U.S., Israel View Iranian Threat Differently – Gen. Dempsey

The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey said today that Israel and the United States view the Iranian nuclear threat differently. He added that the two countries have a different interpretation of the same intelligence reports regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

“Israel sees the Iranian threat more seriously than the U.S. sees it, because a nuclear Iran poses a threat to Israel's very existence,” Gen. Dempsey said.

The senior U.S. military officer also said he and his Israeli counterpart, IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz regularly confer on the Iranian nuclear issue.

“We speak at least once every two weeks, we compare intelligence reports, we discuss the security implications of the events in the region,” said Dempsey, adding, “At the same time, we admit that our clocks ticking at different paces. We have to understand the Israelis; they live with a constant suspicion with which we do not have to deal.”

Gen. Demsey noted, “You can take two countries, give them the same intelligence and reach two different conclusions. I think that's what’s happening here.”

Source: Arutz Sheva, 19 August 2012