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Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton on efforts to prevent Israel from conducting military strikes against Iran.
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Or John Bolton now -- John good to CO -- Israelis on the road on this.
Well I think so the Obama administration for three years has been pressuring Israel not to use military force against the Iran in nuclear weapons program.
But I think is it Israel's very close to a decision secretary of defense Panetta has said several times Iran could have a nuclear weapon within a year I think it could be less than that.
So I don't think the Israelis are gonna Parse the days and weeks here they're gonna make a decision in the near future I would Panetta be telegraphing -- information.
I believe that the administration recognizes that it's private efforts to pressure Israel not to do it are failing and that that's why.
The Defense Secretary went public with his prediction that the strike could come -- April may June time period.
But would the Israelis have the full support of the US if they went ahead -- because there are a lot of people in the US administration ambivalent about -- -- Israeli strike.
Well under this president not only would they not have full support implicitly the Obama administration for quite some time has been threatening Israel.
Not to resupply.
Planes that they would lose in the strike and other equipment that could be very damaging to Israelis.
Iran retaliates as many believe by unleashing Hezbollah and Hamas to rocket Israeli civilian targets without.
Replenishing the lost planes Israel's air force could be in real trouble now I think congress would roll over the Obama administration if they tried that.
But there could be a window of vulnerability it's -- big gap factor in the Israeli calculus -- the Israelis factor everything another quite some wondered if they're factoring in the election and that is if there is an Israeli strike just before the election at an October surprise let's call it.
I'd be very difficult for the president running on his his image of himself as a tough guy on non security.
To actually go against that operation wouldn't.
I think it gets harder and harder but I'm not sure the Israelis have a margin of error to wait that late.
In fact I thought they should've -- years ago because the longer they wait the greater the risk is that the Iran -- already have.
Their facilities protected that they may already have nuclear weapons I'm not saying they've got it yet.
There's a lot we don't know about what -- what goes on inside Iran and I wouldn't I would wait -- the last minute of fiber Israel are right now.
There is this extraordinary.
Story.
About how apparently US officials have come out -- information.
Suggesting that Israel is working together with terror -- -- -- -- -- -- now we know that Iranian scientists have been have been killed have been assassinated.
But why in God's name would we want to sabotage.
A cold work operation of an ally.
Well you know the story -- -- involves a group called the people's Mujahedeen of Iran -- they are listed right now as a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department I think that listing.
Is unjustified.
And they should be removed from the list.
But the notion that they're working with Israel.
Puts an entirely different light on it and as you say to reveal this to have the administration -- it additive to -- the same story is the government of Iran Israel incredible if you put that together.
With Panetta statements on the timing of an Israeli raid against the Iran in nuclear program I think the mask is off.
I think that the Obama administration fears Israel's actions more than they fear and it -- -- and -- wow well I can you ever think -- -- -- hit.
-- -- the US where the United States government because these these are officials of the US administration to revealing this information about the plot to kill Iranian scientists.
Where where we have blown the cover of a Covert operation of a close -- Now I'm not aware of that and I think it says significant that if it follows from secretary of state Hillary Clinton's statements.
A few weeks ago after the most recent assassination disclaim in any US involvement the British did the same thing.
That leaves Israel is pretty much a sitting target that's very unusual and that the normal rule is we just simply don't comment.
On anything that could be intelligence related I think the administration is trying to separate itself from Israel anyway and I really think it fears Israel in this case taking action rather than -- -- achieving nuclear weapons very strange turn of events investor John Bolton good to see you again thanks.
