Support NeoGAF

[shinobi602]

Take note Silverstein's blog "Tikun Olam" has exposed stories before that were otherwise concealed by Israeli military censorship. Pretty well known whistle blower.

US blogger Richard Silverstein says Israeli source leaked attack plan Bibi, Barak pitching to ministers. According to document, campaign will open with cyber-attack that will paralyze electrical grid.

Any Israeli attack on Iran will open with a "coordinated strike, including an unprecedented cyber-attack which will totally paralyze the Iranian regime and its ability to know what is happening within its borders," American blogger Richard Silverstein wrote Wednesday.

Silverstein claims to have obtained an Israeli briefing document outlining the Jewish state's war plans against Iran, which, according to him, include the launching of dozens of missiles, an aerial attack, a sophisticated cyber attack and even the assassination of senior Iranian military and intelligence officials.

In the blog, Tikkun Olam, Silverstein said the document was leaked to him by a high-level Israeli source who had obtained it from an IDF officer. According to Silverstein, the source told him that normally he would not leak this sort of document, but that "these are not normal times. I’m afraid Bibi (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) and (Defense Minister Ehud) Barak are dead serious."

The blogger estimates that the document was leaked to him in order to "expose the arguments and plans advanced by the Bibi-Barak two-headed warrior. Neither the IDF leaker, my source, nor virtually any senior military or intelligence officer wants this war."

According to Silverstein, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using this "sales pitch" to persuade the eight-member security cabinet to support a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.

"This is Shock and Awe, Israel-style. It is Bibi’s effort to persuade high-level Israeli officials that Israel can prosecute a pure technology war that involves relatively few human beings (Israeli, that is) who may be put in harm’s way, and will certainly cost few lives of IDF personnel," the blogger wrote.

"Bibi’s sleight of hand here involves no mention whatsoever of an Iranian counter-attack against Israel. The presumption must be that the bells and whistles of all those marvelous new weapons systems will decapitate Iran’s war-making ability and render it paralyzed. The likelihood of this actually happening is nearly nil."

According to Silverstein, an Israeli strike on Iran will include a "barrage of tens of ballistic missiles" launched from Israeli territory towards Iran, as well as a barrage of "hundreds of cruise missiles" which will "pound command and control systems, research and development facilities, and the residences of senior personnel in the nuclear and missile development apparatus.

"Intelligence gathered over years will be utilized to completely decapitate Iran’s professional and command ranks in these fields," according to the blogger

Silverstein says the attack will open with an unprecedented cyber-attack which will take the internet, telephones, radio and television, communications satellites, and fiber optic cables leading to and from critical installations—including underground missile bases at Khorramabad and Isfahan - out of action.

"The electrical grid throughout Iran will be paralyzed and transformer stations will absorb severe damage from carbon fiber munitions which are finer than a human hair, causing electrical short circuits whose repair requires their complete removal. This would be a Sisyphean task in light of cluster munitions which would be dropped, some time-delayed and some remote-activated through the use of a satellite signal," the blogger claims.

According to the document, the missiles will strike their targets—some exploding above ground like those striking the nuclear reactor at Arak–which is intended to produce plutonium and tritium—and the nearby heavy water production facility; the nuclear fuel production facilities at Isfahan and facilities for enriching uranium-hexaflouride. Others would explode under-ground, as at the Fordo facility.

Following the first wave of attacks, Silverstein says, an Israeli radar satellite will pass over Iran and transfer information directly to war planes making their way covertly toward Iran.

"These IAF planes will be armed with electronic warfare gear previously unknown to the wider public, not even revealed to our US ally. This equipment will render Israeli aircraft invisible. Those Israeli war planes which participate in the attack will damage a short-list of targets which require further assault," the blogger writes.

According to Silverstein, among the targets approved for attack are Shahab 3 and Sejil ballistic missile silos, storage tanks for chemical components of rocket fuel, industrial facilities for producing missile control systems, centrifuge production plants and more.

Silverstein mentions that Iran is divided into 31 districts, each with its own independent command and control facilities and mechanisms. "So Israel wouldn’t be able to knock out a single facility and paralyze the IRG. They’d need to knock out 31 separate sets of facilities–a much harder task," he writes.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4269110,00.html

 

[ced]

You mean Israeli / US war?

 

[Choke on the Magic]

Analyst/blogger? GTFO.

 

[gcubed]

You mean Israeli / US war?

if this actually happened i would love it if the US said "fuck it, i'm out"

 

[Salvor.Hardin]

Isn't there a similar news article just about every week? Impending doom has been pending for a while now.

 

[derder]

Good.

Get our people out of there and let em at it.

 

[shinobi602]

Isn't there a similar news article just about every week? Impending doom has been pending for a while now.

Iran won't change course. Neither will Israel(or the US). What do you feel will happen? It's not a matter of if, just when.

 

[kirblar]

Isn't there a similar news article just about every week? Impending doom has been pending for a while now.

There's a similar news article every week because there's a group of people who want this to happen. They want to make it seem like an inevitability.

 

[Marleyman]

Isn't there a similar news article just about every week? Impending doom has been pending for a while now.

For at least 4 years now; shit or get off the pot already.

 

[SamRambles]

On my 1 to Bullshit scale, this is about Bono.

 

[miked808]

Carbon fiber munitions?

 

[shinobi602]

Carbon fiber munitions?

BLU-114/B "Soft-Bomb"

 

[Wazzim]

If only Iran had a nuclear bomb to scare them off, right?

 

[tw1164]

BLU-114/B "Soft-Bomb"

That is cool, I didn't know they existed.

 

[The Lamonster]

A "cyber attack" on the American electrical grid is one of my biggest fears.

 

[TacticalFox88]

Israel isn't dumb enough to attack Iran without US support. When you're fighter jets can't even reach a country without refueling, you know you're going to be on the receiving end of a curbstomp.

 

[glaurung]

Israel isn't dumb enough to attack Iran without US support. When you're fighter jets can't even reach a country without refueling, you know you're going to be on the receiving end of a curbstomp.

Israel has all the US support it will ever need.

All of the US officials are literally licking the balls of the Israel government. The US/that nice president man of theirs will make a stern public face when an attack such as this is launched, but behind the curtain, they will aid Israel in every way conceivable.

 

[Ikael]

This war is the most retarded shit ever. Even the Israeli intelligence service think so. The fact that the Saudis are cheering for it should tell everything that needs to be said. The US would be better if they stay away from this crap, too.

 

[OttomanScribe]

I call deliberate Israeli leak. Sabre rattling, which Iran will ignore, convinced that Israel is all talk without US backing.

Sure it is the standard understanding but I can go with the crowd sometime right?


Israel is not that dumb. They know the consequences on their civilian population if they pulled something that lead to any scale of death in Iran.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Richard Silverstein is famous to whom?

 

[Patryn]

There's a similar news article every week because there's a group of people who want this to happen. They want to make it seem like an inevitability.

The sad thing is that this has been proven to work.

 

[Castor Krieg]

Good.

Get our people out of there and let em at it.

Yes, we need more pointless violence in the Middle East.

 

[Dyno]

Good.

Get our people out of there and let em at it.

Douchey face, douchey sentiment. You got it locked down son!

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

more leaky shit talking

nothing more.

 

[shinobi602]

Richard Silverstein is famous to whom?

Many who follow Middle East politics in depth know who he is. He's very intellectually sound, blown a few whistles before.

 

[i-Lo]

Propaganda by certain news outlets will ensure a bubble of protection against public backlash if US aids Israel (which it most likely will). America isn't too popular atm around the world and I don't think an action like this will earn them any favourable point. For the old, paranoid and power hungry young people who are to defend USA will die in vain. Same will go for Israel and Iran. Iraq has been quite a disaster thanks to taliban and Iran will perhaps suffer the same fate.

As a Canadian, I hope that Harper doesn't extend military support.

Yes, we need more pointless violence in the Middle East.

Douchey face, douchey sentiment. You got it locked down son!

I think he meant that let US troops get out of battle and let the Israelis and Iranians fight each other.

 

[Dead Man]

So Israel is going to attack Iran from the air? To what end?

"These IAF planes will be armed with electronic warfare gear previously unknown to the wider public, not even revealed to our US ally. This equipment will render Israeli aircraft invisible. Those Israeli war planes which participate in the attack will damage a short-list of targets which require further assault," the blogger writes.

 

[Insane Metal]

Blogger? lol

 

[djplaeskool]

They've got invisible planes maaaaan...

 

[Vagabundo]

What could possibly go wrong? Seem like the perfect plan.

 

[SteveWinwood]

Electronic devices previously unknown to the us?

What a load of bull.

 

[shinobi602]

Electronic devices previously unknown to the us?

What a load of bull.

Yea, we're the only ones in the world with technological know-how.

smh

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

So Israel is going to attack Iran from the air? To what end?

Presumably to facilitate ground invasion by disrupting command and control infrastructure. Even temporary disruptions can be quite an advantage to the offense.

Yea, we're the only ones in the world with technological know-how.

smh

I read his post more as "there is no way they wouldn't know about it".

 

[shinobi602]

I read his post more as "there is no way they wouldn't know about it".

Do you really believe Israel shares everything it does with us? Israeli agents have been caught spying on US soil in the past for crying out loud.

 

[Dead Man]

Presumably to facilitate ground invasion by disrupting command and control infrastructure. Even temporary disruptions can be quite an advantage to the offense.

I know that is what it would normally be for, but how in the hell will the Israeli military do that?

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Do you really believe Israel shares everything it does with us? Israeli agents have been caught spying on US soil in the past for crying out loud.

And the US also spies on Israel. And all of it's allies. Who in turn all spy on her. His post doesn't need to be read the way you did.

I know that is what it would normally be for, but how in the hell will the Israeli military do that?

Presumably with help from US Forces, although if the pipe dream outlined in the OP was actually accurate, and they could destroy command and control infrastructure, then even the IDF by itself could win a war. It couldn't occupy it, but it probably wouldn't have to depending on what their military objectives were. I agree that it's very unclear what they would hope to achieve by this, though. It may just be that they're planning to destroy Iran's ability to retaliate to Israel, and that they are once again hoping to destroy their nuclear facilities. Since that would be an act of war, they're trying to preempt the Iranian counterattack to stall for time while the US mobilizes forces to prevent any Iranian invasion from happening at all.

 

[ConfusingJazz]

Jeez, Turkey and Iran are more likely to go to war at this point.

 

[Hindle]

It's bullshit. I bet he wrote this whilst weaing a tinfoil hat.

 

[Dead Man]

And the US also spies on Israel. And all of it's allies. Who in turn all spy on her. His post doesn't need to be read the way you did.




Presumably with help from US Forces, although if the pipe dream outlined in the OP was actually accurate, and they could destroy command and control infrastructure, then even the IDF by itself could win a war. It couldn't occupy it, but it probably wouldn't have to depending on what their military objectives were.

Yes, but if you are not going to occupy the country, destroying the whole place is stupidity. Hit their nuc factories, whatever. Destroy civilian infrastructure and NOT occupy the place? Not happening.

 

[shinobi602]

And the US also spies on Israel. And all of it's allies. Who in turn all spy on her. His post doesn't need to be read the way you did.

So do these allies know everything there is to know about us? I'm sure we have things that are "unknown" to them.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Yes, but if you are not going to occupy the country, destroying the whole place is stupidity. Hit their nuc factories, whatever. Destroy civilian infrastructure and NOT occupy the place? Not happening.

I made an edit but it was too late:

"It may just be that they're planning to destroy Iran's ability to retaliate to Israel, and that they are once again hoping to destroy their nuclear facilities. Since that would be an act of war, they're trying to preempt the Iranian counterattack to stall for time while the US mobilizes forces to prevent any Iranian invasion from happening at all. "

So do these allies know everything there is to know about us? I'm sure we have things that are "unknown" to them.

Ask the guy who posted. All I'm trying to say is that he may not have meant what you thought he did.

 

[YoungHav]

why don't these ass hats fight their own wars? Stop enlisting in militaries people!

 

[low-G]

It's bullshit. I bet he wrote this whilst weaing a tinfoil hat.

Actually there's a plan to all this, and that's exposing the war lust of a few especially nutty Israeli officials and getting them to stop by making everyone talk about it. So it's good.

 

[shinobi602]

It's bullshit. I bet he wrote this whilst weaing a tinfoil hat.

I doubt that.

According to Der Spiegel, "The blogger who lives in the United States is considered to be very well informed when it comes to Israeli security matters. His blog "Tikun Olam" regularly exposes stories which cannot be published in Israel due to military censorship. For example, Silverstein was the first to publish the names of new candidates for the senior posts at the Israeli domestic and external security services."

In 2010, the blog was reportedly the first to publish the names of the candidates for chief of Mossad and Shin Bet.

Tikun Olam broke the gag order against reporting the arrest of prominent Israeli Palestinian political activists Ameer Makhoul and Omar Said by the Shin Bet, who accused them of spying against Israel on behalf of Hezbollah.

The blog was reportedly the first to break the Israeli court-imposed gag order that prohibited naming Anat Kamm as a former IDF soldier held for leaking secret military documents to Haaretz reporter Uri Blau.

 

[Touch]

A "cyber attack" on the American electrical grid is one of my biggest fears.

firecell

Spoiler

impossible because usa

 

[SteveWinwood]

All I was saying is yes, I believe that if there was anything Israel was close to using in the field, America would know about it.

Are you really asking if we have secrets that our allies don't know about? Of course we do.

But comparing Israeli and American intelligence is slightly silly.

Also so this guy "leaked" a list about possible candidates. What an insider! What else has he done that would make this a little bit more believable other than just repeating 'He's believable! Honest!'

 

[shinobi602]

All I was saying is yes, I believe that if there was anything Israel was close to using in the field, America would know about it.

Hence "previously" unknown.

 

[Despera]

My Egyptian friend's uncle, who is a Lieutenant in the army, talked about how work has started on what they call a "War Project" against the state of Israel, in case matters escalate.

This is just another cautionary measure out of many countries in the region have taken recently. Let's just hope the situation is resolved without wars.

 

[Dead Man]

I made an edit but it was too late:

"It may just be that they're planning to destroy Iran's ability to retaliate to Israel, and that they are once again hoping to destroy their nuclear facilities. Since that would be an act of war, they're trying to preempt the Iranian counterattack to stall for time while the US mobilizes forces to prevent any Iranian invasion from happening at all. "

Yeah, still not seeing any possible upside for Israel with this plan. Anyway, off to bed.

 

[Choke on the Magic]

Nothing will happen as usual. There's a better chance of a couple of other nations going to war with Iran due to their support in Syria.