That is probably what a lot of the EU is hoping will happen to Iran, they're thinking that if they leave it long enough Israel will do the dirty work so they don't have to soil their hands with it.
Oh, I'm in no false impression about Irans want to spread a cloud of radioactive gas across most of Europe, in fact I think most of the Middle East wants to do that, but Iran having the bigger links and money is in a better position to do so. That's why we have so many security services around and near critical targets, but part of the war against terror is not letting them change our way of life, not letting them see pictures on the news of people living in constant fear of a terrorist attack, We are not scared, let them try their worst, we will ride it out, we've managed to overcome worse before, and although our leaders may not have much in the way of backbone, we do, and we won't be defeated.

EDIT: I'm not a religious man, but I'll join you in that prayer AL. ;)

Remind me....when was the last time we were the target of nuclear missiles ?:hmm:
:up:

:rotfl:

Approximately 1947-1991, aaaaand probably still today ;) Because, let's face it...the US'll still have Russia and China on the nuke speed-dial.

being under threat is different to coping with a reality.

These are not Russians and MAD won't work here.

"Those who know nothing of Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war. Those who say this are witless. Islam says: Kill all the unbelievers just as they would kill you all! Kill them, put them to the sword and scatter their armies.”
- Ayatollah Khomeini, 1942

EDIT: Let me expand the above quote fully:

"Islam makes it incumbent on all adult males, provided they are not disabled and incapacitated, to prepare themselves for the conquest of [other] countries so that the writ of Islam is obeyed in every country of the world. But those who study Islamic Holy War will understand why Islam wants to conquer the whole world…. Those who know nothing of Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war. Those [who says this] are witless. Islam says: Kill all the unbelievers just as they would kill you all! Does this mean that Muslims should sit back until they are devoured by [the unbelievers]! Islam says: Kill them [non-Muslims], put them to the sword and scatter [their armies]. Does this mean sitting back until [non-Muslims] overcome us? Islam says: Kill in the service of Allah those who may want to kill you! Does this mean that we should surrender to the enemy? Islam says: Whatever good there is exists thanks to the sword and in the shadow of the sword! People cannot be made obedient except with the sword! The sword is the key to Paradise, which can be opened only for Holy Warriors! These are hundreds of other [Koranic] psalms and Hadiths [sayings of the Prophet] urging Muslims to value war and to fight. Does all that mean that Islam is a religion that prevents men from waging war? I spit upon those foolish souls who make such a claim."
- Ayatollah Khomeini, quoted from Ibn Warraq's book "Why I am Not A Muslim", Prometheus Books, 1995, p.11-12. (p.381), Amir Taheri, Holy Terror, London, 1987, p.226-227.

Ok, I'll grant you that, but as Russia knew during the Cold War, any nuclear missile strike on Europe will result in the total eradication of the Middle East, they may hit us with one missile but in return they'll get a rain of MIRVs. Admittedly, around that point China will probably open up, maybe Russia too and then we all die, but as Skybird said, as radical as Iran is, I can't see them using it on Europe...Israel sadly, yes I can...which is tandamount to dropping one on Europe really, I can't see the US or UK letting that one pass. Whoever uses a nuclear weapon first loses the entire worlds favour, it's not exactly a popular thing to do.
Nuclear missiles? No...not yet...sometime within the next five years, maybe, particularly if Iran does get its nuke. Dirty bombs, almost definately. But then again, if you had asked the average Joe in October of '62 whether he thought the world was gonna end, he probably would have said yes....and it didn't....just.
So, our biggest weapon is our attitude, our ability to prevent attacks taking place, and when they do (which it's inevitable that they will) we take it on the chin the best we can, for to run around like a headless chicken is to give them what they want. They want that power over us, they want us to live in fear of them, why should we?

Oh, and yes, I know that MAD doesn't work in the case of Islam, aside from them being it, but consider the respective firepowers, Dinnerjacket would surely want to build up his arsenal before using them? Plus...with any luck, we'll have ICBM defence systems up and running before long, and the only way to overcome them is to saturate them or develop a smart MIRV, and even then the smart MIRVs can be countered. So while the risk is still high (you've only gotta look at the Doomsday clock), I'm still fairly confident about the risk of missile attack.

Now terrorist based ground bombs ala 'Jericho' is a different story, and that does worry me.

All nations having nukes have preselected targets prpgrammed into their warheads if they are mounted to missiles. Some years ago there was a mderate row in Germany when it became known that Israel even has targetted all majpor cpitals in Western europe, as some Israeli source indicated to medias back then. If Iran really is doing intel gathering on nuclear sites in europe, it is more likely to be meant for strikes from the ground or civial air traffic, which means: terror strikes.

As a matter of fact I expect such strikes to happen sooner or later, no matter whom it is conducting them. I often think of that, since I live near a channel here in Münster, and a small harbour with an oil storage site with a pumping station, three major and half a dozen or so smaller tanks. The gate to the perimeter is often open, and nobody in sight. I can travel by bike along the fence, and no camera and patrol anywhere. Nobody would stop me if I suddenly climb over the simple wire-fence and run for the tanks to place a bomb. I even would not need to climb over the fence - the path is so near to the tanks that I could lob a handgrenade at them easily. Some pipes leading from and to the main tanks are arrayed so close to the fence that you can touch them by putting your fingers through the mesh.

Such concepts of "security" certainly do not help.

You have an attraction for unsubstantiated lies when it comes to Israel. Do you collect them? Trade them with your friends?

The origination of this nonsense is one crackpot leftist self-loathing Israeli professor named Martin Van Crevel. A nobody in local circles.

As originally reported by the most distinguished IAP News (IAP = Islamic Association for Palestine), the professor said, without a shred of substantiation:

"We possess several hundred atomic warheads and rockets and can launch them at targets in all directions, perhaps even at Rome. Most European capitals are targets of our air force."

There's your "Israeli source" and the mouthpiece reporting it. The royal "we" and "our".

Two shoes in mouth (again), Skybird! :up: :up:

I can kinda sympathise there Skybird, there was an outcry up here a few years back when protestors scaled the fence and got onto the site of the nuclear station and scaled up the side of the Dome to write in big red letters 'DANGER'....BNFL tried to get it cleaned off but only managed to get the D taken off which resulted in 'ANGER' being written on the side of the Dome for several weeks afterwards. But they didn't get inside the facility, just the facility grounds which means they could probably disconnect it from the grid, or damage the water supply system (B is a PWR) but as for causing a release of radiation, well, BNFL are quite capable of doing that at Sizewell themselves without any Iranian help.
Can't comment on other British nuclear sites, but flying a plane into Sizewell B won't do much, it's a bloody thick wall.... A, however...yeah that might collapse, it doesn't look very sturdy but it's decommed anyway, and will be a thick concrete shell before long.

Oil and gas terminals though....yeah, they're totally screwed without military coverage. :damn:

Don't know if the quote was by van Crefeld or not. But I have red some materials and even books by van Crefeld, and what you, AL, call leftist crap, I call very reasonable and insightful thinking and better understanding of local conditions and future projections to be made from that, than what most Israeli and European politicians are capable of.

He is the first to admit that Israelis hate him, btw. He says he has caused too many scratches on Israel's glorious self-perception - and this your people do not forgive him. But that is not my problem, but yours.

Your hostile as well as arrogant rethorics do yourself no compliments. Anyway, on a different thing, this is for you, and you probably like it better: http://www.spiegel.de/international/...484770,00.html

And we all know what happens to them:

http://img.coxnewsweb.com/C/01/26/87/image_1587261.jpg

Surely the book you read substantiates its sources. Go ahead. Take your time.
One of many. But if you don't problems with people spewing nonsense based on nothing, then go for it.
I don't care. I call 'em as I see 'em. You're a sucker for anti-Israel smears. Ask yourself why.
A regular I-told-you-so. :yep:

I was thinking more along the lines of:

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/3...0029384wc4.jpg

Touché