The Samson Option
July 19, 2007 | (author's name withheld by request)


Posted on 07/19/2007 2:47:10 AM PDT


With Iran attempting to acquire a nuclear capability, I'm not as worried that they would fire a slavo of nuclear tipped missiles from Iranian territory over Iraq and Jordan in a first strike against Israel as I am that they would clandestinely provide missiles and warheads to Hezboullah via Syria.

If the missiles were launched from Iranian territory, the entire world would know about it and Iran would pay a terrible price in retribution. Missiles fired from Iran would also give Israel maybe 15 more minutes response time to scramble assets in response.

Nuclear tipped missiles fired from Southern Lebanon, however, would have a much shorter flight time, a shallower trajectory, and have potentially greater accuracy. Nuclear missiles fired from Southern Lebanon would also provide Iran some minimal cover since they could argue that Al Quieda, Pakistan, or someone else was to blame.

Israel is so small geographically that 6, 7, or 8 nuclear explosions on their soil could result in the death of maybe half their population. The resulting chaos would be tremendous. Telecommunications would be severely disrupted. Government command and control would be seriously disrupted. Mobilizing military assets after a strike would be very difficult, particularly when much of your active and reserve personnel are dead and the infrastructure is in chaos.

I can envision, that with Israel being pushed to the brink of destruction by such a strike, that the Syrian army and the Palestinians, and other groups, would be motivated to take an iodine pill, put on a surgical mask, shout "Allah Akbar" and storm into Israel to finish off whatever or whoever is left, despite the danger of residual radiation, because they would claim and believe, that even if they got seriosly sick and died as a result of operating under nuclear fallout, they would believe that they would die a martyer's death and be proud that they gave their lives in the final destruction of Israel.

This brings me to the supposed Samson Option. Israel must certainly be aware of such an existential threat. Therefore, Israel must certainly keep their counterstrike capability spread out as best they can within their confined space. Israel must certainly have a chain of command responsibility worked out to such a degree that someone within the chain of command is always out of area, but within communication. Israel must certainly keep a certain number of nuclear capable aircraft airborne over Israel or the Mediteranean Sea at all times with a refueling aircraft as well. Israel must keep a certain number of naval assets constantly at sea with nuclear tipped cruise missile capability. Israel may even attempt to keep one of their few submarines with nuclear tipped cruise missile capability in the Gulf of Oman as often as they can. Israel must certainly keep their nuclear capable Jericho missiles dispersed.

The Samson Option essentially means, if you take me down, I'm taking as many of you as I can with me.

So what would be acceptible targets under the Samson option? I suppose it would depend on where the attack came from, but if the destruction of Israel is certain, I would guess that any large Arab cities would be potential targets, including cities in countries that may not have even played a role in the destruction of Israel. Damascus and Theran certainly, but maybe even Cairo, Rihyad, and Mecca. With several hundred nuclear weapons available, as many believe Israel posseses, many more Arab cities could become targets as well for the Samson option.

Comments and discussion welcome.
Torog Reviewed by Torog on . The Samson Option The Samson Option July 19, 2007 | (author's name withheld by request) Posted on 07/19/2007 2:47:10 AM PDT With Iran attempting to acquire a nuclear capability, I'm not as worried that they would fire a slavo of nuclear tipped missiles from Iranian territory over Iraq and Jordan in a first strike against Israel as I am that they would clandestinely provide missiles and warheads to Hezboullah via Syria. If the missiles were launched from Iranian territory, the entire world Rating: 5