House Intel Chair: Israel Attack on Iran Would Harm U.S. National Security

By Michael Ono | ABC News – Sun, Feb 5, 2012 7:19 PM EST

As United States and Israel grow increasingly concerned over Iran's nuclear program, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee is cautioning that a pre-emptive strike by Israel could spell trouble for America.

"If Israel does a unilateral strike, this could be a real problem for the national security interests of the United States," Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., said today on CNN's "State of the Union."

This statement comes days after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta expressed concern that Israel would bomb Iran in an unattributed comment run in a column in the Washington Post.  Panetta while not directly quoted by the columnist, has not denied the accuracy of the column and the general consensus is that Panetta does believe Israel is ready to bomb Iran.  Rogers said recent tension between the United States and Israel has lead to breakdown of trust when it comes to dealing with Iran.

"Israel has been a little bit distrustful of the United States and I think that's caused a little bit of friction," Rogers said.

Iran caused quite a stir earlier in January when it announced that it had enriched the country's first nuclear fuel rod.  Those rods could be used to create a nuclear weapon.  The International Atomic Energy Agency also released a report in November that suggested Iran is making progress in its program to create nuclear weapons.

While U.S. leaders have shown continued restraint when talking about Iran, the public largely supports military action against Iran. According to a December 2011 NBC/Wall Street Journal poll,  54 percent of Americans said that they would support attacking Iran's nuclear facilities, while 38 percent said that we should not.

Only two of the Republican presidential candidates support a pre-emptive strike against Iran's nuclear sites.  Rick Santorum said that as president he would not only bomb the nuclear sites with airstrikes but also make it public that we were doing so, while Newt Gingrich expressed support for a plan that included Israeli cooperation.

For now, the United States and several of its allies have imposed harsh economic sanctions on Iran.  Rogers said he believes the sanctions are having a real impact.

"It's working in the sense that it is affecting every sector of their economy," he said. "It's impacting average Iranians in their daily lives. Inflation is just rampant. The fact that they're having a hard time getting access to currency for transactions is starting to be a real problem."

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67 comments

  • Scott
    Scott  •  3 months ago
    Do the governments of Israel and the US really think that "Good Cop, Bad Cop" is going to trick Iran into complying with something contrary to their national interest? Know your enemy. The US and Israel have a lot of advantages over Iran, but guile and deception are not at the top of the list. Stay w/ your strengths, do not play Iran at its own game. It is one of the few ways to actually lose this contest.
    • JackieO
      JackieO 3 months ago
      Well said.
    • Bob
      Bob 3 months ago
      Scott Israel is your biggest enemy and the american politicians who place them ahead of America's interests. Google 9-11 Israel connection if you want to learn. Nobody is better at deception then Israel. They are not our friends
  • deadcolonywalking
    deadcolonywalking  •  3 months ago
    As someone who looks forward to the day the racist colony of israhell is gone, I hope and pray Israhell attacks Iran. I bet it's going to be a game-changer.
    • sleepy
      sleepy 3 months ago
      Game changer like in 1967 may be . That is what they said going to get rid of those Jews and they got the game changer.
  • Corey S.
    Corey S.  •  McHenry, Illinois  •  3 months ago
    54% are in favor... weird I dont know anyone who took part in that pole.....
    • Paine
      Paine 3 months ago
      I am with you I dont know any one who took part of the poll
    • harley1984
      harley1984 3 months ago
      so what are you saying they didnt poll all 300,000,000 americans
    • JDP
      JDP 3 months ago
      So the fact that you personally don't know anyone that participated in the NBC Poll, invalidates the result of that poll? Wow, you must really be a mover and a shaker in McHenry!
  • Jackie Moon
    Jackie Moon  •  Omaha, Nebraska  •  3 months ago
    wait... an Israeli-Iranian conflict would be bad?? Thanks, Yahoo!
  • The One
    The One  •  New Richmond, Wisconsin  •  3 months ago
    Duh, Really? Do you suppose a nuclear attack by Iran against Israel would have a negative effect too???
    Dumb arse politicians!
    • earlp
      earlp 3 months ago
      Iran will not use nuclear weapons in an attack. The US or Israel will. The US and Israel are the two most dangerous nations in the world. They are both the most aggressive militarize nations in the world. There will come a day when Russia, China, Turkey, and Brazil will have to put stop to their #$%$
  • a
    a  •  3 months ago
    if the jews want to go to war with iran so be it , who are we to say they cant , we the usa should distance our selfs from the jews and let them fight thier own war!
  • ✡
    ✡  •  3 months ago
    It was U.S. National Security problem
    U.S. bankrupt, thanks to Jews
    • dictatorSlime
      dictatorSlime 3 months ago
      oh really? US is bankrupt becasue of Jews? I thought that Jews worked harder and longer than schmuck-fuks like you, you tawdry rascist piece of human shyt
    • earlp
      earlp 3 months ago
      Mr Greenspan is a Jew and Milton Friedman is a Jew their economic policies, which the conservatives and right wing Christians loved lead us into the economic mess we are in now. Alan Greenspan has stated that he was wrong ,but that doesn't help anyone that no longer has a job.
    • Jackie Moon
      Jackie Moon 3 months ago
      wow, really? I think the US is having financial problems because of greed, not Jews. I know lots of greedy Gentiles. And lots of selfless Jews. I don't think it has to do with any one nationality or ethnoreligious group... I think it has to do with our choices and priorities as an American culture.
  • Bruce
    Bruce  •  3 months ago
    And we should protect Israel why? Oh yeah, because they happen to occupy a sandlot in the middle of the Middle East oilfields! Maybe its time for them to start taking responsibility for their actions and the consequences they bring upon themselves.
  • BillB
    BillB  •  3 months ago
    Of course it would create trouble for America. Our support for Israel is the reason nearly 3000 people died in 9-11. And the reason for the deaths of Americans in Afghanistan and the portion of our 15 trillion dollar debt that funded that war.
  • Mtrksld
    Mtrksld  •  3 months ago
    The us population would not support another war. I wonder where did 54% come from? Which polls, and when, and by whom??? Even the Israeli population does not support war with Iran, a fact.
  • Ben
    Ben  •  3 months ago
    This is lose-lose for Israel. If they bomb Iran all kinds of bad things happen, and the world hates them. If they don't they actually have to use their military with some degree of circumspection in the future.

    Unfortunately, it's also lose-lose for the US, because we're hitched to their wagon.
  • Mr. Pigsley
    Mr. Pigsley  •  3 months ago
    So if Israel attack Iran they occupy like they did in 1967 does this seems plausible?
  • MDE
    MDE  •  Decatur, Illinois  •  3 months ago
    Israel already has nukes, they were the first country in the middle east to get them. A lot of countries have nukes. We are the only country to have used them (on a civilian population mind you). We have no moral authority here. It is nothing short of total hypocrisy. The mantra that It's ok for me to have them but it is not ok for you to have them is not an acceptable answer.
  • A Yahoo! User  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 months ago
    When did Natanyahu "trusted" U.S. It is ploy to have us go out as far as we can to "prove" the opposite. Natanyhu is an idiot. Always was.
  • cruitire
    cruitire  •  3 months ago
    ""If Israel does a unilateral strike, this could be a real problem for the national security interests of the United States," Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich.---so, Israel is a threat to US national security? Boycott Israel, sanction Israel, threaten Israel, blockaide Israel. Israel has nukes which upset the 'stability' of the region. Time for a 'regime change' in Israel.
  • The Guffaw Conspiracy
    The Guffaw Conspiracy  •  3 months ago
    With a thousand miles of high quality underground tunnels, maybe Iran could stash a coupla hundred metric tons of annual heroin output so that the rest of the world doesn't suffer the inconvenience of a rude supply disruption.
  • enufalready
    enufalready  •  Charlotte, North Carolina  •  3 months ago
    Israel controls America courtesy of it's money laden AIPAC and the Jewish Cabal in Congress. America's destiny is in the hands of Israel.
  • REVBROTHERCEPHAS
    REVBROTHERCEPHAS  •  3 months ago
    Appil 13, 2012 assination plot foiled, however will begin war effects iran, israel, lebenon and palistinians. Mid east will be in such evil flux that china, usa and russia will be poised for all out one last final dance, may god bless all humankind abundantly and please have mercy on the innocents.
  • Jon
    Jon  •  3 months ago
    I think if you asked stormin normon and oliver north what iran actually had in their posession, or what has been acquired the tune would go from wonderment to amazement. they are far more advanced than our government will ever say. there are no rules of war, only how we engage the enemy.
  • Vincenzo
    Vincenzo  •  3 months ago
    Israel has a very strong military. They must fight the Persian army on their own.[for those of you not well read: Persian = Iranian] Israel can not defeat the Persians in a conventional war. Their only option is nuclear and that will not fly with international community. So, they need USA military to avert either a defeat or resorting to the atomic bomb. America must not get involved.
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