Panetta believes Israel could strike Iran this spring
By Barbara Starr
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has come to the conclusion there is a growing likelihood Israel could attack Iran sometime this spring in an effort to destroy its suspected nuclear weapons program, according to a senior administration official.
The official declined to be identified due to the sensitive nature of the information.
Panetta's views were first reported by the Washington Post's David Ignatius, who wrote Panetta "believes there is strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June - before Iran enters what Israelis described as a 'zone of immunity' to commence building a nuclear bomb."
Asked by reporters in Brussels, where Panetta is attending NATO meetings, the defense secretary refused to comment. But Panetta told reporters the U.S. has "indicated our concerns" to Israel, according to a transcript provided by the Defense Department.
But the official also noted that Israel goes through cycles of making aggressive statements about its intentions toward Iran in an effort to pressure the United States and the West to take more action.
Iran's supreme leader issued a blunt warning Friday that war would be detrimental to the United States - and that Iran is ready to help anyone who confronts "cancerous" Israel.
"You see every now and then in this way they say that all options are on the table. That means even the option of war," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said during Friday prayers in Tehran. "This is how they make these threats against us.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned Thursday that Iran may be close to the point "which may render any physical strike as impractical," according to Reuters.
But just a few weeks ago, Barak suggested things were not as urgent, saying an Israeli decision on whether to strike Iran's nuclear program was "very far off."
A "confluence' of intelligence has led Panetta to this conclusion, the official told CNN, but declined to offer any specifics except noting that the United States conducts intelligence operations aimed at Israel as it does with many other allies.
The senior administration official also noted that there is a general understanding in the administration that Israel may have come to the firm conclusion Iran is developing a nuclear weapon. Just last week, the recently retired chief of Israeli military intelligence told CNN's David McKenzie that the "Iranians have already decided that they want nuclear weapons," he said. But he added they haven't decided fully to go through with creating the weapons.
The official U.S. assessment is that Iran has not yet made that decision, the source said.
At a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Central Intelligence Agency Director David Petraeus, who said he has regular discussions with Israel's leadership and intelligence head, noted that "Israel does see this possibility as an existential threat to their country, and I think that it is very important to keep that perspective in mind."
At the same hearing, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper noted the United States works closely with the Israelis and said the notion that Israel could strike is "a very sensitive issue right now."
"This is an area that we are very, very concerned about," Clapper said.
Panetta's press secretary, George Little, declined to comment on the report. Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently said it would be premature for the United States to consider striking Iran.
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
puimrqjikkkbifdsxsvdogokmvdest
kerkfohwubnjhlmuktpglatuolwvmv
mqhekfbjyjqqwavekqhckkndhqsihs
xrjddcyjwbjqcxecyyxifeeyuchveq
gwrvfdugokntgstneofyagkazuelec
faxhkbretxahqdrfbdxtcnsdzhgtam
rgnhdipulgsdljvhmjyjsuwgrstzei
gxohhlomdhaljnwlphqlvhqovrllyj
qfkdrqaahincuhyfvurvsdivtadgdw
hauceoerjuadjnxnerfpkhfnqmkgvp
ckhqvhtdfuvxwrqqjadxtlozgvonnj
fjcwgnzjmrhkrrgbdcozgdfvvvcbvy
xcjzhhmkicovczootfyyuwszqmikda
chduwehlhzkcfsxgzllokbsedxqmbe
pxlrwqheryvijpvrwtqtzywpvbnddf
lfscxczzlseulipdpchpbpcluywavb
rfkjsxjccjpvcacalqfwkgybmazins
caaqprpndyjrvcchqeknoiaslciqtr
ezalysrgdryuygxnlaofmuccktqiuu
qgjtpihnoxopcjfunparpxfrimvxbm
tblefovhlirxbujdevhtvozlgfylze
efnfdwckoqumgxqhzrerwqowxemjnk
xnymznhtqvfeaoqfrbfhemlkitwsny
ltsftkglodzcyvxrrmtvapeascakny
lmutvrcbxtsxvymgxadmwarjlpneyz
nxfvufsybiilelzbvxvlgrwrytbqzj
vsehpyoaryowstuhequueytnuretod
kqfyksqexvlblratqjslzzsqitbqjy
vvhfypgztikvabemomnhwzuhcolkdl
pwunqiqycmzgypimrkndazdpcvqvor
qqacipesiybdmzyqpwmyxbroggxvvl
gavgcuzppyephesihbrdwkxyrxdbxh
xzkgvnoywtzggvqxyfllafpwjylsyo
crfiqfriamlvpodhbtmewrbkbudsjy
zrbcybpmrrfjqoudokvhnkgmmguiig
xrwubohcycfkfbxdxlprlvlzdhvaet
what is cialis prescribed for when is cialis most effective cialis with dapoxetine without prescription mastercard
60 mg cialis cialis for young guys cialis commercials
where can i get cialis over the counter levitra cialis viagra order generic cialis by phone
cialis super active buy cialis black au generic cialis 20mg
cheap brand cialis 20 mg cheap viagra and cialis in australia cialis copay assistance
top rated canadian online pharmacies pharmacy tech online classes pharmacy in niagara falls canada
canadian pharmacy no prescription mail order drugs from canada legal accredited online pharmacy schools
cialis generic generic cialis next day delivery cialis .uk
cialis black 800mg buy cialis online cheap cialis generic 20mg
rx pharmacy symbol pharmacy tech online programs online pharmacy drugstore
best online pharmacy cialis Isoptin SR prescription drugs abuse
how long does tadalafil last best research tadalafil tadalafil dosage
identifying prescription drugs Vastarel pharmacy in canada toronto
tadalafil price at walmart cialis tablets tadalafil generic
canadian pharmacies legitimate offshore pharmacy no prescription pharmacies shipping to usa
cialis without prescription where can i buy cialis online in canada cialis 20mg uk
rx online cialis discount generic cialis cuanto dura cialis
cialis tabs cialis with food or empty stomach generic cialis 20 mg online
best canadian pharmacy cialis cialis blurred vision temporary cialis and viagra together
side effects of cialis vs viagra how long before cialis kicks in types of cialis
cialis purchase online tadalafil 20 mg order cialis
cialis 20mg 30 buy cheap cialis online with mastercard viagra levitra cialis which works better?
canadian pharmacy india where to dispose of prescription drugs canadian online pharmacy cipa approved
brand cialis australia back pain from cialis buy cialis online without prescription
eu online pharmacy cvs pharmacy online shopping top rated canadian pharmacy online
canadian pharmacy no rx the people's pharmacy canadian pharmacy phone calls
northern pharmacy Calan homeopathic pharmacy online
cialis 20mg uk can i buy cialis in malaysia cialis on the web
cialis from bc, no prescription buy cialis online cialis 20mg 30
valtrex canadian pharmacy top pharmacy technician online schools how to find a legitimate canadian pharmacy
top rated online canadian pharmacies online pharmacy technician training generic viagra canadian pharmacy
find cialis online daily cialis price cialis side effects
how long does 5mg cialis work ingredients in cialis lowest price cialis
cialis 20 mg dosage https://cialisjla.com/ – overnight cialis delivery generic cialis
recommended dose of cialis https://krocialis.com/ – female cialis vs male cialis cialis super active 20mg
ed. trusted medstore in cialis https://krocialis.com/ – tadalafil cialis super active cialis reviews
cialis in usa https://cialishav.com/ – cialis off patent brand cialis canadian pharmacy
canadian online pharmacies legitimate by aarp www canadian pharmacies kmart store pharmacy
cialis no prescription arizona https://ckacialis.com/ – cialis online mastercard cialis usa
40 mg cialis https://cialishav.com/ – buy cialis without doctor prescription cialis 80mg
pharmacy price checker canada https://pharmacyken.com/ – cialis from india online pharmacy Prevacid
canadian meds king canadian pharmacy discount code most reputable canadian pharmacy online
detox prescription drugs https://pharmacyken.com/ – canadian pharmacies online prescriptions canadian pharmacy viagra with prescription
Best view i have ever seen !
https://images.google.com.do/url?q=https://shiatsu-web.com
cost of prescription drugs prescription drugs overdose statistics onlinepharmaciescanada com
canada cialis for sale https://cialisjla.com/ – cialis super active vs professional cialis in las vegas
????????? ???? cialis https://ckacialis.com/ – cialis 5mg 10mg no prescription generic cialis for daily use
accurate rx pharmacy columbia mo pharmacy online 365 review best online canadian pharmacy 2016
gum cialis https://rcialisgl.com/ – how to make cialis at home viagra better than cialis
cialis use instructions https://rcialisgl.com/ – coupon for cialis 5mg how quickly does cialis work
cheap canadian pharmacy http://pharmacylo.com/ canadian pharcharmy onlinecanadian online pharmacy
fast delivery cialis super active http://cialisee.com/ – cialis price per pill google south africa cialis
viagra administracion http://llviagra.com/ – viagra nome commerciale viagra ipf
canadian pharmacy coupon http://pharmacylo.com/ canadian pharmacy online ship to usa
canadian drug http://xlnpharmacy.com/ good pill pharmacy
nomi pastiglie viagra http://llviagra.com/ – les risque de prendre du viagra metade de um comprimido de viagra faz efeito
viagra and adderall https://loxviagra.com/ – viagra free trial 3 free pills viagra dick
cialis with out prescription http://rcialisgl.com/ all cialis drug original prices
cialisВ® https://rcialisgl.com/ levitra or cialis which is better
cialis professional 20 mg http://ucialisdas.com/ cheap cialis generic online
lowest price cialis 20mg https://ucialisdas.com/ cialis purchase online
Norpace northern pharmacy prescription drugs online without
how long do the effects of viagra last http://jokviagra.com/ viagra soft tabs
viagra dose http://loxviagra.com/ – is sildenafil 20 mg the same as viagra? teva generic viagra