Iran strike a costly attempt to buy time

[shaayecanaan]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/iran-strike-a-costly-attempt-to-buy-time/2008/09/05/1220121527135.html

JUVAL AVIV is one of those characters who have floated to prominence in the hall of mirrors where counter-terrorism, intelligence and entertainment present bewildering multiple images.

His story is that he was an Israeli military and Mossad agent who carried out successfully the task of assassinating the Palestinians involved in the 1972 Munich Olympics hostage-taking and murder of Israeli athletes. It was a remarkable story later recounted in a novel and Steven Spielberg's 2005 film, Munich.Look at the internet and you'll find many who disavow almost every detail of his CV, including a disclaimer by Mossad's head at the time. But then Mossad would deny what Aviv says was always going to be a "deniable" operation.

Nonetheless, Aviv, now heading a security consultancy in New York called Interfor and sporting a large CIA badge in his lapel, was shown off to Australian gatherings this week by several Jewish groups, including the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, who seemed to take him and what he said at face value.

Among many bald statements, one stuck out: Israel is now ready to destroy three or four nuclear sites out of 12 in Iran.

"I believe that Israel is planning to act on these reactors before Bush leaves the White House," Mr Aviv said. "We've got to take a chance … the next president of America may not allow it."

Mr Aviv admits that the downside would be a huge backlash across the Middle East, and a search for ways to strike back at Israel and, failing that, at Jewish targets worldwide (which would mean more call for the services of people like him).

But, he says, the immediate danger to Israel from Iranian nuclear weapons will be set back for 10 or 15 years.

He may or may not be speaking for anyone but himself, but his sponsorship suggests Australian opinion-makers were being warmed up for an Iran strike. If so, it's an unsatisfactory level of discussion, and surely cannot reflect policy debate in a nation as sophisticated as Israel.