"The conversations with Hamdani provide rare witness to the seriousness of America's preparations for a military clash with Iran ..."

Amir Oren in Haaretz, here

"... Hamdani's interviewers conducted detailed war games with him - the Iraqis or the Americans against Iran - and these chapters read like a guide to the next war. Iran is concerned about attacks on many of its 30,000 essential sites, and does not have enough surface-to-air missiles to protect them, Hamdani says. Well before the first shot, it is worthwhile to exploit inter-ethnic tensions and the weakened loyalties of the younger generation to the revolutionary regime. 

The conversations with Hamdani provide rare witness to the seriousness of America's preparations for a military clash with Iran, at the instigation of either side, but do not prove that Washington will be dragged into such a fight for the benefit of a third party, such as Israel. 

Ehud Barak set out for meetings at the White House and the Pentagon this week to convince the Obama administration to provide essential equipment in the event of a military campaign against Iran. There is no knowing whether approval will be granted, when the time comes, but any way you look at it, what Israel must give in return is clear, no matter who leads the government..."