If Israel Goes It Alone Against Iran, Will It Be Worth It?

According to The Jerusalem Post, Israel is willing to go it alone without the US and attack Israel's nuclear facilities.

What is the likely scenario following such an attack, especially since it seems unlikely that Israel could destroy all of Iran's nuclear facilities? 

According to Ed Morrissey:

What effect would an attack have on the region? If they violate Iraqi air space to do it, we can kiss our position in Iraq goodbye. The Iranian regime would be immeasurably strengthened in the short run; it’s hard to imagine a more unifying event than an attack from Israel on the Iranian populace. Iran would almost immediately order its proxy armies of Hezbollah and Hamas into action against Israel, touching off a war on the Lebanon border and in Gaza.

And yet:

Would all of that be worth ridding the world of Iranian nukes? You bet it would — but only if it could completely destroy the Iranian nuclear program. That’s a long shot on the order of hitting the lottery, even with US cooperation. [emphasis added]

And that is the point. There have been reports about Israel planning to attack Iran's nuclear facilities as early as July 2004. Now, 4 years later, with all the progress Iran has made--not only in producing more nuclear material in more plants but also in protecting those facilities--the chances for a successful attack are now slim to none.

Even without the kinds of repercussions Morrissey suggests, even on its own merits how can Israel risk an attack that will fail and merely make Israel look desperate and incompetent?

So what is the point of these ongoing 'hints'?

At this late date, is Iran actually afraid of these kinds of threats?

Technorati Tag: Israel and Iran.