Ex-Mossad chief: Don't attack Iran now

Scott Pelley: Good evening. This week, president Obama and the Israel prime minister discussed
when and whether to go to war or to stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon. Well, today, six
nations , including the U.S., Russia and China, urged Iranian president Mahmud Ahmadinejad to
open his nuclear facilities to inspectors. Tonight, we’re going to hear from a man who usually
knows the most and says the least. He is Meir Dagan the former head of Israel intelligence, in a
rare interview for “60 Minutes”. Lesley Stahl asked Dagan about the question of war.

Lesley Stahl: You have said publicly that bombing Iran now is the stupidest idea you have ever
heard. That’s a direct quote

Meir Dagan: An attack on Iran before you explore all other approaches is not the right way how
to do.

Lesley Stahl: The dispute seems to come down, though, to whether you are at the end of
everything that you can try or whether you have a lot of time left to try other things, which seems
to be your position.

Meir Dagan: I never said that it’s a lot of time, but I think that…

Lesley Stahl: Well, more time.

Meir Dagan: More time.

Lesley Stahl: For nearly a decade, buying more time was his job. The Iranians say Dagan
dispatched assassins, faulty equipment, and computer viruses to sabotage their nuclear program.
All the while, he was poring over the most secret dossiers about the Iranian regime gaining
insight and a surprising appreciation.

Meir Dagan: The regime in Iran is a very rational regime.

Lesley Stahl: Do you think Ahmadinejad is rational?

Meir Dagan: Sometimes, yes. Not exactly our rational, but I think that he is rational.

Lesley Stahl: You think they’re rational enough that they are capable of backing down from
this?

Meir Dagan: No doubt that the Iranian regime is maybe not exactly rational based on what I call
western thinking, but no doubt that they are considering all the implication of direction.

Scott Pelley: So, Lesley, there has been a lot of speculation about whether Israel would go it
alone, would attack Iran all on its own. What does Mayor Dagan say about that?

Lesley Stahl: Well, he thinks it’s a mistake to make it an Israel- Iranian issue. It should be an
international issue. Somehow the Saudis should be encouraged to speak up and pressure the
United States. And what he really would like to happen is Israel sits back and the Americans do
it for the Israelis. It would then internationalized. He knows that Israel will be attacked, whoever
does it, but they’ll be attacked less , and what he’s most worried about is the retaliation.
Scott Pelley: Lesley, thanks very much.