Israel takes on the "bomb Iran" mantle

I wondered about this a few days ago,

Israel has warned Iran to either co-operate with the West over its uranium enrichment program or face military action.

The release of the Iran NIE has effectively taken the US out of the initiating role in an attack on Iran, leaving the Israelis with the choice of whether or not to start the Iran war.

Let's remember that this was Cheney's Plan B all along. (Links to two other past posts on Cheney's "end run" strategy.)

Alternate theory: This NIE would also shift the assessment of the Russians in the negotiations over sanctions. If they didn't believe that Cheney might be able to bomb Iran, maybe they'll believe the Israelis will.