Report: Israel asks for ‘air corridor’ to attack Iran

Israel requests permission from United States to fly through Iraqi airspace in case Jerusalem should decide to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, Israeli defense official tells British newspaper

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3368931,00.html

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"Israel has reportedly requested permission from the United States to fly through Iraqi airspace, in case Jerusalem should decide to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, the Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

A senior Israeli defense official said negotiations were underway for the US to provide an ‘air corridor’ over Iraq.

In the event that Israel should target Iran ’s nuclear facilities, Israeli war planes would have to fly across Iraq to reach their targets, for which they need authorization from the Pentagon.

"We are planning for every eventuality, and sorting out issues such as these are crucially important," the defense official said.

"The only way to do this is to fly through US-controlled air space. If we don't sort these issues out now we could have a situation where American and Israeli war planes start shooting at each other," he added."

Last time I checked, Jerusalem is an internationally divided city.

I wonder if Iran has made a similar request, for when Iran attacks 'Jerusalem' in response?

last i knew iraq was a sovereign country so why is the "jerusalem" asking the usa? by the way is "jerusalem" a new country?

So much for "loose lips sink ships".

But seriously, you have to wonder who this is aimed at? Is it supposed to add to the threat of all those US warships banging into each other in the Persian Gulf? Or what? Why tell a newspaper?

I am reluctant to believe this came out of the Israeli government, it's too stupid, in too many ways. But, of course, it is some form of dick-wagging. And the basic idea, that Israel would need to get permission to attack through Iraq, and that that is really the only practical way to get there with aircraft from Israel, is obvious. Maybe Murdoch pulled it out of his ass.

My first thought, though was, "all we need to get to you is U.S. permission to fly over Iraq so you'd better straighten up and fly right."

Anyway you slice it, it smells like bullshit.