Benjamin Netanyahu is playing with fire

The situation in Iran has reached the maximum tension. Israel?s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was ready to go to any measures, up to attacking Iran?s nuclear facilities to prevent the emergence of Tehran's nuclear weapons.

?I guarantee that in the event of my election to the post of prime minister I will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear bomb,? said Netanyahu.

What Netanyahu said could be taken for the campaign rhetoric, an attempt to enlist the support of Israelis fearing an attack from Iran before the January election of the Prime Minister, if it were not for persistence with which the head of the Israeli government has long impressed in his countrymen and the world a need for strong military action against Iran.

Recently it became known that Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak as far back as 2010 gave an order to prepare a strike on Iran. However, it was prevented due to the position taken by IDF Chief of General Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Mossad chief Meir Dagan, who were strongly opposed to a military action fraught with dangerous consequences, including for Israel itself. But now even Netanyahu?s associate, Ehud Barak has stopped to actively support him, and the prime minister complains that Barak wants to show Washington his moderateness compared with the ?extremist and hawk?, which, according to him, Netanyahu is. And the United States itself, on the one hand, is pushing Israel to attack Iran, but on the other hand, does not want to look in the eyes of world public opinion instigator and warmonger, and that is why is playing a double game, encouraging Netanyahu?s militancy and occasionally pulling him up to warn against hasty, premature actions.

Israel and Iran have long exchanged belligerent statements. Moreover, the leaders of the two countries are sparing of sharp expressions and recriminations. Tehran believes that Israel is just a stooge for Washington, or more precisely, a club with which the White House is going to set its own order in the Middle East. In Israel, many probably sincerely believe that Iran constitutes a danger to the very existence of the state of Israel. But is it true?

After all, Israel with the most modern weapons at its disposal has much more opportunities to hit any target in Iran than Tehran with its few Shahab-3 missiles only. Israeli F-151 fighter-bombers can strike blows from bases located in Turkey on the north-western and central parts of Iran, including Tehran and Isfahan, where, according to the Americans and the Israelis, there is the nuclear weapons center. Israeli Dolphin submarine-launched cruise missiles can hit the south of Iran, including the nuclear reactor at Bushehr.

Tehran can certainly use Lebanese territory for attacks on Israel, and also use Hezbollah militants funded by Iran for large-scale anti-Israeli actions. But in general, the military capabilities of Israel backed by Washington, and Iran are not comparable. But the Israelis fear Iran?s growing military power and intend obviously even now to do everything to prevent the building of this power. In general, the so called prevention, delivering preventive, pre-emptive strikes has long become Israelis? major strategic technique. This

technique was used by them in 1967 against Egypt and Syria, and a few years later against Iraq, having bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak, and thus eliminating the possibility of Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons. Israel itself do has such a weapon by the courtesy of Washington (that opposes the nuclear club expansion by its enemies), and with the connivance of the international community.

On this basis, it is arguable that the Israelis are not so much interested in an attack on Iran, which can not really threaten Israel, as the Americans, under whose dictation the official Jerusalem acts. And what harm is Iran doing Washington? First, after the 1979 Iranian revolution, the overthrow of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who was a staunch ally of the U.S. and after the coming to power of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his followers, Washington was declared Iran?s enemy number one. Washington has lost its major foothold in the region, which gives the key to the Transcaucasus, Central Asia, first of all Afghanistan, entering the Caspian Sea. And most importantly, the United States has lost an important source of oil and gas it needs very much.

Iranian oil was formerly managed by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company that was then replaced by American oil companies, for many years deriving huge profits through control of Iranian oil. Now the U.S. intends to regain the control lost after the Iranian revolution. Aside from that, Washington wants to create an allied zone in the region, which would include Turkey (a NATO member), Iran and Georgia, and also possibly Azerbaijan (this has long been sought by the White House). This would allow Washington to control the situation in the Transcaucasus, to almost force Russia out of there, whose positions in the region have been always strong enough.

Moscow fully well knows the meaning of Washington?s true aspirations and the danger this ?game? poses for Russia. Moscow has repeatedly warned that the military adventure against Iran poses a serious threat to the vast region - from the Transcaucasus to the Middle East. Moscow, which supports good relations with Iran, does not agree with whatever military action against this country, which has the full right to develop peaceful nuclear energy, and to take precautions against possible aggression. Moscow is against the emergence of Tehran?s nuclear weapons; it has repeatedly said this and favours cooperation between Tehran and the IAEA.

However, the military way of resolving disputes is absolutely unacceptable from Russia?s point of view. The Iraqi scenario can not be expected to work in Iran. Iran is a great country with the population fanatically loyal to their spiritual leaders, which will defend to the end their freedom and independence. And those who prepare a new ?Desert Storm? must remember this. Moscow is strongly opposed to this kind of ?storms? and is not alone in its position. It is supported by China, and indeed Europe is not happy with the aggressive plans of the United States that also wants to exploit Israel, which hardly needs such a war hardly serving the interests of the Israeli people. And Benjamin Netanyahu, making his warlike statements, is of course playing with fire. This is a very dangerous game, which, fortunately, is not shared by many Israeli politicians and military.