Via the Washington Times: In what must be an officially approved leak, the London Telegraph reports that

Israel has appointed a top general to oversee a war against Iran, prompting speculation that it is preparing for possible military action against Tehran's nuclear program. ... Maj. Gen. Elyezer Shkedy, Israel's air force chief, will be overall commander for the "Iran front," military sources told the London Sunday Telegraph.

This must be a signal to the Iranians — and to the rest of the world, especially Europe and America: If you don't stop the Khomeiniacs, we will. The Telegraph is often used by British intelligence, and it is friendlier to Israel than other European media. It is read in the United States.

Here is the message, spelled out unmistakably.

"Israel is becoming extremely concerned now with what they see as Iran's delaying tactics," said Israeli Iran analyst Meir Javedanfar. "[The planners] think negotiations are going nowhere, and Iran is becoming a major danger for Israel. Now they are getting ready for living with a nuclear Iran or letting the military take care of it."

Other sources in Israel are putting out the same message in a single coherent chorus. None of these people can afford to be quoted without official approval.

Last week, Giora Eiland, Israel's former national security adviser, told reporters that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would "sacrifice half of Iran for the sake of eliminating Israel."

According to Uri Dromi, a military analyst,

"Everyone is playing with dates and time frames, but the list of options is becoming shorter... I think we have one year open [to launch military action]. Israel will have to decide."

General Shkedy is the son of Holocaust survivors, and keeps a picture over his desk of an IAF jet flying over Auschwitz.

This is Israel's answer to Ahmadinejad.

James Lewis    8 27 06