US force an option against Iran nuclear programme, says Leon Panetta

August 1st, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

But at the same time, he warned that Israel would not rely on anyone else to
guarantee its security – not even Washington.

Speaking as he greeted the Pentagon chief in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Israeli
Defence Minister Ehud Barak credited him with bolstering ties between the
two nations.

“The defence ties between Israel and the United States are stronger and
tighter than they have ever been and the credit now has to go, most of it,
to you, Leon,” he said.

Mr Panetta also hailed the friendship between the two men, and said the
current ties were “probably the strongest US-Israel defence
relationship that we have had in history.”

“It’s because our countries have a strong bond, not only of friendship,
but of security – working together to make sure that we have the strongest
defence, and that we can do everything we can to defend both of our
countries,” he said.

The two men were also expected to visit a battery of the Iron Dome missile
defence system, after which Panetta was to head to Jerusalem for talks with
Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres.

Mr Panetta last visited Israel in October when he held talks with Mr Netanyahu
and Mr Barak, and also with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

His visit comes just weeks after a secret visit by US National Security
Adviser Tom Donilon, who reportedly briefed Netanyahu on US contingency
plans for a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Haaretz
newspaper reported earlier this week.

Israeli officials denied the report.

Shortly after Panetta’s arrival, Netanyahu said he had not yet decided whether
Israel would strike Iran.

“I have not taken a decision,” he told Israel’s private Channel 2
television.

“Israel’s fate depends solely on us and no other country, however
friendly,” he said, in reference to the United States.

Panetta’s arrival also coincided with Washington’s imposition of fresh
economic sanctions on Iran’s oil sector.

Source: AFP