Should Israel Attack Iran? Panel II: Strategy and Policy

AEI Event: Should Israel Attack Iran? October 23, 2009 http://www.aei.org/event/100155

Iran's nuclear weapons development continues apace, threatening the security of its neighbors and the international community. According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, more than 60 percent of the American public believes preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons warrants military action. Israel's deputy foreign minister, Daniel Ayalon, emphasized on September 21 that Israel has not taken any option off the table when it comes to countering the Iranian threat. The same day, Israel's top general, chief of staff Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi, made it clear that he would not rule out a military strike on Iran's nuclear installations, repeating that "Israel has the right to defend itself and all options are on the table." As the debate intensifies over how to respond most effectively to Iran's provocations, it is timely to explore the strategic and legal parameters of a potential Israeli strike against the Islamic Republic and provide some thorough analysis about implications for the United States.

The speakers in Panel II considered strategy and policy. What role will the United States play in supporting its ally Israel? Can military action taken by Israel effectively deter Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons? AEI senior fellow John R. Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; the Brookings Institution's Martin Indyk, former ambassador to Israel; and AEI resident scholar Michael Rubin discussed these strategic policy questions. AEI's vice president for foreign and defense policy studies, Danielle Pletka, moderated.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Should Israel Attack Iran
• John Bolton
• Michael Rubin
• Martin Indyk
• Danielle Pletka
• AEI
• Brookings Institution
• Brookings
• nuclear weapons
• Israel
• Iran

[jguerrero8]

Since when has Isreal followed international law?

[gilavin]

Bolton is correct, as usual. Tick tock tick tock...

[RULI1974]

it wont stop there!! they will get there hands on nukes.