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The A-O Report Presents

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The Middle East News Spotlight

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For February 1, 2010

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U.S. Expanding Missile Defense


Against Iran In Persian Gulf

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The U.S. Naval presence in the Persian Gulf has been expanded by positioning anti-missile warships to intercept Iranian ballistic missiles that might be launched in the near future.

In addition to the expansion of US naval warships, the Pentagon has dispatched additional land-based Patriot anti-missile batteries to the region to protect potential Arab and Israeli targets from Iranian missile attacks.

Additional anti-missile defenses are also being rushed to protect Mediterranean targets from Hezbollah and Syrian missile attacks.

America's commander in the region, General David Petraeus indicated earlier this month that 8 additional Patriot missile batteries had been stationed in 4 Gulf nations but he did not identify which nations. The build up is part of an effort to protect US military assets in the region as well as key allied nations from potential Iranian missile attacks.

President Obama ordered a revision in missile defense deployments last year which included the deployment of Aegis warships equipped with missile interceptors to help defend Europe and US forces against Iranian missiles. The new alignment calls for 3 US Navy Aegis warships to be on constant deployment in and around the Mediterranean and North Sea. Additional warships will be assigned as needed. The new strategy is designed to give maximum flexibility for shifting assets as needed to meet developing threats.

Aegis warships with the SM-3 interceptors are capable of destroying missiles at high altitudes and can track over 100 targets simultaneously.

For more on this story, LINK HERE.

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Additional "intelligence" analysis of this developing situation is available in the A-O Insider Report - a section of this website reserved for finanical donors to The A-O Report.

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The U.S. military is drawing up a new air-sea battle plan in response to threats such as China’s persistent military build-up and Iran’s possession of advanced weapons, according to the Pentagon’s latest strategy review.

The Air Force and Navy are seeking more effective ways of ensuring continued access to the western Pacific and countering potential threats to American bases and personnel, according to the Quadrennial Defense Review to be released later today.

The joint Air Force-Navy plan would combine the strengths of each service to conduct long-range strikes that could utilize a new generation of bombers, a new cruise missile and drones launched from aircraft carriers. The Navy also is increasing funding to develop an unmanned underwater vehicle, according to the report.

The battle plan is among a range of new initiatives outlined in the review, which is conducted every four years to revise U.S. military strategy for the coming decade or more. The new report places top priority on the fights in Afghanistan and Iraq and against terrorist threats elsewhere, while also preparing for future threats.

For the full story on this issue, LINK HERE.

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The Obama Administration is speeding up arms sales to Arab nations and has deployed warships in the Gulf as defences against possible Iranian missile attacks in the region, officials said yesterday.

The moves, which include sales of anti-missile systems to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, are being made to deter Iran from launching attacks against its Sunni Muslim neighbours, and to send a message to Israel that a pre-emptive strike against Iran is unnecessary. The deployments come as President Obama enters a new phase in efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear programme after the failure of a diplomatic offensive. Washington is anxious to get a tough new round of UN sanctions against Tehran, something that China and Russia have shown little interest in backing so far.

More details, LINK HERE.

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Beware of February 11 in Iran

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has issued a public warning to the world warning that "Iran will deliver a telling blow to global powers on February 11." The fiery leader's comments were made on Sunday, January 31, 2010 during a cabinet meeting.

The Iranian President stated:

"The Islamic Revolution opened a window to liberty for the human race, which was trapped in the dead ends of materialism."

"If the Islamic Revolution had not occurred, liberalism and Marxism would have crushed all human dignity in their power-seeking and money-grubbing claws. Nothing would have remained of human and spiritual principles."

Iranians are expected to pour into the streets on February 11 to celebrate the occasion in public rallies across the country, as they have done annually over the past three decades. For additional details on the President's remarks, LINK HERE to an Iranian news outlet.

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Iran holds the 31st anniversary of the overthrow of the Shah and the creation of the Islamic Republic during the first eleven days of February. This eleven day period will give political opponents of the regime the opportunity to stage further protests against President Ahmadinejad and the Supreme Ayatollah Khamenei. Some reports trickling out of Iran by political opponents indicate plans for a massive protest that organizers hope will number in the millions. For more details on this story, LINK HERE.

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At the end of last week, news reports surfaced that the Taliban of Afghanistan were engaged in talks with UN officials in a bid to halt the war between the Taliban and the USA and NATO.

Rumors had been circulating in the  diplomatic world of a deal in which most of the Taliban's ground troops would lay down their arms in exchange for money and economic assistance for jobs and new business development. Such a deal would leave the Taliban's top leadership with no troops to command, thereby effectively ending the war.

The rumors had suggested that a deal was in the works for a cease-fire to take effect in a matter of weeks.

In response to such rumors, Taliban officials denied those reports and denied that there had been any meetings with UN officials or discussions about ending the war. For more on this story, LINK HERE.

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Confusion Remains Over Jerusalem

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