Olmert's Nuclear Blunder Updated: Pogo Was Right

Two days ago, Ehud Olmert, lost his cool during an interview and blurted out a state secret, that Israel indeed had an atomic weapons program For years it was assumed that Israel had the bomb, but its policy of ambiguity kept the issue from becoming a "negotiating point" With Olmert's blunder. His "slip of the tongue has not only damaged Israel's defense strategy, but the Western World' efforts to stop North Korea and Iran's nuclear ambitions.

When the news of Olmert's slip became public, many of us wondered how soon it will be before there are UN sanctions against Israel for its nuclear weapons program. The JPost put it best:

This policy proved successful in preventing the kind of international pressure to disarm that might have been caused by an open admission to having the bomb, but it's not very useful when confronted with an enemy freely using nuclear information and disinformation to suit its interest of the moment

We didn’t have to wait long. The PM’s major gaffe has awakened to Arab world to as why Iran is the only country being pressured to give up its nuclear program. Yesterday the JPost reported

Gulf group calls for nuclear sanctions on Israel

The chief of the organization grouping Arab Gulf countries urged the United States and the international community on Tuesday to press for sanctions on Israel for its nuclear program.

Abdul Rahman al-Attiyah, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said, "The United States should not apply double standards since it calls for sanctions on countries that have nuclear programs that we have not ruled out are framework of nuclear weapons."

Al-Attiyah's comments followed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's comments on Monday night during an interview with a German television station during which he argued that a nuclear Israel did not pose the same threat as a nuclear Iran.

Iran is already using Olmert's blunder to justify its nuclear program:

Iran: Zionist PM admits to nuclear weapons (YNet News)
Iranian government spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini addressed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's verbal slip-up regarding Israel's nuclear capabilities, saying Wednesday that "the Zionist prime minister's admission is that they have nuclear military capabilities." According to Hosseini, this statement "constitutes a real threat to the security and stability of the Middle East…it's proof that Islamic nations in the region are under a security threat."

Iranian news agency IRNA, which reported Hosseini's statement, said that "the announcement indicates the worrying objectives of the Zionist regime and its intention to implement its threats against the Muslim world, to execute an aggressive policy and continue occupation of the region."

"The Security Council, the Islamic Council and other organizations must take real and effective steps to cope with these clear threats," the agency continued.

According to Haaretz the EU, no big fan of Israel is getting concerned. They have called on Olmert to clarify Israel’s nuclear position. As you would expect Israel's Defense department is not too happy. The JPost reported today:

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's apparent inclusion of Israel in the nuclear club and confirmation that the country has nuclear weapons could prove disastrous to Israel's strategic standing, senior defense officials said Tuesday. According to the officials - responsible for planning Israel's long-term defense strategy - Olmert's comment could eventually lead to renewed pressure to open up the country's nuclear installations to international inspections. Egypt has repeatedly called for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections of the Dimona nuclear facility as well as Israel's signature on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Olmert's comment was even more surprising considering that in recent weeks he held two four-hour long meetings with former minister Dan Meridor - author of Israel's newly-formulated defense doctrine - during which he was briefed on the main principles, which include maintaining Israel's long-standing policy of nuclear ambiguity.

Following the meetings, The Jerusalem Post has learned, Olmert told Meridor he planned to adopt the doctrine in its entirety, and bring it to the security cabinet for final approval. A high-level adviser to Olmert on defense and diplomatic issues told the Post recently that Israel needed to maintain nuclear ambiguity "at all costs."

"This policy scares our adversaries," the high-ranking official said. "Even if they think they know, they don't really know and that scares them." According to the official, Israel's policy has paid off by preventing IAEA inspection of its nuclear sites. The policy has also allowed the United States to rebuff calls - like those from the Egyptians - for international inspections of Israel's facilities. In addition, the policy has so far warded off attempts by other Middle Eastern countries - except for Iran - to begin developing their own nuclear programs using the excuse that Israel has a nuclear capability.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's apparent inclusion of Israel in the nuclear club and confirmation that the country has nuclear weapons could prove disastrous to Israel's strategic standing, senior defense officials said Tuesday.

Olmert's comment was even more surprising considering that in recent weeks he held two four-hour long meetings with former minister Dan Meridor - author of Israel's newly-formulated defense doctrine - during which he was briefed on the main principles, which include maintaining Israel's long-standing policy of nuclear ambiguity.

Following the meetings, The Jerusalem Post has learned, Olmert told Meridor he planned to adopt the doctrine in its entirety, and bring it to the security cabinet for final approval. A high-level adviser to Olmert on defense and diplomatic issues told the Post recently that Israel needed to maintain nuclear ambiguity "at all costs."

"This policy scares our adversaries," the high-ranking official said. "Even if they think they know, they don't really know and that scares them."

According to the official, Israel's policy has paid off by preventing IAEA inspection of its nuclear sites. The policy has also allowed the United States to rebuff calls - like those from the Egyptians - for international inspections of Israel's facilities. In addition, the policy has so far warded off attempts by other Middle Eastern countries - except for Iran - to begin developing their own nuclear programs using the excuse that Israel has a nuclear capability.

Reactions from Israeli politicians on both sides of the aisle were loud and angry.

Olmert Blasted for Nuclear Tongue-Slip (Arutz Sheva)
Likud Knesset Member Yuval Steinitz called for Olmert’s resignation in the wake of what he called “a series of problematic slips of the tongue in matters of defense.” He cited a previous slip regarding the fate of Israel's kidnapped soldiers.

Former Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, speaking on Arutz-7's Hebrew newsmagazine today, said that Olmert's statement gives ammunition to Israel's enemies. "Other countries ask why only Iran is being pressured, while Israel is not a signatory to the nuclear proliferation charter," Shalom said. "It also enables Iran to claim that it is developing nuclear capabilities in self-defense."

MK Yossi Beilin, chairman of the left-wing Meretz-Yahad party, said the Prime Minister’s remark was “irresponsible to the point of recklessness... and raises serious doubts whether this is a person worthy of serving as Prime Minister.” National Union MK Aryeh Eldad gave Olmert the benefit of the doubt in considering the slip to be an intentional change in Israel’s 50-year policy of “nuclear ambiguity.”

Olmert continues to put Israel in danger, but with this blunder he also threatens the US. It will be nearly impossible to make Iran and North Korea drop its nuclear program without pressuring Israel to do so also. In my adult life I cannot ever remember a single head of a country blurting out a state secret in an interview...until now. A few months ago Olmert was a disaster waiting to happen. Today he is a disaster happening over and over. Olmert is clearly over his head as Israel's PM, he and needs to be replaced... AND FAST.

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