Originally Posted by
rickair7777
So what? Better than just nuking them.
Nuclear power and nuclear weapons are different animals, it's possible to have nuclear power without any real prospect of developing a bomb. We'd probably even sell or gift them LEU for power plants if that's what they wanted (in exchange for their enriched stockpiles).
Sure the rational ones would like deterrence, who wouldn't?
The issue as I said before is that their system is complicated, and they have a strong fanatic wing which they intentionally cultivated for reasons, and now have to live with.
Again it doesn't even matter what you or I think they'd do... it only matters what IL things they *might* do, and whether IL will take a chance on that. The general consensus of those involved in the problem set is that, No at some point IL will not just live with the risk. You and I don't know exactly where that point is, although the IL gov may have actually already told the US gov. That's one (of several) possibilities as to why this thing kicked off.
That’s all true, but I think there are more and more Americans wondering why we’re beholden to Israeli whims. One thing I give credit to previous admins of all stripes for is reining in the Israelis when they get squirrely. I get the distinct impression that Bibi sees the current admin as easier to manipulate than previous ones and is hell bent on making hay while the sun is shining. I’m glad we consider Israel an ally, but their national interests don’t always align with ours. In fact, sometimes they are diametrically opposed. As an American citizen, I’m somewhat dismayed that our current leadership has allowed the country to be led down the primrose Israeli path.