Middle East News Update

The Iranian Crisis

September 3, 2012

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Editor's Note: We have sectioned off this week's Middle East News Update into two separate sections. This page focuses on the Iranian nuclear crisis. Our other page deals with the Syrian crisis.

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Sparks Fly in Israel Over
U.S. Policy Towards Iran

Israeli Prime Minister lashes out at Obama's ambassador to Israel in front of a U.S. Congressman. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu bashed Obama's Iran policies as ineffectual in a face-to-face meeting behind closed doors with America's ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro. Also present at the meeting was Congressman Mike Rogers.

Netanyahu complained that Obama was pressuring Israel to not attack Iran but at the same time not pressuring Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Netanyahu concluded his remarks by stating that the time for diplomacy had run out.

There are reports that the US ambassador, at one point, became enraged at Netanyahu's rant and snapped, accusing Obama's position on Iran invalid. According to various Israeli media sources, "sparks and lightning were flying" at the meeting. For more on this - LINK HERE.

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Top US Gen'l Downplays Israeli Abilities

Doesn't Want To Be

"Complicit in an Israeli Strike" on Iran

Americas top general, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Martin Dempsey made disparaging remarks about Israel's military capabilities to inflict damage on Iran's nuclear program.

He strongly suggested that Israel not attack Iran and stated, "I don't want to be complicit if they choose to do it." His remarks have quietly infuriated Israeli leadership. More on the general's comments, LINK HERE.

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US Scales Back Joint War Games With Israel

A joint U.S./Israeli war games drill scheduled for October is being scaled back by the Pentagon. The joint exercise named "Austere Challenge 12" was supposed to have 5,000 US troops participating with Israeli forces in Israel. The newly scaled back effort will include as few as 1,200 US troops. Instead of 2 US air-defense warships for the exercise, only one will be participating and that is just a "maybe."

One senior Israeli official characterized the Israeli interpretation of this change as: "Basically what the Americans are saying is, ‘We don’t trust you." It is just the latest in a series of behind-the-scenes tense developments between the White House and Israel. For more details on this story, LINK HERE. More from the Jerusalem Post - LINK HERE.

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US Abandonment of Israel

Puts Israel "At-Risk" For
Missile Attacks From Iran/Hezbollah

It appears that America's abandonment of Israel (should Israel attack Iran) will leave Israel vulnerable to extensive destruction from missile barrages launched from Iran and from Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria. Obama's abandonment, amounts to a potential, mortal blow to Israel plans for a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.

It also is a total betrayal of trust between Israel and America, thanks to President Obama and his administration's pressures now being applied to Israel in advance of the November elections. The bottom line is that a loss of American missile defenses means the risk of major destruction for Israel, if conventional wisdom is correct in how such a scenario would play out.

It should be noted however, that Israel might possibly be able to launch a sneak attack against Iran in such a manner that Iran is unable to retaliate with missiles. It is also possible that Israel could paralyze any Hezbollah missile responses. How? If Israel used an low-power "EMP" nuclear attack to fry the electronics and electrical grids of the targets involved, Israel's enemies could find themselves incapable of using their missiles, as well as vehicles and communications assets. There is some speculation now that an EMP attack is indeed a possible Israeli plan.

We should note a rather interesting article (more of an editorial) posted by Debka which discusses the horrific ramifications of these latest developments in relations between the U.S. and Israel, barring an Israeli EMP attack. Read the Debka article -L INK HERE.

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White House Claims:

Cooperation with Israel
Has Never Been Closer

In the wake of Israeli news media reports of rising tensions between the Obama Administration and the Israeli government, the White House is claiming that their cooperation with Israel has never been closer. More details, LINK HERE.

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Israeli Official Warns:

Obama Will Make Netanyahu Pay

For His Behavior If Re-elected


LINK

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Netanyahu Urges Int'l "Red Lines"

To Stop Iran's Nuclear Weapons Program


LINK

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Israeli Leader To Obama

Don't Bother Visiting Israel


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Netanyahu:

Time Has Run Out on Iran


LINK

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Obama Sends CIA Chief To Cool Israeli Anger

In the wake of rising anger in Israel against Obama's Iranian policies, the President has ordered CIA Director, David Petraeus to Israel to meet with Netanyahu and hopefully smooth tensions between the two nations.

The CIA chief's visit is not expected to chill the anger now directed by the Netanayahu government towards the Obama Administration. Read the Debka report on this story, LINK HERE.

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RUMORS:

Netanyahu To Meet Obama in USA

At UN for Consultations At End of September?


Meanwhile, Egypt's New Prez Seeks

Nuclear-Capable Missiles From China

Debka.com's latest intelligence report claims that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has agreed to meet with President Obama in late September during the UN's annual opening ceremonies

The Debka article interprets this news as an indication that Israel will not attack Iran before the U.S. elections and maybe never. There are indications that it is simply too late to do significant damage to Iran's nuclear weapons program. Debka notes a new IAEA report indicating Iran's uranium enrichment program was accelerating its production levels in the higher percentiles of purity necessary to make a bomb.

In a related matter, Debka reports that Egypt's new president is heading to Red China hoping to hammer out a deal to buy nuclear-capable ballistic missiles as well as assistance in developing a nuclear weapon's program. After those talks, the Muslim Brotherhood sponsored Egyptian leader will stop in Tehran for an international conference of non-aligned nations. He will meet with Iranian leaders allegedly to smooth over differences with the Persians and develop more friendly relations.

Debka's report also notes that Saudi Arabia has already made a deal with the Chinese for nuclear-capable missiles and nuclear weapons assistance, while at the same time conducting diplomatic meetings with the Iranian leadership in an effort to develop peaceful relations and avoid a war. You can read the entire Debka article - LINK HERE.

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Israeli Gov't Hands Out Gas Masks

Creating Long Lines of Anxious Israelis

Meantime: Israeli President Shimon Peres

Rejects an Israeli Attack on Iran

As Israeli citizens waited in long lines around their nation to receive gas masks from Israeli Civil Defense agencies, Israeli President Shimon Peres announced his opposition to any Israeli military strikes against Iran unless it was part of a joint effort with the United States. Watch this news video report, posted on YouTube. .

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Israeli TV Reports:

Israel "Closer Than Ever" To An Iran Attack

Israel's Top TV Channel, Channel 10 is reporting that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is closer than ever to ordering military action against Iran's nuclear facilities.

Channel 10's widely respected military reporter, Alon Ben-David reports that the Israeli Prime Minister is drawing ever closer to ordering a strike. The time for action is drawing ever closer, according to Ben-David.

The reporter believes that Netanyahu will not wait for the much-discussed possible meeting with President Obama after the UN General Assembly gathering in September. Ben-David says: "It is not clear that there will be a meeting. I doubt Obama could say anything that would convince Netanyahu to delay a possible attack."

There is however, plenty of internal opposition at this time within the Israeli leadership hierarchy to a military strike against Iran.

Israeli media reports indicate that the Netanyahu government has been meeting with the Ultra-orthodox, Shas Party, to persuade that party's leadership to join in solidarity for a military strike. For more details, LINK HERE.

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CNBC Video Interviews Mideast Expert

A Military Attack on Iran is Coming
Before USA Elections

Check out this rather startling video clip interview at the financial news network - CNBC. Expert warns of 50%-70% chance of war before the elections.  LINK HERE.

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WND Reports:

Israel To Strike Iran in October


LINK

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Israel's Leading Lawmaker Supports

Attack on Iran


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Israeli Defense Officials

Consult With Top Rabbi


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German Chancellor Calls Netanyahu:

"Don't Attack Iran"


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Iran's Supreme Leader Orders

Qods Brigade To Step Up Terror Attacks

The Daily Telegraph’s senior security commentator reported Wednesday that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had ordered Qassem Soleimani, the Qods Force commander, to activate Unit 400 (overseas operations) against “America, the Zionists, Britain, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar,” to show them Iran’s “red lines” for their support of the Syrian rebels’ bid to overthrow the Assad regime and tough sanctions against Iran. He issued the directive following a specially commissioned report which said Iran cannot be passive in the face of the new threats posed its national security or abandon Bashar Assad, the senior member of the “resistance alliance. LINK HERE.

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Iran To Hold Massive Air Defense Drills

Iran has announced it will hold massive air defense drills in October. More details, LINK HERE.

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Israel Needs Preemptive Nuclear Strike on Iran


LINK

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Jewish Op-Ed Article:

Israel To Go Nuclear,

Iran To Re-enter Stone Age


LINK

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