There has always been an incongruity between what people are told by their leaders and what leaders know to be the truth before they dutifully filter it for public consumption. It is the nature of "officialdom," from the seats of corporate might to the rarefied summits of government to say nothing that could either compromise the deftly crafted scaffolding of power or feed an ever-ravenous and potentially toxic rumor mill. The middle ground is often found in vague allusions, nebulous disclosures and sanitized snippets of intelligence that are allowed to trickle drop by drop from a wellspring of bad news.

No longer a secret, the bad news is the looming war with Iraq. What we have been denied, so far, by the custodians of our national psyche is a clear vision of the imminence and ramifications of such a war. Nor have we been told how and to what extent Israel, our principal ally and likely first victim in this expanded struggle against international terrorism would be affected in the process.

Here are some points to ponder:

* Sources close to this writer quoted a visiting US general who heads army logistics as saying that Washington intends to strike preemptively before the end of November.

* The US general, according to Israeli military circles, visited Israel in late August and toured facilities where the US military has prepositioned equipment and weapons "for an emergency in the Middle East."

* The general is quoted as saying that Washington aims to topple Saddam Hussein, "the first in a series of actions in the US war on terror."

* Yuval Steinetz, chairman of the Knesset (Parliament) subcommitte on military doctrine, confirmed that he held talks with senior Pentagon officials in June regarding Washington's vision of a post-Saddam Middle East. "Iraq is the key but not the last step [in the US effort]," Steinetz said. "It is the first step. After that there will be massive [US] pressure on Syria and Iran to halt weapons of mass destruction programs and break Syria's stranglehold over Lebanon."

* According to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, Washington has sent "tens of thousands of soldiers and military personnel to Gulf Arab states, Central and South Asia and the Levant." The source added that the force includes "at least 1,000 military planners" who have prepared for a rapid airlift of forces in case Washington decides to attack Iraq.

* Israeli officials say that discussions with the US have focused largely on Israel's response to any Iraqi missile or air strike. They also confirm that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has told President George W. Bush that Israel would not pledge any policy of restraint as it did during the 1991 Gulf War.

* "The level of Israel's response will depend on the number of casualties and damage by any Iraqi assault," David Douek, press officer at Israel's Consulate General in Los Angeles said in an exclusive interview with this writer.

"While Israel endorses any diplomatic initiative that would forestall a war in the region, we are supportive of the US in whatever action it deems appropriate.

* "We are conscious of the consequences on Israel of a US engagement with Iraq," Douek added. "We have made it clear that should Israel be attacked, we will position ourselves to strike back. We will compromise neither our national security nor the welfare of our citizens."

* It is clear that Israel's stance is in no way meant to telegraph anxiety or vacillation. Nor is its explicit resolve to accept the consequences of an American attack on Iraq and retaliate an attempt to influence the US to exercise restraint.

* Israel has been outspoken with its citizens and unambiguous, publicly and in its diplomatic dialogue with the US.

* It is time for the Bush administration to speak plainly. Americans deserve more than the flaccid saber rattling, sinuous speculation and obscure oratory to which we have been treated. It is time to put up or shut up.

W. E. Gutman is a veteran journalist and a former press officer at the Consulate General of Israel in New York. He lives and works in southern California.

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