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Middle East News Round Up

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FOR

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7-6-8

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Editor's Note: See also in separate article - This weeks regular Round Up

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US Doubts Israel Can Destroy

Iranian Nuclear Facilties

US military strategists doubt that Israel has the capability to destroy Iran's nuclear program and at best can only temporarily slow down Iran's nuclear program.

Pentagon and US intelligence specialists suspect that Israel lacks sufficient 'intelligence' information on where to strike.  US experts have little confidence that Israel will be able to destroy Iran's nuclear program.

The neo-cons in Washington believe that it is better for the US to do the job properly than have the Israelis botch the job and leave America to suffer the retaliation that would come anyway. For more on this story, LINK HERE.

Israel Doomed To Fail?

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Iran Again Rejects Compromise

Vows To Push Nuke Program Forward

Iranian officials again responded to new hints of compromise by rejecting the latest compromise overtures. Iran vowed to continue its production of uranium enrichment. Iran formally rejected in writing the latest EU compromise offer by delivering a written response on Friday, July 4 to the EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana.

The Iranian response stated in part: "The time for negotiating from the condescending position of inequality has come to an end," and also criticized the United Nations Security Council sanctions against it as “illegal” and spoke of a “lack of trust” because of the “duplicitous behavior of certain big powers”.

Despite that response,  some western officials hold out hope that a deal might still be worked out. A White House spokesman responded by saying that the White House would "study the Iranian response" and discuss the Iranian written statement further with Britain, France, Germany, Russian and China before issuing a formal response. For more details, LINK HERE.

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More War-Talk Rhetoric

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Iran Says: Attack Means War

Iran's top military commander, General Mohammed Ali Jafari stated on July 4, 2008 - that any attack on Iran's nuclear facilities will be regarded as the begining of a war. The general also went on to say that he considers it unlikely that Iran's enemies would attempt an attack. More details, LINK HERE.

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Ex-Israeli Diplomat Says...

Syria Would Abandon Iran

IF USA Gives Syria Aid & Weapons

A former Israeli diplomat who has been involved in the "unofficial" negotiations between Israel and Syria has disclosed that Syria is ready to break away from its alliance with Iran. The diplomat says that the cost of such an arrangement would be economic assistance and military aid for defense.

Alon Liel, the former director of Israel's foreign ministry told the London Telegraph newspaper that the prospect of a peace agreement with Syria was growing but he noted that it might require a new American president before a deal could be agreed. President Bush is very much opposed to any deals with Syrian President Assad in part because of Syria's ties to various terror groups.

Syria is seeking more than merely the Golan Heights territory. It is also seeking removal from international isolation after a series of events including the assassination of Lebanon's Prime Minister Harriri. An international court is looking to prosecute conspirators of that crime, including high-ranking Syrian officials, including perhaps President Assad himself. For more on this story, LINK HERE.

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Gaza Truce In Danger of Collapse

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