[Hippikos]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Israel is kind of harsh on leakers they don't want to leak. They will hunt you down to every corner of the planet, kidnap you and cart you back to Israel to sit in prison. It probably doesn't even matter if your leak is true.

So, two probabilities. One is that it was intentionally leaked. The timing seems right for such a thing.

The other possibility is that the reporter(s) involved are making it up: It probably doesn't matter, flip a coin.

From your source: "We have the military option and the fact that we can fly to Gibraltar shows that we have the range. It’s in your interest to get back to the negotiation tables."

Reality shows that this strategy isn't working at all. The more sabre rattling the more defiant Iran is and the more support Ahmadinejad gets. Due to it's geographics Israel is very vulnerable for a first strike. Air strikes won't solve the problem at all, it will only emphasize it.

So if this story ain't true, then what is the US/Israel strategy? Maybe the fact that Negroponte was replaced by McConnell at the NIE could indicate things. As National Intelligence Director Negroponte countered the administration position that Iran was an immediate threat and that its alleged nuclear weapons program was in an advanced stage. McConnell is another Cheney-puppet who will go anywhere the Vice-President will tell him to go.