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Originally Posted by rathi  The tactical considerations are different this time. Israel will have an extremely difficult time hitting Iran without access to Iraqi airspace. It might be possible to bypass it, but it would take considerable effort and lower the effectiveness of the operation. |
Israel can hit Iran from the troika of land, sea, or air. The method of engagement is to some degree dependent on the political landscape.
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Originally Posted by rathi Israel might be better off waiting for regime change in the U.S. presidential election or even a withdrawal of U.S. air power from Iraq before performing the strike. |
I don't see the US minimizing its air power in Iraq or the Persian Gulf anytime soon. I personally think the Israeli government believes that Barack Obama will be the next US president. In this regard, the prevailing pov is that an Obama administration would be less inclined to offer Israel any preemptive support. Under this political landscape, banking on US regime change would seem counter-productive and perhaps prohibitive.
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Originally Posted by rathi Alternatives would likely be extremely expensive, namely purchasing long range strategic bombers, cruise missiles, naval launched air strike capability, or even something wild like bribing one of ex-soviet border states to act as a airbase. |
Israeli submarines are already cruise-missile capable. The IAF has demonstrated the flying range to strike Iran and return home. Iran is well within range of Israel based Jericho missiles. In addition, Israel has a UAV fleet with the range and capability to strike Iran and return to IAF air-bases.