Will Israel ever physically attack Iran's nuclear infrastructure?

[jimmy olsen]

After reading the umpteenth news article in the last five years speculating on an upcoming Israeli airstrike on Iran, I put the question to you Languish. Will Israel ever physically attack Iran's nuclear infrastructure?

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/04/16835731-analysis-israel-airstrike-may-foreshadow-iran-attack?lite

[Darth Wagtaros]

Yes. 

[Eddie Teach]

Haven't they done it before?

[jimmy olsen]

Haven't they done it before?

Cyberattacks don't count. Physical = planes and/or missiles.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Didn't they wack one of the scientists or engineers?

[jimmy olsen]

Didn't they wack one of the scientists or engineers?

Do people count as infrastructure?

I was thinking buildings, labs, etc.

[Admiral Yi]

Timmy, IIRC you were dead certain an Israeli attack was bound to happen like, a year ago.  I offered you a bet, and you weaseled.

[DGuller]

I have my doubts.  Israel doesn't sound like it's talking from the position of strength.

[Warspite]

I don't deal in certainties. But I'll give you a 10% chance of Israel unilaterally hitting Iran in the next 18 months.

[CountDeMoney]

All you can go on is history, and ask yourself:  when backed into a corner and confronted with a threat, either real or perceived, does Israel have a history of acting independently?

[DGuller]

All you can go on is history, and ask yourself:  when backed into a corner and confronted with a threat, either real or perceived, does Israel have a history of acting independently?

They've never been backed into a corner by a country as powerful and remote as Iran.  I just don't think they have the capability to do anything except a desperate move.

[crazy canuck]

All you can go on is history, and ask yourself:  when backed into a corner and confronted with a threat, either real or perceived, does Israel have a history of acting independently?

They've never been backed into a corner by a country as powerful and remote as Iran.  I just don't think they have the capability to do anything except a desperate move.

If Iran gains the capability to launch nukes at Israel I am not sure how remote Iran would be at that point.

[DGuller]

If Iran gains the capability to launch nukes at Israel I am not sure how remote Iran would be at that point.

Just as remote.  Israel would be a lot closer to Iran, though.

[CountDeMoney]

All you can go on is history, and ask yourself:  when backed into a corner and confronted with a threat, either real or perceived, does Israel have a history of acting independently?

They've never been backed into a corner by a country as powerful and remote as Iran.

They've been backed into plenty of corners before, whether it was being surrounded by enemy states that declared war on them the moment they achieved nationhood, to preemptive war, to going into Lebanon on more than one occasion to deal with what they would consider existential threats.   Remote's got nothing to do with Israel's ability to do something militarily if they feel they are forced.  Just ask Idi Amin.

I just don't think they have the capability to do anything except a desperate move.

What you think doesn't matter; it's what they think.  And they may have an entirely different definition of "desperate".

[Barrister]

All you can go on is history, and ask yourself:  when backed into a corner and confronted with a threat, either real or perceived, does Israel have a history of acting independently?

They've never been backed into a corner by a country as powerful and remote as Iran.

They've been backed into plenty of corners before, whether it was being surrounded by enemy states that declared war on them the moment they achieved nationhood, to preemptive war, to going into Lebanon on more than one occasion to deal with what they would consider existential threats.   Remote's got nothing to do with Israel's ability to do something militarily if they feel they are forced.  Just ask Idi Amin.

I just don't think they have the capability to do anything except a desperate move.

What you think doesn't matter; it's what they think.  And they may have an entirely different definition of "desperate".

I dunno Seedy.  The Swashbuckling Jews that defeated the combined arab armies in '47 and again in '67, that conducted the Entebbe operation, seems to be gone.  Instead we've had several inept campaigns into Lebannon, and raids into Gaza that have accomplished little.

This aint yo momma's IDF.  There won't be another Osirak strike.