The A-O Report's

Mideast News Spotlight

For October 17, 2010

Editor's Note:  Due to website construction our RED ALERT UPDATE abilities have been rather limited, but there has been no indication of an imminent outbreak of war even though the Israeli, Syrian, and Lebanese armies have been on their highest war alert levels for the past week and longer. There have been some behind-the-scenes developments to strongly suggest that Iran suddenly finds itself incapable of waging war effectively due to two separate developments. The first involves the Stuxnet computer virus and the second involves an incident at an Iranian military base which warehouses the bulk of Iran's medium range ballistic missile launchers. These two developments have led us to conclude that Iran is unlikely to give orders to Hezbollah, Syria and Hamas for an attack on Israel in the near future. As a result of this conclusion, we're standing down from our RED ALERT status and resume regular news coverage. We'll be posting a special news article on the situation in the next day or so.

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Iran's President Visits Lebanon

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad finished his 2-day visit to Lebanon with a flourish. Before flying back to Tehran, the Iranian leader toured southern Lebanon on Thursday, (10/14) and viewed the Lebanese-Israeli border.

Before leaving Lebanon, Ahmadinejad and Hezbollah's top leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah met in secret one final time before flying home. Ahmadinejad continued making inflammatory statements and veiled threats towards Israel, preidcting that Israel was soon cease to exist. He also issued a warning to Lebanese enemies of Hezbollah.

The Iranian leader also made veiled warnings toward the UN sponsored Tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri. Within the next few days that Tribunal is expected to announce the assassins and conspirators involved in that assassination. The announcement could trigger either a coup or a civil war within Lebanon as Hezbollah maneuvers to seize power of the entire nation, turning Lebanon into an Iranian colony.

All in all, the state visit to Lebanon by Ahmadinejad is seen as destabilizing according to many Mideast analysts and experts. There is concern that if a coup or civil war erupts, Israel may intervene and if so trigger a regional war with Syria, Iran and perhaps Turkey.

As we go to posting, there aer no signs yet of violence or a move by Hezbollah to stage a coup, but the real test will come in the days ahead as the Tribunal prepares to announce the findings of its investigation into the 2005 assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. That announcement is is expected to trigger a violent response from Hezbollah forces as the Tribunal is expected to name Hezbollah leaders as being responsible for the murder.

See our further headline stories and links listed below.

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Israeli Air Strike In Gaza Sunday


LINK

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Ahmadinejad Met With Hezbollah Leader

One Final Time Before Flying Home


LINK

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Ahmadinejad's Visit to Lebanon

Shows a New Balance of Power

LINK

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Visit Puts Lebanon on Brink

LINK

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Tensions Rise on Iran Prez Visit

2nd Day Tours Israeli Border

Iran's President Ahmadinejad continues his visit to Lebanon on the 2nd and final day of his official state visit to Lebanon. He toured southern Lebanon near the border with Israel as tensions in the region are on razor's edge. For more details on his tour, LINK HERE for Sky News Coverage. More coverage, LINK HERE.

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Israel on Alert As Iran's Prez
Tours Southern Lebanon

Israel's military, the IDF is reported to be on "High Alert" - Details LINK HERE

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Hezbollah's Leader Warns of Plots
To to Spread Iranaphobia in Region


LINK

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Ahmadinejad Warns:
Israel "Destined to Disappear"


LINK

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Israel is Doomed?

LINK

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Ahmadinejad's Visit Could
Increase Chances For War


BBC News LINK

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New Gaza Aid Flotilla To
Challenge Israel's Blockade

A new Gaza Aid flotilla is set to sail from Syria on Monday, bound for the Gaza Strip via an Egyptian port of El Arish then on to Gaza. It will be yet another challenge for Israelis blockade of the Gaza Strip. More details, LINK HERE.

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PA Chief Admits:
Palestinians Won't Sign A Deal
Demanding Recognition of Israel

The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas declared at the end of the week that the Palestinians will never sign any peace agreement which requires the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. Abbas stated:

The PA recognized Israel's existence in 1993, and now Israel needs to recognize the Palestinian state in line with the 1967 borders...If we showed flexibility on these issues the peace agreement would have been signed a long time ago."

Abbas made  his statement while meeting in in Ramallah with Knesset members from the left-wing party Hadash. The PA chief's statement has now pulled the rug out from underneath Israeli "peacenik" politicians who have pinned their political ambitions to a peace treaty with the Palestinians.

Suddenly, in one fell swoop the liberals in Israeli politics no longer have a reason to oppose conservative Prime Minister Netanyahu's diplomacy. The liberals also have no reason to oppose further Jewish settlement construction for the sake of protecting peace talks. There is nothing more to talk about. The Palestinians will never give the liberal Israeli movement what they seek - peace.

The admission by Abbas should lead to a greater unity within the Israeli political spectrum in regards to foreign policy and in dealing with the Palestinian problem. For more details on the PA leader's remarks, LINK HERE.

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Lebanese Gov't Rejects Iran Plan

The Prime Minister of Lebanon, Sa'ad Hariri told Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during the latter's visit to Beirut that Lebanon could not and would not join an Iranian proposal for a regional axix because Lebanon's unity requires a coexistence formula which prevents Lebanon from joining any regional alliances especially if it involves confronting Israel.

The remarks indicate tha the current Lebanese government rejects Iran's plans to confront Israel and sets the stage for an Iranian-backed coup from Hezbollah in order to secure Iran's plans for an alliance of Islamic nations prepared to destroy Israel. For more details on the meeting between Ahmadinejad and Hariri - LINK HERE.

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Iraq-Syrian Summit

Both nations seek help from each other but neither particularly trusts the other side. The Iraqi Prime Minister however is locked in a struggle for power with political rivals after an inconclusive election leaves the nation locked in a struggle for power. A summit with Syrian President Assad is hoped to provide stature for the Iraqi PM. More details, LINK HERE.

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Shades of the Magog Alliance

Turkey's Prime Minister stated last week that his nation and the nations of Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran have a common future. His remarks fit in with Ezekiel's prophecies of Chapter 38 and 39. We're seeing more and more indicators that the Magog Alliance is solidifying into the prophesied alliance that will one day fulfill Ezekiel's prophecies. Read more about the Turkish leader's remarks - LINK HERE.

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Cancelled:
A Potential "Magog" Summit

A proposed summit of the leaders of Iran, Turkey, Lebanon and Syria was scheduled to start on Friday, October 15 in Beirut, Lebanon. It was cancelled, but no public reason was given. There is some speculation that the meeting was cancelled due to Iranian President Ahmadinejad's speech in Beirut after he arrived for a state visit to Lebanon. The Iranian president spoke before a large crowd in which he promised to assist Arabs in the fight against Israel and proposed they return to their initial homeland of Palestine. His comments were not well received by the Lebanese government, which feared his coments endangered the Lebanese government. For more, LINK HERE.

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Venezuelan Prez To Visit Syria
On a 12 Day Global Tour

LINK

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Israel To Build More Settlements

Israel has announced plans to build 238 new housing units in East Jerusalem. The announcement flies in the face of U.S. efforts to resume peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The Palestinians refuse to negotiate any further until Israel permanently halts new construction in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. More details, LINK HERE.

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PLO Chief Says:

We Won't Recognize Israel

As a Jewish State


LINK

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Israel Signs $400 Million Deal
With Russia For Drones

An Israeli firm has signed a $400 million dollar contract to sell unmanned aerial drones to Russia. Details LINK HERE.

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Iran To Head OPEC
For Year 2011

Iran will take over the Presidency of the OPEC oil cartel for the year, 2011. Details, LINK HERE.

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Netanyahu Warns:
Lebanon Becoming Iranian Satellite


LINK

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