Israeli Defense Officials See US Gambit in Iran Talks

It's a good guess but frankly, the Israeli defense officials who are saying that recent talks between Iran and the US are nothing more than a smokescreen by America to legitimize an attack later have no evidence for their speculation:

"There is a lot of strategic thinking concerning Iran going on right now but no one has yet to make a decision what to do," said a top IDF officer, involved in the dialogue between Israel and the US. "We are still far away from the point where military officers are poring over maps together planning an operation."

In recent weeks, Mullen has said publicly that he is opposed to military action against Iran which would open a "third front" for the US military which is currently fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Barak's talks in the US come a little over a week after the Bush administration sent its number three diplomat to Geneva to participate in European Union talks with Iran over its nuclear program.

The move led to reports that the US was changing its isolation tactic vis-à-vis Iran but Israeli defense officials speculated Sunday that the move was really a ploy to buy international support in the event that Bush decides to attack Iran in his last months in office.

"This way they will be able to say they tried everything," one official speculated. "This increases America's chances of gaining more public support domestically as well as the support of European nations which are today opposed to military action."

It is extremely doubtful that the Europeans will ever - repeat ever - support an attack on Iran unless there is ironclad proof (A mushroom cloud over the desert) that Iran either has the bomb or is within a hair of getting it. There is no domestic European consensus for such an attack. And even though European leaders would almost certainly quietly side with the US if such an attack were to occur, it is equally likely they wouldn't lift a diplomatic finger to help us anywhere - the UN, the EU, or any other venue.

Israel better face the fact that if they or we go in and get those nuclear facilities in Iran, that we will be alone and probably suffer much criticism following any such raid.