Israel's Air Force Chief: Iran Threat Real

(CBS)  This segment was originally broadcast on April 27, 2008. It was updated on Aug. 8, 2008.

If any country takes the words of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad more seriously than the United States, it is Israel. And that's not surprising: Ahmadinejad has called for Israel to be wiped off the map, and Israeli intelligence estimates that Iran could be two years away from having a nuclear weapon.

Correspondent Bob Simon got a rare look inside the organization that may well be called upon to do something about it: the IAF, Israeli Air Force.

As we first reported last spring, it's one of the most secretive organizations of its kind. So in return for access to its planes and personnel, 60 Minutes had to agree to rigorous censorship. We cannot identify the bases we visited, nor the young pilots we interviewed. In addition, the video 60 Minutes filmed inside their facilities had to be examined by military censors. If the Israelis blow their secrets, they insist, they'll lose the next war.

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Asked how he characterizes the threat from Iran, Major General Eliezer Shkedy, the commander of Israel's air force, tells Simon, "I think it is a very serious threat to the state of Israel, but more than this to the whole world."

Shkedy says Iran's threats against Israel cannot be ignored. "They are talking about what they think about the state of Israel. They are talking about destroying and wiping us from the earth," he says.

Shkedy not only commands the air force, he also heads the Israeli task force on Iran. And these are only his desk jobs - every week he flies with the pilots he may send to the next war.

"Here you are, a key member of the defense establishment of the state of Israel. Is it a little bit risky to have you flying once a week in different war planes?" Simon asks.

"Risk is part of my job," the major general explains.

Risk is part of his job as it is for all Israeli pilots, who maintain a constant state of alert. The call can come at any time and with no warning. We can't tell you how long it takes the pilots to get to their planes - we can tell you it's really fast.

Israel is a tiny country in a tough neighborhood; Beirut and Damascus are less than 15 minutes away. They still train for dogfights, but it's been a generation since pilots had to fight one. For 60 years, the Israeli air force has ruled these skies.

"We spend a lot of time and a lot of effort in training and being prepared for the worst. We can not lose a single war. The first war we lose, Israel will cease to exist," explains Col. Ziv Levy.

The censors allowed 60 Minutes to show Col. Levy's face because he's the commander of an air base where rookies and combat veterans hone their skills together. There's very little time for saluting, very little ceremony, and a lot of time is spent on critiquing each other.

"When I go to fly with the other pilots, ranks don't matter. I am the base commander and the youngest pilot can be the leader. And I expect him to tell me what he thinks about what I did. What were my mistakes," Levy explains.

Mistakes are ultimately unacceptable because the country is so small and the stakes are so high. In the U.S., you volunteer for the air force and if you have the right stuff you become a pilot. In Israel, everybody has to serve in the military. The air force, by law, gets to select the nation's finest - whether the chosen want to be in the air force or not.

"When you were a kid, did you always want to be in the air force?" Simon asked a captain.

"No. No. My dream was to go to the special forces of Israel," the captain replied.

"But the Air Force wanted you," Simon remarked. "You don't say no to the air force."

"That's right," the captain acknowledged.

And once they make it to the flight academy, only one in 40 cadets actually become jet fighter pilots.

Many cadets used to dream of flying fighter jets but that has changed: while a jet pilot may fly one or two big missions in his career, helicopter pilots see action every day.

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[blownmotor12c]

hs371 you goose! did Lebanon do NOTHING to Isreal? Why did Isreal bomb and attack Gaza and the Palestinians, BECAUSE THE TERRORISTS KEPT SENDING ROCKETS INTO ISRAEL KILLING CIVILIANS, THATS WHY!!
if the turds would leave the Jews alone all would be peaceful!

[coreymondell]

So I guess Venezuela is after Iran....is it because they are willing to help Americans in need while the US Government is not?

Corey Mondello
Boston, Massachusetts
www.CoreyMondello.com
8-12-08

[cbsstinks9]

Hey moron, click on publish once. Hoorah, you''ve missed the point. What a surprise? Once again, you have a 20 something year old conscripted young soldier being asked a question beginning with "you don''t look like a killer"(I suggest you work on your vocabulary and look up the meaning of conscripted-try a dictionary)and then maybe,just maybe you will understand that my upset at the segment was not political. Ah, but then you are apparently one of the true dummies. Truth be told, I am penning this response for the humorous effect as I already know that you''re either a college student on student aide, on welfare or illegally claiming unemployment. Not that you are worthy of this response as you are obviously a mindless twit, but my dear, I assure you I do not form my opinions from any news media. As for reading, not many read more than I do and not many read with a more critical view for the truth. You should do the world a favor and shut up. I''ll bet you are also a Bruce Springsteen fan. Uneducated morons supporting uneducated morons. Your opinion is unworthy as is that of the reporters. I only signed on to complain about the inconsiderate "look like a killer" comment made by the so called reporter but now I am having fun. I will not be returning so save your comments for someone who cares. That is of course if you can find someone who cares what you think. LOL

[yourstruly6]

Bob Simon''s uncritical and triumphal report last night about the capability of Israel''s air force to attack Iran only fueled my fears that before the Bush Administration is out of office we will have another Middle Eastern war on our hands. If we do, Sixty Minutes can take some of the blame, because that was biased reporting at its worst.

[Keith Geddes]

I`m told we Brits helped to muck up the Middle East, but by crickey after all the deals are done, who is really wrong here. Israel has the Wests backing and Palestine doesnt, except from other sources who want to see the West collapse. Its never ending. The West isnt going to collapse, yet, anyway, Religion seems to be part excuse for all the trouble when its still land and power being fought over. Palestine lobs a missile over and it becomes terrorism.. RUBBISH... Didnt Bish start the phrase a war on terror? Again, rubbish. One mans freedom fighter is the other mans terrorist and we know it. Now I suspect half the terrorism is home grown. What do I know.. only what I read. But what makes sense. If only Israel didnt have the backing. Withdraw all aid from both sides and let em get on with it but no.. where does Israel get its goodies from.. how many economies would be affected.
Now we try to tell Russia what to do.. oh, come on...

Your story goes far beyond its stated goal of a behind the scenes look at the Israeli Air Force. There is a clear implied endorsement of an Israeli first strike against Iran.

More troubling is that there is no mention of Israel''s own nuclear weapons, reportedly now over 200 warheads. Nor is there any mention of Israeli second nuclear strike capability from its Dolphin submarines.

A more balanced report would have included interviews with Arabs about the Israeli nuclear threat. It is hard for me to forget Ariel Sharon''s famous statement "The Arabs may have the oil but we have the matches".

Your report goes on to discuss the terror Israelis experience from rocket attackss. No mention is made of the terror the Palestinians also suffer from Israeli attacks.

Your report also supports the notion that Israel purchases sophisticated weapons, not for military accuracy but rather to avoid civilian casualties. However any review shows about ten Palestinian civilians killed for every Israeli.

Your biased report certainly lends credence to the power of the Israeli lobby as documented by Mearsheimer and Walt.

While I certainly support Israel''s right to exist that does not mean I support Israel blindly. Reports such as this simply reinforce pro-Israeli notions and frankly are a bit racist %u2013 ignoring any Arab point of view

[gautama_]

Sooner or later the Israelis will surely lose a war. If the general-man is right, we will then be rid of them and the Palestinian people will be free at last. May that day come soon.

[n8yvn29]

Haven''t we seen this movie before, as in Iraq''s WMD are ''real'', so let''s attack them. 90% of the problems in the Middle East lead right to Israel''s doorstep. Yes, the emperor is not wearing any clothes - do we dare tell him?

[ramos937]

If true, then Israel has the most to lose. Therefore, Israel should be the one taking the lead of confronting Iran with the USA in a backup role. There is no need for us to be involved in a military role. Israel is more than capable to kicking Iran''s butt by itself.

[truthislife1]

Always watch Israel. This little country has been a pain in everyone''s butt for some time, and for good reason. No one will destroy them, some have tried and failed. Another sign of the times.