Isreal has been planning for war in the Middle East since 1999. Today's attack by coalition forces on Iraq has caused Israel to go on high alert. As a result, they have mobilized three armoured divisions and their airforce is prepared to go on the offensive. Would they jump into this fight if they were to get hit with several scud missiles? Anyone out there who is a military or middle east analyst?
If Israel got involved, it would be a total disaster. Any support in the Arab world would be gone. Bush's daddy, 12 years ago, must have had to use some arm twisting to keep Israel out of the last war and I am sure it would be the same this time.
It's for show ("hey people: we're doing something!"). They don't want to alienate the US and a growing coalition in a succesful war to eliminate Saddam. They won't get involved: they have more to lose than they could possibly gain. --Orson
I'm about as far from a Middle East Analyst as you could get but... I think they've been planning for war in the Middle East since 1948 (or thereabouts). They've said they'll restrain themselves except in the case of 1) a blatant attack on a civilian population center 2) a chemical/biological attack It seems to me that we're WAY beyond the point of Israel fearing the alienation of the US. The US is irrevocably commited to Israel. Even if they dip their toe into the war (they won't do much more than that simply because it won't be necessary, we'll do it for them) there won't be any real repercussions. Personally, I'll be a bit surprised if they don't find some reason to take a few shots at Iraq, even if it's just so they can say that they did. Jack
Israel won't get involved in the war. IIRC, they had strike aircraft airborne after the first Scud attack on their soil during Gulf War I, but the U.S. talked them out of attacking, since it would have fractured the coalition, and there really wasn't anything that Israel could have done to punish Iraq further that the coalition forces weren't already doing. Short of a chemical/biological attack on Jerusalem/Tel Aviv, I can't see the IDF taking an active role. Bruce
Re: Re: Will Israel get involved in this War The Israelis have been battle ready since the 1950s. They knew that a second attack on Iraq was inevitable. Iraq would not hesitate to launch a chemical/biological attack on their country. My fear is that if they do get involved, it could lead to a 3rd WW.
