Spring 2007
"Osirak Redux? Assessing Israeli Capabilities to Destroy Iranian Nuclear Facilities"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 4, volume 31
By Whitney Raas and Austin Long
If it wanted, Israel could stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapons program. With the experience of its successful 1981 military strike against Iraq's Osirak reactor, a much-improved air force, and decent intelligence on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Israel is in a position to repeat such an attack, this time against one or all of Iran's three well-hardened targets. Israel has the most to fear from a nuclear-armed Iran, but it should also be aware ofthe consequences of such an attack. Ultimately, only a combination of conventional military force, good intelligence, and political and economic efforts can successfully check nuclear proliferation.
