Israel won’t warn the U.S. before attacking Iran

Israel has no plans to warn the United States before a potential missile strike on Iran, AP reported Monday, citing a U.S. intelligence source. The Obama administration has been trying to dampen tensions in the region as Israel has become increasingly vocal in recent months about its willingness to attack Iran over its nuclear ambitions. From the AP report:

Israeli officials said that if they eventually decide a strike is necessary, they would keep the Americans in the dark to decrease the likelihood that the U.S. would be held responsible for failing to stop Israel’s potential attack. The U.S. has been working with the Israelis for months to convince them that an attack would be only a temporary setback to Iran’s nuclear program.

(snip)

But the apparent decision to keep the U.S. in the dark also stems from Israel’s frustration with the White House. After a visit by National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, they became convinced the Americans would neither take military action, nor go along with unilateral action by Israel against Iran. The Israelis concluded they would have to conduct a strike unilaterally — a point they are likely to hammer home in a series of meetings over the next two weeks in Washington, the official said.

At the Academy Awards Sunday, Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, who won the prize for Best Foreign Language Film, used his acceptance speech to plea for a better understanding of his people. From the LA Times:

“At the time when talk of war, intimidation and aggression is exchanged between politicians, the name of their country, Iran, is spoken here through her glorious culture, a rich and ancient culture that has been hidden under the heavy dust of politics.

“I proudly offer this award to the people of my country, the people who respect all cultures and civilizations and despise hostility and resentment(.)”