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Thursday, August 05, 2010

IRAN BEHIND ATTACKS AGAINST ISRAEL: THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS SCOOPS NRO AND KRAUTHAMMER

TODAY - NRO/KRAUTHAMMER:

From Wednesday night’s Fox News All-Stars.

On the Iranians’ claim that they have obtained four S-300 surface-to-air missiles:

I’m not sure it’s actually occurred. Belarus, which is allegedly the source, has denied it. The Russians have denied it. The U.S. is skeptical. I think the Israelis are skeptical as well. But I think — and if it did happen it would be a big deal because it would accelerate Israel attacking. If they [the Iranians] have a few of the batteries, they’d want to attack right away because if they have a lot of batteries, it would make an Israeli attack almost impossible.

But, even if it didn’t happen it’s important because the Iranians are saying it, they’re touting it, they’re basically announcing that you can’t attack us.

I think this is of a piece with some of the other things we’ve been seeing Iran do. We had the president of Iran saying last week Israel’s planning an attack on two countries. I think he was meaning Lebanon and Syria.

You’ve had attacks from Sinai into Israel presumably by Hamas. Hamas is an agent of Iran. You had rockets from Gaza into Ashdod, a city in Israel. This would undoubtedly be a Hamas rocket.

And you had the incident in Lebanon. The Lebanese incident looks as if it was not staged by Hezbollah or by the government. Nonetheless, I think what Iran is doing is playing brinksmanship. It’s worried. When it hears the chairman of the Joint Chiefs saying not only is the military option on the table, but we have a plan, that worries them a lot because the United States could inflict tremendous damage on Iran if it wanted to.

That’s why I think it’s [Iran] playing brinksmanship, as a way of reminding the world: We can start a war with Israel anytime through Hezbollah, Lebanon or Gaza, and we presumably have the missiles that could shoot down American attackers, or Israeli attackers.

It’s a high-stakes game, and I think the Iranians are getting a little bit worried about the change in attitude of the United States.

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