All Posts Tagged With: "iran"
U. S. Drops Idea of Diplomatic Outpost in Iran in Face of Increased Belligerence
Israel has decided on a policy of strategic independence wherein it will rely only on itself.
Today it was announced that the Bush administration quietly but, indefinitely shelved its plans to set up a diplomatic outpost in Iran. Tehran appears to have taken advantage of America’s financial crisis and weak moment to ditch informal understandings, step up its nuclear arms program and go back to pumping Shiite combatants into Iraq. Iran is heartened by North Korea thumbing its nose at the international community that remains impotent. There is speculation Iran desires to increase American deaths in Iraq on the eve of the U. S. presidential election to help elect what it sees as a naïve, and weak Barack Obama (D) Illinois and further isolate Israel. Joe Biden (D) Delaware, Obama’s VP pick, told Israel to get used to a nuclear armed Iran.
 Iranian Republican Guard and Hezbollah trainers are reported to be training hundreds of Shiite fighters who have recently been infiltrated into Baghdad precincts.
Israel news sources say it has lost out all the way around: First by heeding the Bush administration’s demands to refrain from military action against Iran and rely on international diplomacy and sanctions. Now that this option is bankrupt, Israel is left alone with the prospect of an unstoppable nuclear-armed Iran absent a reliable U. S. ally in the face of increasing Russia presence.
Israel has decided on a policy of strategic independence wherein it will rely on itself.
U. S. Warns Syria Against Attack On Lebanon
Is Syria posturing a second front to reduce the chance of Israel striking Iran?
Washington warned Syria last Sunday not to attack Lebanon and accompanied this warning to Damascus with its first explicit threat of military intervention to aid Lebanon should Syria go through with its planned incursion of the North.
 Syria has concentrated 10,000 troops on the Lebanese border.  First it denied it then saying it was to prevent smugglers. The latter idea is scoffed at by analyst pointing out that many troops and assets are clearly war preparations.
 The stern warning was delivered on Sunday, Sept. 28 by U. S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice to the Syrian foreign minister Walid Mualem.
 With Russian and North Korean personnel all over Syria and its warship lying at anchor in its Mediterranean Sea port a U. S. counterattack would quite possibly result in casualties among those foreign forces.
 It is possible that Syria, an Iranian vassal, is posturing a second front to reduce the chance of Israel striking Iran’s nuclear bomb factories.
North Korean Partners with Syria and Iran in New Mideast Mischief
Syria’s Assad Shakesup Officer Corp And Licks Iran and North Korea Boots.
North Korean nuclear technicians, likely paid by Iran, have recently returned to Syria this time working at installations scattered in different parts of the country. A year ago Israeli warplanes and agents destroyed Syrian’s North Korean built and Iranian funded plutonium making reactor. A month before General Mohammad Solieman believed to be the highest ranking Syrian officer in its nuclear weapons program was shot dead by a sniper.
Last weekend a powerful car bomb exploded outside of a Syrian security facility near Damascus killing 17 and injuring 14 others. The names of the casualties have not been released. Syria is said to suspect Israel but has been careful not to publicly say so. It is suspected that the bomb’s target was a high ranking Syrian officer involved in its covert nuclear bomb program.
The largest single purge in the annals of Syria’s armed forces was carried out on the orders of President Bashar Assad early in th summer. Forty percent of the staff officers with the general command in Damascus were dismissed or forced into retirement; half the Syrian divisional commanders in Syria and Lebanon relieved of their duties - laid off or assigned to minor staff positions in Damascus and elsewhere.
It has been Assad’s policy to rotate officers every couple of years but this was far more sweeping and really shook up Syria’s military. It is unclear how much of this was Assad’s paranoia; because of the apparent ease with which Israel has penetrated Syrian defenses or both.
Russia Increases Spying On Israel Giving Intelligence to Iran and Syria.
Russia believes America is about to be propelled into an extraordinary shift toward socialism-isolationism ideas it can exploit.
Russia has intensified its spying on Israel and transferring that intelligence on Israel’s strategic capabilities to Iran and Syria. “(I)f the Russians help the Syrians get information, and the Syrians constantly pass it on to Hezbollah, it is a reasonable supposition that the information gathered by the Russians also reaches Hezbollah’s hands,” Col. Ram Dor, chief of information security in the Israeli military, said.
Russia has been monitoring Israel’s military and vital facilities via land, air and sea assets Russian warships are now routinely basing and staging out of Syrian’s Mediterranean naval base at Tartus that has now been converted 
to a permanent Russian naval base.
Officials said Russia has increased espionage operations inside Israel. They said Russian agents have been directed to identify and target young officers in the Israeli military and intelligence community. That is particularly insidious because there are more than 1 million Russian speakers linked to the former Soviet Union in Israel. Officials said Russian intelligence tracks emigrants who work in the Israeli military and defense industry and traces family inside Russia the purpose is to bludgeon their support by threatening family members still inside Russia.
The Russian intelligence on Israel is being relayed to the Lebanese-based Hezbollah militia via Damascus. The Syrians share the intelligence that they gather with Hezbollah, and the other way around,” Dor said. “This we know, because we know how to build a mirror-image that shows us what enemy intelligence knows about us.”
At the same time it was disclosed that Syrian President Bashar Assad has ordered the formation of an Iranian-trained praetorian guard to protect him from assassination which would unravel the Syria-Iranian-Russian triumvirate.
Russia’s expansionist agenda is driven by Putin’s Czarist-like personal ambitions funded by surging oil and natural gas income enabling a 23% increase in military spending, and accelerated by his view that America is about to be propelled into an extraordinary shift toward socialist-isolationist ideas that Russia can exploit.
Mysterious Iranian Ship and Cargo Hijacked By Pirates
Nature of the toxic cargo unknown — several sickened and have died.
Pirates have hijacked a mysterious Iranian freighter and are holding it and its mysterious cargo hostage off of the north coast of Somalia. Iran is hopping around like a June bug on a hot griddle denying the ship’s cargo of chemical weapons and small arms was destined for Muslim terrorists in Eritrea.
The 44,000 dead weight tonnage ship is owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) - a state-owned company run by the Iranian military, and even without its cargo could command hundred of thousands of dollars ransom but now that the weapons are the issue it is worth millions.
Manifest and other documents on board the MV Iran Deyanat say it set sail from Nanjing, China, at the end of July and, according to its manifest, planned to travel to Rotterdam, where it would unload 42,500 tons of iron ore and “industrial products” purchased by a German client. Iran is notorious for falsifying such documents.
About 100 pirates captured the ship, and brought it to an anchorage and are holding it. There have been reports that several have sickened and died. The exact nature of the toxic cargo is either unknown or nobody is talking. One bizarre rumor says the U. S. will ransom the ship.
Splinter Christian Coalition To Honor Ahmadinejad Amid Protest
Democrat give Ahmadinejad a huge gift by sabotaging a major bipartisan anti-Iran rally.
The American Friends Service Committee; Mennonite Central Committee; Quaker United Nations Office; Religions for Peace, and World Council of Churches - United Nations Liaison Office joined together Thursday night to “honor” Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in what they bill as “bridge building.”
Opponents of the honoring and the dinner itself include: Women United/Code Red, 911 Families, ACT for America, Alliance of Iranian Women, AMCHA, American Center for Law and Justice, American Coptic Union, American Maronite Union, Americans for a Safe Israel, Arabs for Israel, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, Center for Security Policy, Christian Solidarity, Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights, Committee on the Present Danger, Concerned Women for America, Council for a Democratic Iran, Family Security Matters, Foundation for Defense of Democracy, Glenn Richter, Founder Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, Guardian Angels, Institute for Freedom and Democracy, International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, International Christian Union, Aryeh Eldad, Israeli Knesset, Jewish Action Alliance, Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, Log Cabin Republicans of New York City, Open Doors USA,
Phyllis Chesler, author, Rabbi Zev Friedman, Rambam Mesivta high school, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, StandWithUs, Stop Shariah Now, Sudan Freedom Walk, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Traditional Values Coalition, and Women’s Freedom Movement of Pakistan.
They will protest the event. An article in the Jerusalem Post Thursday said Democrat activists this week gave Ahmadinejad a huge gift by sabotaging a major bipartisan anti-Iran rally in New York City this past week disinviting GOP VP nominee Sarah Palin.
Earlier this week speaking to the UN in New York City, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attacked the U.S. again declaring the “American empire in the world is reaching the end of its road.” And accused “a few bullying powers” of trying to stop his country’s nuclear programs.
Also, as FOX News reported: “With major world leaders watching and just eight hours after President Bush’s final speech before the general assembly, Ahmadinejad used the U.N. platform to decry a “zionist regime” for what he called a persecution on Arab peoples around the globe.”
Iran Considering Preemptive Attacks On Gulf States And Israel
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been clamoring for a war option should Israel and the United States continue planning
Iran’s top leadership is at odds about whether or not to attack Israel between late 2008 and 2009. Western intelligence sources say Iran has been preparing militarily while debating the feasibility of an offensive against Israel and Gulf Cooperation Council states.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been clamoring for a war option should Israel and the United States continue preparations for a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“Ahmadinejad has been arguing that Iran has never enjoyed such favorable conditions for an attack,” a senior intelligence source said according to a report from London. “The Iranian assessment is that the European Union is dependent on foreign energy notably Russia’s natural gas, the Arabs have retreated into submission, Iraq could be annexed, Turkey is paralyzed and Israel is weak. The only threat is [U.S. President George] Bush.”
Ahmadinejad is said to be opposed by a group led by former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani. The sources said Rafsanjani has warned that Iran must consider a suspension of its uranium enrichment program to prevent a massive Israeli and U.S. air strike.
“Rafsanjani has not argued for surrender,” another intelligence source said. “His argument is that Iran should conduct a tactical withdrawal until the United States pulls out from Iraq. Then, Iran could resume its nuclear weapons program and threaten the region.”
The sources said the Iranian leadership could resolve the debate in late 2008. They said Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei has been monitoring the nation’s combat readiness, tested in a series of massive military exercises.
“Over the next few weeks, the Iranian leadership could reach a determination whether Teheran would be ready for a total war,” the source said.
Yesterday Ahmadinejad said the U. S. is ruled by Zionist murderers, and again threatened Israel’s existence. The U. N. called his vile rhetoric as not helpful.
Ahmadinejad At U. N. More Bluster
Iranian President Blames U. S. Military Intervention for Banking Imbroglio
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad continued his routine anti-American tirade during his visit to the United Nations in New York City Tuesday adding to his usual lecture his opinion of high finance and ranting about the current U. S. banking imbroglio blaming it on U. S. foreign military exploits.
Hundreds protested Ahmadinejad’s appearance and speech, and the U. S. delegation walked out as he prepared to speak. Before his address he told National Public Radio Iran did not wish confrontation with the U. S. or anyone but that it has to defend itself. Hanging over his visit is Iran’s continued nuclear weapon’s development program; Iran’s threats to destroy Israel, and Israel’s promise to prevent a nuclear armed Iran. Looming over the entire region and world is Iran’s effort at coercion by warning it will strangle oil supplies by blockading the Strait of Hormuz.
On June 29, 2008, the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Ali Mohammed Jafari, stated that if Iran were attacked by Israel or the United States, it would seal off the Strait of Hormuz, thereby wreaking havoc in oil markets.
On July 8, 2008, Ali Shirazi, a mid-level clerical aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted by the student news agency ISNA as saying to Revolutionary Guards, “The Zionist regime is pressuring White House officials to attack Iran. If they commit such a stupidity, Tel Aviv and U.S. shipping in the Persian Gulf will be Iran’s first targets and they will be burned.”
In July dozens of US and foreign navys’ ships conducted Operation Brimstone practicing in littoral operations to keep the Strait open. The U. S. and allies would keep the Strait open.
On January 23, 1980 President Jimmy Carter decreed that any effort to close the Persian Gulf would be an attack on America’s vital national interest and repelled by all means including military force.  Practically that means any effort to close the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is the only sea route for Persian Gulf oil at its narrowest is 21 miles (34 km) wide bounded on the north by Iran and south by Oman Sea traffic move along two 3 mile wide lanes. There was a series of naval stand-offs between Iranian speedboats and US warships in the Strait of Hormuz occurred in December 2007 and January 2008.
The most serious incident was on 18 April 1988, the U.S. Navy waged a one-day battle against Iranian forces in and around the strait. The battle, dubbed Operation Praying Mantis by the U.S. side, was launched in retaliation for the 14 April mining of the USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58). U.S. forces sank two Iranian warships, Joshan and as many as six armed speedboats in the engagement.
Israel Election Consequence Clear As Mud
Livni Must Form Coalition Government Or Call National Elections
Tzipy Livni has evidently has just become head of Israel’s Kadima party (pending finalization of the most narrow election results as voter refuted polling results) and has a chance, at least, to form a moderate government that will pursue the Palestinian peace process.
Tzipy Livni  - Tzipora Malka “Tzipi” Livni (Hebrew: ציפורה מלכּה “ציפי” ×œ×‘× ×™â€Ž) was born July 8,1958 in Tel Aviv, Israel. She served as a lieutenant in the IDF and worked for the Mossad intelligence organization for almost two years, acting as a “house sitter” for a safe house in Paris. She resigned in August 1983 to marry and finish her law studies. She graduated from the Bar Ilan University Faculty of Law, and practiced public and commercial law for ten years. She lives in Tel Aviv with her husband and their two children.
She was elected to the Knesset in 1999. After the Likud assumed power in 2001, Livni was appointed Minister of Regional Cooperation, and then was Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Minister of Immigrant Absorption and Minister of Housing and Construction. On October 1, 2005, she was appointed Minister of Justice after several months acting in that position and then served as Foreign Minister. On 4 May 2006, Livni became Deputy Prime Minister and retained the position of Foreign Minister, while resigning her post as Minister of Justice.
Livni escaped virtually unscathed from the massive wave of public criticism that followed the Second Lebanon War, She had led the quest for a diplomatic solution, though UN Secuirty Council Resolution 1701, obtained about a month of fighting, was not much different from the offer made by the Lebanese in the first week of the war. Critics of the resolution, which has allowed massive rearming of the Hezbollah blame Livni for that.
Pre-election opinion surveys predicted that Livni enjoyed a safe lead over rival Transportation Minister and former Defense Minister and IDF Chief of Staff, Shaul Mofaz, and exit polls seemed to confirm a decisive victory. All those polls were wrong and Livni won by less than 1%. If Livni succeeds in forming a new government, she will be Israel’s second female Prime Minister, after Golda Meir (1898-1983).
Livni faces two choices: a.) try to form a coalition government or b.) go to national  elections. She’ll likely at least try the former but it is uncertain she can accomplish it in a meaningful way. Embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he’ll resign if Livni can form a new government, and only if - Israeli’s are tired of Olmert’s legal troubles and that give Livni an edge.  If an election is held the Likud party led by Benjamin Netanyahu and its potential right-wing coalition partners would likely win a majority based on opinion surveys.
Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Persian: Ù…Øمود اØمدی‌نژاد, mæhmu-d-e æhmædi-neÊ’É‘d threw sand in the gears again saying that Israel would not survive. Next week Ahmadinejad will speak at the United Nation’s General Assembly in New York City while pro-Jewish forces protest. About the only thing Israeli’s agree on is that Iran can not be allowed to build nuclear bombs that it appears closer than ever to doing.
Last week it was revealed that Iran was modifying missiles to carry nuclear warheads. Those missiles are known to be able to reach Israel.
U. S. Adversaries Being Crippled By Falling Oil Prices
Collapsing Oil Prices More Important That Sanction On Iran and Others
Just two months ago, spiking petroleum prices were emboldening confrontational oil exporters such as Venezuela, Russia and Iran. The oil price collapse is stressing their plans and forcing reconsiderations. Some analyst, for instance, estimate that Russia is spending at a rate only supportable by oil prices of at least $110 a barrel dimming their financing prospects.
Congress belatedly sensitive to voters’ unhappiness, passed an energy bill that would allow oil drilling in new offshore areas- albeit the wrong ones, trim oil company tax breaks, ease the way for oil shale development and help finance alternative energy sources.
The world’s total energy costs have dropped by more than $4 billion a day. That will hurt government budgets from Tehran to Texas, but it will ease burdens for countless others. The United States, which spent $51.4 billion on oil imports in July, accounting for most of its trade deficit, is on track to spend much less than that this month, reducing pressure on the dollar, the trade deficit and inflation.
Long range economic forecast had projected $94 a barrel by 2009 - it stood at $91.15 a barrel Tuesday. ENI, the Italian oil giant thinks prices could fall as low as what it costs to produce the world’s most expensive oil, citing the $65- to $70-a-barrel cost of developing Canadian tar sands.
OPEC hardliners advocated a new $100 floor on prices, but Saudi Arabia last week resisted a call to trim its output to comply with official OPEC quotas. Now the Saudis may be reconsidering. Sky high oil prices helped President Hugo Chávez pay for nationalizations of banks, the Caracas electric utility, a portion of foreign oil interests, radio stations and the local plant of an international cement firm. Other analysts said high prices may have emboldened Russia to invade Georgia, and Iran to continue to defy international calls to abandon its nuclear program.
America’s adversaries including Russia, Iran, Venezuela and the other usual suspects are backing and filling with both hands. Falling gasoline prices are driving optimism among American voters buoyed by the price board at the corner gasoline station will impact the November U. S. Presidential election and Iran’s June 2009 Presidential election too. In the former to help McCain be elected whom Iran disfavors and in the latter to forment trouble for anti-U. S. interests in Iran and elsewhere.
But, falling oil prices are also a whip saw; for instance: T. Boone Pickens has lost a bundle and altering his alternative energy ideas; can companies are worried lower fuel costs will be a disincentive for consumers to pay premums for fuel efficient vehicles, and development of tax sands and shale will be pushed back.
Of course airlines and trucking companies are happy, as are cos=nsumers depending on fuel oil to heat their homes this winter.
Long term forecasters are talking about $65 per barrel oil in 2012 effectively below $60 now
Israel Gets 1,000 Bunker Buster Bombs from U. S.
In a “Depends” moment for Iran the U. S. has sold 1,000 bunker-busting smart bombs to Israel.
The sale is reported to include: 1,000 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (SDB1), 150 BRU-61/A SDB1 Mounting Carriages, 30 Guided Test Vehicles, 2 BRU-61/A SDB Instrumented Carriages, 7 Jettison Test Vehicles, 1 Separation Test Vehicle, 2 Reliability and Assessment Vehicles, 12 Common Munitions BIT and Reprogramming Equipment with Test Equipment and Adapters, 3 SDB1 Weapons Simulators, and 2 Load Crew Trainers. He sale also includes containers, flight test integration, spare and repair parts, support equipment, personnel training and equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support.
The GBU-28, is a laser-guided weapon whose warhead can burrow through more than 20 feet of reinforced concrete and up to 100 feet of dirt and rock striking within a few feet of its aim point. The Guided Bomb Unit-28 (GBU-28) is a special weapon developed for penetrating hardened site located deep underground.
The GBU-28
is a 5,000-pound laser-guided conventional munition that uses a 4,400-pound penetrating warhead. The bombs are modified Army artillery tubes, weigh 4,637 pounds, and contain 630 pounds of high explosives. Once the gadget has penetrated the target does it detonate with devastating effect.
- Each device consists of an approximately 16-foot (5-meter) section of artillery barrel that is 14.5 inches (37 cm) in diameter. Artillery barrels are made of extremely strong hardened steel so that they can withstand the repeated blasts of artillery shells when they are fired.
- Inside this steel casing is nearly 650 pounds (295 kg) of tritonal explosive. Tritonal is a mixture of TNT (80 percent) and aluminum powder (20 percent). The aluminum improves the brisance of the TNT — the speed at which the explosive develops its maximum pressure. The addition of aluminum makes tritonal about 18 percent more powerful than TNT alone.
- Attached to the front of the barrel is a laser-guidance assembly. Either a spotter on the ground or in the bomber illuminates the target with a laser, and the bomb homes in on the illuminated spot. The guidance assembly steers the bomb with fins that are part of the assembly.
- Attached to the end of the barrel are stationary fins that provide stability during flight.
- The finished bomb, known as the GBU-28 or the BLU-113, is 19 feet (5.8 meters) long, 14.5 inches (36.8 cm) in diameter and weighs 4,400 pounds (1,996 kg).
Iran Has Contempt for UN Moves Full Speed Ahead On Nukes
Iranian Air Force Conducting Nationwide Exercises
The International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) reports no progress in its efforts to establish whether or not Iran is developing nuclear warheads, enriching uranium for military purposes, testing nuclear explosives or building nuclear-capable missiles.
The draft report handed out Monday, Sept. 15, to IAEA board members in Vienna attributes this lack of progress to Iran’s non-cooperation with the inquiry. Observers say the IAEA has been laughably ineffective.
Iranian sources report that the Tehran administration has never been more contemptuous of the UN, international diplomacy and potential sanctions, certain the prospect of a US and Israeli military strike on its nuclear facilities is receding further day by day.
Iranian official sources report that an air force drill began Monday, Sept. 15, in half of the country’s 30 provinces. The commander of Iran’s aerial defense, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Mighani said that any enemies attacking the Islamic Republic would regret it.
Of late, certain influential voices have been raised in Israel arguing against the need of military action to cut down Iran’s covert nuclear bomb plans. President Shimon Peres, for instance, maintains that tough economic sanctions would “do the job.” The latest IAEA report shows this argument is invalid and the U. N. is impotent to deal with Iran.
Much of what is and will happen in the region depends upon the outcome of the U. S. presidential election. Iran is disheartened of late because of McCain’s surge in the polls. Israeli contend they can wait if a McCain election seems likely but, is more likely to attack if Obama appears likely to be elected.
Five or six nuclear bombs’ worth of uranium missing.
Iran convinced it can bamboozle an Obama - Biden administration until it is too late.
Nuclear watchdog experts have discovered 50-60 tons of uranium is missing from Iran’s main nuclear production facility at Isfahan. Once finish refined that is enough to produce five or six nuclear bombs, The disappearance was discovered at the final stage of the production process, where UF6 (Uranium Hexafluoride), uranium in gas form is stored, by the only Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Iran allowed the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Administration) to install at Isfahan.
US satellites have also identified a number of suspicious sites, not declared by Iran to UN inspectors.
Some of the “secret” sites are located in populated areas including suburban Tehran amid dense civilian populations thereby providing human shields against air attacks, and increasing the risk of radioactive contamination of civilians in the area.
The Isfahan UF6 is likely at 4-5% uranium U235 concentration and 90% is required for fissile bomb grade use capable of initiating a sustained chain reaction and high order nuclear detonation.
Israeli remains resolute it will not permit Iran to arm itself or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons. Iran outwardly is non-plus over an Isaeli attack on its nuclear bomb plants, persuaded the U. S. will not attack, and convinced it can bamboozle an Obama - Biden administration until it is too late. It dislikes recent developments in the U. S. that shows McCain-Palin surging.
Iran Poised to Make 20 Nuclear Weapons A Year
IAEA awakens to Iran operating at least 7,000 gas-centrifuges, with a capacity to produce twenty nuclear weapons per year.
IAEA (International Atomic Energy Administration) officials said that over the next few months, Iran would be operating at least 7,000 centrifuges, with a capacity to produce twenty nuclear weapons per year. “There are currently close to 4,000 centrifuges active at Natanz enrichment facility,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Sheik Attar said. “Another 3,000 centrifuges are being installed.”
The operation of 4,000 centrifuges marks a watershed for Iran’s nuclear program, and comprises an industrial-scale program that could produce enough enriched uranium for more than one nuclear weapon per month.
Iran Preparing for War
Multiple sources point to Iran mine laying in Gulf, military exercises, bellicosity, and determination to be nuclear power at any cost.
A report from London says Western intelligence sources report Iran has engaged in a series of intensive exercises designed to enhance combat readiness for a war in the Gulf. The sources said Teheran has been steadily testing both regular military units as well as those of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Gulf sources say Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has been planting mines in the Gulf. Gulf Arab officials said most of the mines were placed in Iran’s territorial waters they also say Iran is preparing for war.
The U.S. Navy and its Western allies plan to deploy at least one additional strike carrier group in the Gulf and it is expected to arrive by mid-September.
At the same time a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies said Iran continues to supply weapons to Shi’ite militias in Iraq that continue to attack U. S., Iraqi and allied forces there.
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf Says Iran About to be attacked.
Dutch intelligence sources say the US [or Israel] would decide within weeks to attack nuclear plants with unmanned aircraft to avoid endangering air crews.
Dutch AIVD Secret Service ultra-secret operation underway in Iran in recent years has been halted and an agent recalled in view of “impending US plans to attack Iran,” within weeks, writes Joost de Haas in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. According to intelligence sources in the Netherlands, the US [or Israel] would decide within weeks to attack Iran’s nuclear plants with unmanned aircraft to avoid endangering air crews. The Israeli Air Force would be held back to defend Israel against retaliation.
Dep. Chief of Iran’s General Staff Masus Jazairi said Saturday, Aug. 30, that any attack on Iran would mean the beginning of a new world war. Â Iran sources report that Jazairi’s attack aimed at confirming his credentials in Tehran during a major shakeup of the Iranian high command. Such speculation and recent polls that show support for Israel to defend itself against an Iran determined to get nuclear weapons as quickly as possible are believed to be behind the recent spate of threats by Iran.
In addition The Georgia quarrel has all but derailed US-Russian cooperation on the Iran issue. Moscow is not only pulling out of the diplomatic and sanctions front against Iran’s nuclear program; according to Russian sources, Moscow has decided to finally finish building Iran’s nuclear reactor in the southern town of Bushehr before the end of the year, after holding back for five years at Washington’s insistence. Saturday the Kremlin provocatively said it could “wipe-out” NATO’s Black Sea fleet in 20-minutes. That is seen as a threat against NATOs recognition of Ukraine or an offer for it to join the alliance that Russia adamantly opposes.
The presense of Russia workers in Iran finishing the nuclear reactor complicates an Israeli attack since Russian technicians could be killed or injured. Last Fall’s Israeli attacks on the North Korea build, Iranian financed nuclear reactor in Syria is believed to have killed or wounded North Korean, Iranian and perhaps Russian technicians and advisers.
If attacked Iran will likely try to block the Straits’s of Hormuz and that could easily lead to a confrontation with the U. S. Navy carrier task forces in the Persian Gulf. The U. S. has said it will not allow the straits to be blocked.
Ray Charles Could See It
Six more Iranian nuclear reactors are to be built, according to Iranian and Israeli [Haaretz] sources. Iran, with an abundance of oil and other power solutions is building more reactors [peaceful purposes ?] just as the facility at Bushehr will come on line later this year with Russian help.
Iran boasted that its fighters can now strike Israel and return without refueling. This in a week that has seen Iran launch a dummy satellite from a new two stage rocket. Other claims have been made about shutting down the Straight of Hormuz–watch for $300 oil– and an implied ability to hit not only Israel but US bases in the middle east. Except for the extra reactors, none of this is new. Informed sources are betting on WAR. The only dispute is when and by what means.
Ray Charles could see this one coming.
Obama Pledges Rodney King-like Diplomatic Effort To Stop Iran A-Bomb. Kennedy’s Last Hurrah
Barack’s Rodney King- Like Diplomacy Won’t Protect Israel.
Ailing and aging, the 76-year old Democrat icon Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D) Mass. summoned fellow Democrats to rally behind Barack Obama’s pioneering quest for the White House Monday night in an emotional opening to a party convention struggling for unity essential in the fall campaign.
The repeatedly failed Presidential candidate looked out at a sea of white and blue signs paid for by Obama;s campaign bearing his name as he urged delegates in the hall and those watching at home to “rise to our best ideals” in the election. “Poor Ted” as his father Joe Kennedy referred to “Teddy” gave what may become his dying declaration.
Standing on the platform of a party that has repeatedly rejected him for the White House he cried,”The work begins anew, the hope rises again and the dream lives on,” Kennedy said in a strong voice, reprising the final line of a speech at the 1980 convention that brought a different convention to its feet. The senator has been undergoing treatment for a malignant brain tumor but seemed as coherent as ever.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama pledged Monday that he would step up diplomatic pressure to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons admitting Israel feels that “its back is against the wall” and might take military action.
Campaigning In Iowa on his way to the Democratic convention in Denver, Obama was asked about rumors that Israel had “green lighted” an attack on Iran before the presidential election in November. Obama refused to comment on the rumors but acknowledged that Israel feels threatened. The simple fact is Israel’s decision is driven in large measure because it fears Obama’s election as an inexperienced, waffling White House occupant could doom it.
“Iraq: Get Out, Iran: Stay Out, Bush/Cheney: Drive Out” per Rocky Mtn News
Planned protests to be staged in Denver started some warm up action on the weekend preceding the main fare of the Democratic Convention opening tomorrow. If you look enough you are likely to find most issues represented in some manner but even those with names such as Recreate 68 assert they have good communications with the Denver police and there will be no problems.
Mayor John Hickenlooper, Senator Salazar and Governor Ritter welcomed attendees yesterday.
Bookmark this as the Rocky Mountain News ticker for the DNC will be a continuing good source of local flavor for the convention you will not get on the national news channels or cable networks, no matter how hard they try.
Iran Orders Athlete Not To Compete Against Israel Swimmer
Religion mars Olympics — Again
Politics and religion marred the first day of competition at the Beijing Olympics. According to a report in the Jerusalem Post on Saturday Mohammad Alirezaei, an Iranian swimmer refused to compete alongside Israeli Tom Be’eri in the 100 meter breaststroke, apparently on orders of the chiefs on the Iranian Olmypic delegation.
In the Athens Olympics one of Iran’s competitors, who was a gold medal favorite, pulled out because he was drawn against an Israeli.
Putin’s Pravda Posturing Shades of Cold War
Russia’s Underwear in bunch over U. S.-Israel Anti-Missile Radar Plans.
Iran is heading towards a major breakthrough in its nuclear weapons capability, Israel’s deputy Israel Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz warned Friday according to an AFP story. Iran is continuing to advance toward a military nuclear capability and is heading towards a major breakthrough,” the Iranian-born Mofaz told a think tank after talks in Washington with US officials.
He charged that Iran was playing for time in talks aimed at halting uranium enrichment with the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain — the permanent UN Security Council members — and Germany, the so-called P5-plus-1. “One thing is clear is Iranians are continuing their policy of buying time and so far they are succeeding,” he said.
Also on Friday Putin’s Pravda, humorously Russian for “truth”, story said “Israel has entered the last phase of its preparations against Iran.” It also said the U. S. was about to pull a “dirty trick” against Russia by installing anti-missile radar in Israel before a new president is inaugurated in 2009. Because the radar system will be jointly operated by the U. S. and Israel without interference and can detect missile launches by Russia then former Soviets have their underwear in a bunch.
Russia and the U. S. have also been butting heads over U. S. proposals to install similar radar systems and an anti-missile missile system in Poland and Eastern Europe extensively to defend against an Iranian threat on Europe. Russia is paranoid about being hemmed in a way unseen since the JFK backed down during the Cuban missile crisis and removed intermediate range nuclear tipped missiles from Turkey.
Pravda’s notorious bent to convoluted propaganda showed through claiming “the Pentagon cannot provide more, than the 200,000 US and coalition forces in the tenuously and unstable region so it could not conduct war against Iran. Russia is still smarting from its humiliation in Afghanistan and peaked by the U. S. military aid to the Mujahedeen that rubbed their collective Slavic noses in it. In any case Pravda claims even a “slight war” - read Israeli attack, and Iran “would not miss a chance to strike oil pipelines and oil structures on neighboring Arab states causing economic upheaval. Pravda said such upset would hurt Europe, India and China most. That Pravda concluded in typical stem winding fashion, “(T)he U. S. would not mind weaker competitors” inferring if Iran refuses to stop it nuclear weapons development and is attacked the U. S. would be boogie-man, provocateur and beneficiary.
Notwithstanding such contortions Israel is resolutely determined to stop Iran’s Mortal nuclear weapon’s threat because of its anti-Semitism and pledge to incinerate Israel. Russia, if it want to contribute to preventing such a conflict, could be much more constructive, and a lot more forthright.
Iran Defiant; Israel Worried; U. S. Waiting; Russia and China Preparing
Iran May Breakup “Six Powers” And Get What It Wants
“If Iran takes one step back, the arrogant powers in the world would take one step forward,” said Iran’s supreme ruler Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a sermon Wednesday, July 30. He spoke three days ahead of a deadline given by the six world powers for his government to give “a reasonable” answer to their incentives for suspending uranium enrichment to produce nuclear weapons.
Ayatollah Khamenei’s statement, broadcast by Iran’s national TV, if it represents Iran’s final position, will have the effect of breaking up the six-power front against Iran’s nuclear program. This may have been his desired effect. Russia and China are expected to take exception to the harsh economic penalties favored by the US and most of Europe and let Iran off the hook. Iran believes it can stall meaningful action against it relying on Russia and China to give it a pass, and ticket into the nuclear club. Iran, Russia and China all believe the U. S., particularly if Barack Obama is elected President, will lack resolve and they can advance their views and influence at its expense and they are arming and positioning to do so.
Simultaneously Israeli transport minister Mofaz, who leads Israel in the regular strategic dialogue with the United States, raised strong concerns over Washington’s direct talks with Iran at a meeting of the forum and encounters with Vice President Dick Cheney and secretary of state Rice on July 31. The hardline Mofaz, one of the leading contenders to succeed Ehud Olmert as prime minister, said “All options against Iran should not only be on the table, but prepared.” Israel has expressed open concern about the consequence of the upcoming U. S. Presidential elections, and is preparing to go it alone.
Iran Replaces Al Qaida As Top Iraqi Threat
Michael O’Hanlon, a defense analyst at the Washington-based Brookings Institution,
says Iran has become the number one threat to Iraqi stability in replacing Al Qaida, which until 2008 had been deemed the leading threat to the post-Saddam Hussein government in Baghdad.
Al Qaida is still a serious problem, and could get worse but Al Qaida is very much on the run, and it has fewer and fewer sanctuaries inside Iraq.
On July 16, Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he was prepared to recommend additional reductions in the American military presence in Iraq In fact troops have been departing for three months. Mullen said security conditions in Iraq were better than had been envisioned when the U. S. surge began.
O’Hanlon, who toured Iraq in June 2008, said Iran has become the leading facilitator of Shi’ite insurgency groups in Iraq. He said Iran was supplying weapons and training to a range of insurgency groups in an effort to foment chaos in Iraq.
“The Iranians are arming and equipping and funding every imaginable group, and often just trying to stoke violence for its own sake,” O’Hanlon said. “And that’s starting to create a nationalistic backlash among the Iraqi people and government against Iran. There’s a chance that Iran won’t be able to play this game as well as it has in the past.”
“The Iraqi army is now really in charge along with the police,” O’Hanlon said. “Now they [Iraq Army] still need our assistance in certai