Yadlin: Israel cannot be surprised by Iran like US on 9/11

Wikileaks: Former MI chief tried to convince Congressman of danger posed by Islamic Regime's nuclear aspirations.

By YAAKOV KATZ
Amos Yadlin 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Amos Yadlin 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Israel is not in a position to underestimate Iran and be surprised like the United States was on 9/11, Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin, who stepped down as head of the IDF’s Military Intelligence last week, said in a meeting in 2009 with an American congressman.
The meeting with Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Florida) took place just days before Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu flew to his first meeting with US President Barack Obama in May 2009.
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According to the cable, Yadlin told Wexler that Netanyahu had been briefed extensively on Iran and that he appeared to be “determined.”
Asked by Wexler to explain the discrepancies between Israel and the US on the state of Iran’s nuclear program, Yadlin said that Israel believed that while Iran had suspended its weapons program in 2003, it had been restarted in 2005.
Yadlin said that while some in the US agreed with this assessment, others did not.
“Iran intends to keep resolutions and sanctions at a certain manageable level and continue to produce low-enriched uranium until there is enough for several bombs,” Yadlin said, according to the cable.
By the end of 2009, Military Intelligence, according to another cable, held the view that by 2012 Iran could build one bomb within weeks or an arsenal within half a year.
A US diplomat was quoted as questioning whether “Israelis firmly believe this or are using worst-case estimates to raise greater urgency from the United States.”
In a meeting in July 2009, Pinhas Buchris, director-general of the Defense Ministry at the time, said that all options were on the table for Israel.
During a talk with US officials about retaining Israel’s qualitative military edge in the Middle East, Buchris that “part of his job was ensuring Israel was ready to employ such an option, no matter how undesirable it may be.”


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