format_quote Originally Posted by
Woodrow
Israel has no legitimate need for Nuclear Weapons any potential enemies they have are much too close to them for them to risk using nukes. It would be self destruction for them to ever use a nuke.
A mistaken assumption. Israel would be quite prepared to use nuclear weapons even on neighbours
if the very existence of the State of Israel itself was at stake. Bombs could be dropped on, say, Cairo and Damascus without Israel 'self-destructing' (although they certainly wouldn't do it any good)... and at that point the reasoning might well be that they had nothing to lose, anyway. I hasten to add I only pick those examples based on historical aggressors against Israel, but the general point is valid. The Israelis have nukes for the same reasons the Americans and Soviets acquired them, as a
deterrent not a first strike weapon. The Israelis still consider themselves as surrounded at least by
potential aggressors. I think they have a point; there are plenty whose attitude to Israel is on the lines of "wipe it out", and no reason why, one day, such people may obtain power in Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq.
No equivalent threat to Iran exists, or looks likely to exist. I just pity the poor Iranian taxpayer having to pay for Ahmenijad's toys. If the Iranians wanted to gain respect and credibility they should contribute the money to the fusion research being undertaken by the EU, US, Japan and others. Nuclear fission is yesterday's technology, not tomorrow's.