been in training to
attack Iranian nuclear installations and some analysts believe airstrikes
could be launched this year if international sanctions fail to deter Tehran
from pursuing its programme.
Eilam, who is thought to be updated by former colleagues on developments in
Iran, calls his countrys official view hysterical. The intelligence
community are spreading frightening voices about Iran, he said.
He suggested that the defence establishment is sending out false alarms in
order to grab a bigger budget while some politicians have used Iran to
divert attention away from problems at home.
Those who say that Iran will obtain a bomb within a years time, on what
basis did they say so? he asked. Where is the evidence?
He has just published Eilams Arc, a memoir in which he reveals that he
opposed the Israeli attack on Iraqs nuclear reactor at Osirak in 1981.
According to well-placed defence sources, Israel is speeding up preparations
for a possible attack on Irans nuclear sites. Last week its defence forces
released footage that showed training to refuel F-15 jet fighters in
mid-air. This was a warning not to Iran but to the Americans that were
serious, said an Israeli defence source.
But Eilam argues such an attack [against Iran] would be counter-productive.
One strike is not practical. In order to delay the Iranian programme for
three to four years, one needs an armada of aircraft, which only a
super-power can provide. Only America can do it.
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