Is Ariel Sharon bluffing?

An article from The Sunday Times reports-

ISRAEL’S armed forces have been ordered by Ariel Sharon, the prime minister, to be ready by the end of March for possible strikes on secret uranium enrichment sites in Iran, military sources have revealed.

The order came after Israeli intelligence warned the government that Iran was operating enrichment facilities, believed to be small and concealed in civilian locations.

Iran’s stand-off with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over nuclear inspections and aggressive rhetoric from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, who said last week that Israel should be moved to Europe, are causing mounting concern.

The crisis is set to come to a head in early March, when Mohamed El-Baradei, the head of the IAEA, will present his next report on Iran. El-Baradei, who received the Nobel peace prize yesterday, warned that the world was “losing patience” with Iran.

A later Jerusalem Post article has a Israeli Defense Ministry official denying Israel planned to attack Iran.

Its my opinion that pre-emptive action by Israel is a VERY strong possibility. This nation has never been shy when its come to its national interest. Surrounded by enemies, Israel will take Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its exixtence.

I also have to agree with Florida Cracker. Israel is unlikely to wait for any report if they feel threatened. Think this out, this is a very dangerous situation for the entire region and therefore for the world since our Allies Western Europe and Japan are dependent on Middle East oil more than we.

Open Post- Basil's Blog, Stop The ACLU, Bright & Early, Is it just me?, Right Wing Nation,