<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> WorldTribune.com: Mobile — Israeli chief of staff in Washington for 2nd round of talks on Iran in a month
Israeli chief of staff in Washington for 2nd round of talks on Iran in a month

Monday, July 21, 2008 Free Headline Alerts

TEL AVIV — Israel's strategic dialogue with the United States has resumed with the return visit to Washington by a top military official.

On July 21, Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi arrived in the United States for a week-long visit for talks on the Iranian threat. Ashkenazi has been hosted by Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in their second meeting in less than a month.

Officials said Israel and the United States intend to review options, including air strikes, in an effort to stop Iran's nuclear weapons program.

They said the strategic dialogue would also include Israeli requirements to defend against an Iranian counter-strike.

"We are entering a sustained period of intensive consultations meant to examine the feasibility of options toward Iran," an official said. "The focus will now be military." "The visit reflects the unique bond shared between the IDF and the U.S. Armed Forces," an Israeli military statement said on July 20.

Officials said the Israeli-U.S. military consultations would take up to two weeks. After one week, Ashkenazi would be replaced by Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Dan Harel.

"The chief of the General Staff will conduct a work meeting with his associate, Admiral Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staffs," the statement said. "Afterwards, Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi, along with his escorts, will join Admiral Mullen for a gathering with seniors in the U.S. Armed Forces General Staff."

Ashkenazi was also scheduled to meet senior Bush administration officials as well leaders of Congress. Officials said meetings with Vice President Richard Cheney and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley have been scheduled, and that President George Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates were likely to join the sessions.

The Israeli chief of staff has been accompanied by the head of the military's Strategic Department, Brig. Gen. Yossi Heyman. Heyman was said to have overseen the drafting of plans of an Israeli strike option against Iran.

In late June, Mullen spent two days in Israel, where he was briefed on strike plans against Iran. Mullen was said to have asked for additional options and scenarios as well as a thorough consultation with U.S. military planners. Over the last few weeks, the admiral has warned that an attack on Iran would destabilize the Middle East and jeopardize the U.S. military.

"Right now I'm fighting two wars and I don't need a third one," Mullen said in a television interview on July 20.

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