Originally posted by Liberator
Rictor, the point is that it wasn't public knowlede. I'm quite sure that the people in charge of every nation with anything resembling a grudge against, or interest in the affairs of, Israel certainly knew of the existence the the nukes. The public doesn't need to know that kind of thing, that is why we elect leaders(hopefully with a good moral code); to handle that kind of thing for the citizenry.
Also, let's consider why Israel would need nukes when their neighbors don't. Let's see, hmmm, could it have something to do with every nation at Israels borders wants it gone? If they were to coordinate an attack they could overwhelm the IDF with little effort.
Also, with the disclosure of the existence of nukes in Israel, Vanunu made it a target for nuclear terrorism. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of civilian political groups who's stated purpose is the destruction of Israel. With the knowledge that Israel has nukes, they would feel that the stakes are raised and step up their efforts.
They don't understand the idea of a detterant, because they would have no qualms about using a weapon of such undeniable power and atrocity.
1. Once you says that "the public doesn't need to know" you are on a very slippery slope. These are public funds, which means that not only does the public have a right to know, they have a right to decide what to do with those funds. Secrecy is one of the central foundations of militarism and tyranny. The public does need to know, everything that the government does the public needs to know because the government must rule with the consent of the people and be accountable to them. If no one knows what the government is doing, you have tyranny.
2. You can't say that Iran has a desire to use nukes because you are not Iran. You can't claim that they would use them if they had them, or pass them on to people who would use them, because you have no information about this. What you do is you have in image of Iran (or whatever in your mind, as an evil, souless, theocratic hellspawn, and you derive all their supposed actions from that. No, they would not use nukes, because they're not ****ing idiots. They are not suicidial. No, whatever you may think, your enemies are not madmen, they are sane people. When has Iran even once threatened the US or Israel with nukes? When have they ever used nukes? Oh wait, thats right, no one has, except of course the good old US of A.
You have to use facts to back up your arguements. Iran has never shown a willingness to use nukes, only to aquire them, which under the circumstance is totally understandable. They're surrounded on both sides by US troops, and Israel right in the neighborhood (and needless to say, they have no great love for the Iranians). You claim that Saddam's non-existant WMD were an imminent threat to America, despite the fact that he never once showed any intent of attacking America. But Iran, oh no, they have no right to defend themselves, cause they're surrounded and their enemy has made it quite clear that they are willing to attack.
Israel's possesion of nukes is the only thing that prevents a genocidal war that would end with the destruction Isreal and the extermination of the resident Jews and Christians.
You need a heavy dose of reality my friend, Israel has the most powerful military in the region, not to mention the biggest guy on the block looking out for them.
