In late May and early June, Israeli forces carried out massive military exercises over the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The operation, reportedly codenamed "Glorious Spartan 08" unfurled a show of force worthy of Hollywood's epic movie producers. The maneuvers, everyone quickly surmised, looked very much like the kind of military operation Iran would see over its own skies if Israel (or the United States, or NATO) decided that diplomacy has reached a dead end in its efforts to stop Iran's nuclear program. On the surface, the exercise offered Israeli forces the opportunity to practice. But it was much more than that. More than 100 F-16 and F-15 fighter jets, supported by rescue helicopters and refueling planes participated in the maneuvers over the Greek island of Crete. The Greek air force confirmed that it, too, participated in the exercise. As everyone promptly noticed, the operation took place about 900 miles off Israeli shores, precisely the distance -- in the opposite direction -- to Iran's nuclear facilities. Perhaps the most peculiar trait of "Glorious Spartan" is that we all know about it. The operation was the opposite of secret. That means Israel wanted word to get out.
Telegraphing an Attack Against Iran
