National Intelligence Director John McConnell said Israel and the United
States were taking the Iranian nuclear threat seriously. McConnell suggested he
expected Israel to destroy Iran's nuclear installations even without U.S.
support.
In an exchange at the Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 27, Sen.
Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Democrat, asked McConnell what he would do if he
was Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
"I would react [to Iran] in a way to protect my country," McConnell, a
naval admiral, said.
During the exchange, McConnell said the U.S. intelligence community
could not assess whether Iran would fulfill its threat to destroy Israel.
"If Iran developed a nuclear weapon, what's the likelihood they would
use it against Israel?" Graham asked.
"They've stated that they would consider that Israel shouldn't exist,
should be wiped off the map," McConnell said. "I don't know that I would
conclude that they would use it in a prescribed period of time, but that
risk would be there."
McConnell said Security Council sanctions would have a significant
impact on Iran's economy.
The intelligence director said Iran's denial of the Nazi genocide of Jews
during World War II was reason enough to prevent Iran's nuclear program.
"Should we allow a person who denies the Holocaust exists nuclear
materials?" Graham asked "Is that the dilemma the world faces?"
"Indeed," McConnell said.
"So if someone came to the United Nations requesting a nuclear program,
my statement is that anybody who wants a nuclear program for whatever
purpose, if the leader of your nation denies the Holocaust exists, you don't
get it," Graham said. "Is that an unreasonable request?"
"That sounds reasonable to me, senator," McConnell replied.
On March 20, former NATO commander and Democratic vice presidential
nominee Wesley Clark said the United States could attack Iran unless it
suspended plans for nuclear weapons. At a seminar in the Qatari capital of
Doha, Clark, touted as a possible partner of Democratic frontrunner Hillary
Clinton, warned Iran not to underestimate U.S. military capabilities.
"If a military option is necessary, we could penetrate Iran's air space
in no time," Clark said.