By Stan Goodenough
Jun 11, 2007
A military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities appeared to come closer Monday after Israel launched a new satellite capable of carrying out surveillance over Iran as well as other parts of the Arab world.
The Ofek 7 was launched atop a "Shavit" rocket that streaked into the heavens in the early hours of Monday morning, and was soon thereafter reported successfully in orbit. It is expected to be declared fully operational in the coming days and will cross over Iran, Iraq and Syria every 90 minutes.
A senior security official was quoted as saying that the satellite's advanced techonology "will drastically improve Israel's operational and intelligence capabilities."
Meanwhile reports out of the United States indicate that country has finalized plans for a possible strike against the Iranian nuclear program, with some lawmakers in that country continuing to urge action sooner rather than later.
According to The Jerusalem Post Monday, senior American officials believe Iran to be three years away from acquiring nuclear weapons, and support President George W. Bush's position that the rogue state under no circumstances be permitted to go that far.
As he defiantly pursues a nuclear bomb, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly threatened to destroy Israel.
He is a major force behind the insurgency into neighboring Iraq which has seen untold numbers of Iraqis, as well as many American soldiers, killed.