Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has given a stark warning to Washington: If Iraq attacks Israel, the Jewish state will respond in a devastating manner.
NewsMax has also learned from Washington sources that Israel has candidly told the Bush administration, and through back channels the Iraqis, that if mass destruction weapons are used against Israel, Iraq can expect a devastating nuclear response.

The Israeli position has Washington on edge. Earlier this week, Secretary Rumsfeld made a public plea for the Israelis not to retaliate if attacked. But the Israelis find non-response unacceptable.

An Israeli strike on Iraq could widen the expected war between the U.S. and Iraq. According to a report in the New York Times on Sunday, Sharon believes that Israel's decision not to strike back at Iraq in 1991 was perceived as weakness and undermined Israel's ability to deter an enemy strike. The Israeli leader also indicated that in event of an attack, the Israeli people will demand retaliation.

During the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam's mobile Scud missile launchers proved remarkably elusive and survivable, with Iraq's average launch rate of modified Scuds during the Desert Storm operation reaching about 15 launches per week. Thirty-nine of the dictator's missiles sailed toward Israeli cities – but the beleaguered democracy never retaliated. Not so this time, Sharon tells the Bush administration.

The latest round of tough talk from Israel follows a recent warning by Dori Gold, an adviser to Sharon, to Iraq of devastating consequences if Saddam strikes at Israel.

"Israel is not only capable of enduring a strike from Iraq, but also striking back in a due way. We have everything necessary for that, as well as full freedom of action to protect the population of this country in case Iraq dares launch a war against the international community."


The U.S. Plan

So far, it appears that the U.S. plan to avoid having an enraged Israel enter the fray is to ensure that the country is not hit in the first place.

Aiming to improve the spotty performance of 1991, early this year Israeli and U.S. forces held a joint exercise to test defense systems that would be used to counter an Iraqi missile attack on Israel.

In 1991, the U.S. dispatched Patriot missile defense batteries to Israel after it came under the Scud missile attack. The missiles were seen at the time as compensation for Israel's decision to stay out of the conflict and avoid alienating the Arab "street."

Today, on the possible eve of an American attack on Iraq, Israel and the U.S. are depending on their jointly developed Arrow anti-missile system, a more sophisticated package that would provide better protection against incoming Scuds launched by Iraq.

After Sept. 11, an Israeli military intelligence analysis indicated that Iraq had 11 to 15 Scud missiles aimed at Israel. In the meantime, U.S. intelligence is working in overdrive to pinpoint Scud missile launch sites in Iraq.

Additionally, according to the Times, the U.S. is taking pains to assure Israel that it will receive plenty of advanced warning as to when the American attack will begin.

Furthermore, according to the same report, the U.S. has lashed up a link to warn the Israeli military each time a launching is detected by over-flying spy satellites. The link will carry through to Israel's air force headquarters and on to Israel's anti-missile batteries, as well as to Israel's Home Front Command, the Israeli equivalent of the Office of Homeland Security

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Isreal has proven to be a state that can both fight back and restrain.. the question here is not IF they will but what will happen around the world AFTER they do..

Countrys will say that Isreal responded with to much force.. yada.. yada.. yada..

but bet they wont be targeted again for a long time..

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Retaliation is the only thing Sharon is good at.

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Retaliation is the only thing Saddam Hussein understands.

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Actually, it was soon after muslims bombed a disco club in Germany killing several U.S. Soldiers.

We haven't heard from Khadafi for a while.  Does he still have terrorist training camps in Libya?  U.S. Marines may have to march on Tripoli again.

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Jarhead_22

Just a quick corrective note.

Attempted assassination of former President Bush by Iraqi agents: No response

Uh, I seem to remember, that we launched a Cruise Missle attack agaist an Iraqi Intel HQ and a Nuclear Weapons production facility and that one of the Cruise's missed it's target and hit the Al Rashid hotel. In responce to this item.