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ABC News Reports:

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US Worried Israel Will Attack Iran

Before End of 2008

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Editor's Note: - The A-O Intelligence Digest has been covering this story about either a US or Israeli military strike for 2 years. The Mainstream Media is now finally coming around to coverage. This is just another example of how The A-O Report is a "cutting-edge" news leader, yet we're struggling to stay online for our readers through reader-supported donations. If you want to keep ahead of developments and want to be informed when the Mainstream Media won't, consider providing a small monthly donation every month to ensure The A-O Report remains available for you. Donors also get access to special intelligence reports, the A-O Intelligence Digest and feature analysis not always found in the public sector of The A-O Report website. For details on how to donate to A-O, LINK HERE.

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(AO Newswire) -- ABC News is reporting that senior US defense officials are expressing alarm that Israel may attack Iran's nuclear facilities before the end of 2008. The ABC News story comes after America's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen huddled over the past weekend with Israeli leaders in Israel.

The Admiral toured various Israeli installations and conferred with his Israeli counterpart and Israel's Defense Minister. It is believed that the thrust of the weekend meetings was geared around Israeli plans for war with Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas in the wake of Israeli strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.

ABC News notes that per Pentagon sources, an Israeli attack on Iran would have enormous consequences for the United States. ABC News also reports:

A senior defense official told ABC News there is an "increasing likelihood" that Israel will carry out such an attack, a move that likely would prompt Iranian retaliation against, not just Israel, but against the United States as well.

The official identified two "red lines" that could trigger an Israeli offensive. The first is tied to when Iran's Natanz nuclear facility produces enough highly enriched uranium to make a nuclear weapon. According to the latest U.S. and Israeli intelligence assessments, that is likely to happen sometime in 2009, and could happen by the end of this year.

"The red line is not when they get to that point, but before they get to that point," the official said. "We are in the window of vulnerability."

The second red line is connected to when Iran acquires the SA-20 air defense system it is buying from Russia. The Israelis may want to strike before that system, which would make an attack much more difficult -- is put in place. To read the ABC News story, LINK HERE.

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