Middle East News Spotlight 12-13-11
|
Iran Grabs Top U.S. Secrets
After Capturing US Spy Drone
+++++++++
Russia May Have Helped Iran
Down US Secret Spy Drone
+++++++++
President Obama Asks
Iran For Drone Return
+++++++++
Iran Won't Return Drone
+++++++++
Iran Able To Decode US Drone Intel
And Control It
LINK 1
+++++++++
Israel Views Obama Too Soft on Iran
++++++++++
Israeli Leader Says:
Iran Must Choose Between
A Bomb or Surival
LINK
++++++++++
Syria Arms Missiles with WMD
Chemical Warheads
21 Mobile Missile Launchers Deployed
VX-Nerve Gas???
A Turkish newspaper reported Sunday (12-11) that Syria has armed its medium range missiles with WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) notably chemical warheads.
The Turkish newspaper, "Todays Zaman" quotes a Sunday edition of the Sabah newspaper (also of Turkey) that Syria has armed 600 one-ton chemical warheads to be used in the event of a foreign military intervention. The report also indicates President Assad ordered 21 mobile missile launchers to be posted to the northern border with Turkey.
Syria's medium range missiles can travel as much as 1,300 kilometers and from the Syrian border the missiles could strike southern and central portions of Turkey.
The newspaper reports that Assad held a top-level meeting late last month with commanders over how to respond to a possible military intervention by the international community.
The report also indicates that Russia has shipped 3 million gas masks to Syria to be distributed to the regime's loyalss, families of soldiers and also to members of the Baath political party. According to the Sabah newspaper report, the distribution of the gas masks is set to be completed by the end of the year.
For the full report from the Turkish newspaper, LINK HERE.
Added Note: If this is true, it would not be the first time Syria has done this. According to a Wikileaks report, U.S. diplomatic documents reported that Syria had similarly armed its missiles with WMDs immediately after Israel bombed a Syrian nuclear facility in the fall of 2007. See the Israeli newspaper, YNET News for an article on this leak back in April of 2011, LINK HERE.
U.S. Closely Monitoring Syrian WMDs
+++++++
Syria's Military Intel Chief
Killed By Syrian General???
Was Syrian Prez Assad's Brother-in-Law
Syrian rebel leaders report that Syrian President Assad's brother-in-law, Assef Shawkat was killed by a Syrian general over the weekend.
Israel's YNET News reports that per Syrian sources, Shawkat was meeting with his aide, General Ali Mamlouk in Shawkat's office when an argument broke out. Shawkat drew his pistol and aimed it at General Mamlouk. The General then pulled out his pistol and shot Shawkat, who was reportedly taken to a military hospital in Damascus where he later died of his wounds.
YNET News cautions that a similar incident was reported several months ago involving Syria's Vice President being killed in the Presidential Palace, but the Vice President later appeared in public to disprove those reports. For the YNET Story, LINK HERE.
++++++++
Heavy Fighting Reported Across Syria
Syrian Army Defectors Battle Regime's Army
++++++++
Israel's Defense Chief Predicts
Syria's Assad Will Fall Within Weeks
++++++++
Palestinians Reject Israeli Peace Talk Request
++++++++
Iran Renews Threat to Attack Turkey
++++++++
Israel Calls for Paralyzing Iran Sanctions
Against Oil Trade & Central Banking
Signals Several Months Away From Air Strikes
++++++++
Out of Options:
Report Says US Must Prepare
To Strike Iran Before 2013
A USA "Think Tank" - The American Enterprise institute has issued a report concluding that the United States is unlikely to stop Iran's quest for nuclear weapons except by military force. The report concludes that any successful military action must be taken before 2013, otherwise it will be too late to stop Iran. Read the full story, LINK HERE.
++++++++
A Major Bank Report Warns:
Risk of Israeli Strike on Iran Tripled
In the Past 12 Months
++++++++
Russia Threatens to "Take Out"
U.S. Nuclear Defense System in Europe
LINK
++++++++
If War is Declared on Iran
Strait of Hormuz Will Be Strategic Focus
++++++++
Pakistan Sets Up Air Defenses
Along Afghan Border
Against US/NATO Warplanes
Will Shoot Down Any Drones
++++++++
U.S. Forces Pulls Out of Pakistan
Vacating Air Base
++++++++
"Rumor of War"...
Pakistan Newspaper Says:
Nuclear War With India "Inevitable"
A Pakistani newspaper editorial warns that a nuclear war between Pakistan and India is inevitable, in part because of India's diversion of river water in Kashmir. Full story details, LINK HERE.
++++++++++
Factory Explosion in Iran
7 Killed; 16 Injured at Steel Mill
Gas Leak is Reported Cause
++++++++++
4,000 US Troops Left in Iraq
All To Be Home by Christmas
+++++++++++
Israeli PM Re-establishes
Bible-Study Class in His Home
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has re-established weekly Bible-study classes in the official residence of the Prime Minister. More details, LINK HERE.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
-