Israel buying nuclear subs

I find it somewhat comforting that Israel is also building up during the cease fire in response to Hezbollah's buildup.

Israel has signed a contract with Germany to buy two submarines capable of carrying atomic weapons, as world powers carefully weighed Iran's reply to an offer meant to end the standoff over the Islamic Republic's nuclear programs.

The Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post said Wednesday that under the contract signed in July, the two Dolphin-class submarines, called U212s, will be assembled in Germany and fitted with a propulsion system allowing them to remain underwater for far longer than submarines already in use by the Israel Navy.

The report of the sub purchase came a day after a Cabinet minister and former Mossad spy warned that Israel should prepare for a ballistic missile attack by Iran.

What I find interesting is that the German government is going to finance 1/3 of the costs.

The state-of-the-art submarines, manufactured by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG, will be bought by Israel for $1.27 billion, a third of which will be financed by the German government, the English-language daily said.

Now for a little bit of information about the subs.

The U212s are designed for a crew of 35, have a range of 4,500 kilometers and can launch cruise missiles carrying nuclear warheads, the paper quoted Jane's Defense Weekly as saying.

Now the article comes from the Daily Star. A little disclosure on the part of the Star:

The Daily Star signed an exclusive marketing representation, printing and distribution agreement with the International Herald Tribune in year 2000. Under the terms of the agreement, the Daily Star represents the IHT in all the GCC, Lebanon , Syria , Jordan , Egypt , Yemen and Iraq . The Daily Star will also produce local editions wherever possible.

You need to understand that...because the next part of the article begins to portray Iran as a victim of the international community.

While Israel is widely believed to possess a nuclear arsenal, it has never been subject to the international scrutiny that has locked Iran in a standoff with the West.

The UN Security Council has warned Iran could face possible sanctions if it does not meet an August 31 deadline to freeze uranium enrichment.

Iran handed over its response to an incentives package offered by six nations on Tuesday, saying it offered ideas that would allow serious talks to start immediately.

Ah, gotta love that.

Finally, the article does give the reactions to the Iranian nuclear weapon issue from various countries.

"We're giving it careful consideration and a careful review, as it deserves," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Wednesday.

John Bolton, US ambassador to the United Nations, said the US was "prepared - if [Iran] does not meet the terms set - to proceed here in the Security Council ... with economic sanctions."

US President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discussed the issue during an early-morning meeting at the White House, Perino indicated.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Wednesday that "our hand is still extended. The Iranians know the rules of the game: first a suspension of sensitive nuclear activities."

An Iranian official who asked not to be identified confirmed Tehran's refusal to suspend enrichment, despite the risk of UN sanctions, but insisted: "We can discuss all the items of the proposal; this is a sign of flexibility on Iran's part."

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who delivered the offer to Iran in June, said the reply "requires a detailed and careful analysis."

A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement urged Iran to consider international concerns and take "constructive steps." "We also hope that other parties remain patient and calm," it added.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying: "Russia will continue with the idea of seeking a political, negotiated settlement concerning Iran's nuclear program."

Take those for what you think they are worth. I find them all to be worthless words. In the end Iran is simply buying time to complete their enrichment. Iran tells the West "we'll talke, kind of" then the West waits until the end of August before starting the process of sanctions. And santions? Big deal...how long before they are put into place and then before their effects are realized?

Anyway, it is good to see Israel NOT relying on others for their defense. They are buying nuclear subs.