The Alpha-Omega Report's

Mideast News Spotlight

For

October 24, 2010

Mortar Shelling of Southern Israel on Sunday

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip conducted a short mortar shelling into southern Israel on Sunday evening leaving us to wonder if this is a prelude to a new wave of Hamas violence against Israel. Details, LINK HERE.

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US Warns Iran of

Meddling in Afghanistan

LINK

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Israel Draws Up New Options

For a Nuclear Armed Iran

There are new indications that the Netanyahu government is considering the possibility of living with a nuclear-armed Iran instead of using the military option to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. This move however, does not mean that the military option is "off the table." Details from the Jerusalem Post - LINK HERE.

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Hezbollah Leaders Prepare

To Be Indicted by UN Tribunal

For 2005 Lebanese Assassination

Of Prime Minister Hariri

Expectations of an impending UN Tribunal indictment of key Hezbollah leaders for the assassination of Lebanon's PM Hariri in 2005 have triggered speculation as to how Hezbollah and its Iranian sponsors will handle the international legal charges. There are grave concerns that Hezbollah will respond militarily with a takeover of Lebanon or trigger a civil war in such an attempt. For more on this story, LINK HERE.

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Hezbollah Won't Cooperate

With UN Tribunal Investigations

Hezbollah continues to refuse to handover key witnesses in the investigation of a conspiracy to assassinate the late Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri. Details, LINK HERE.

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U.S. Expresses Concern Over

Mounting Tensions in Lebanon

LINK

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Israeli War Planner Says:
Hezbollah's Destruction Coming

A Lebanese newspaper cites an Israeli Hebrew newspaper report that the Israeli commander of the Galilee unit in the IDF, Yossi Bachar stated last week that the Israeli army plans to invade south Lebanon and "destroy Hezbollah." Bachar told an Israeli Hebrew newspaper that Israeli leadership is now convinced that defeating Hezbollah recquires that Hezbollah be destroyed once and for all. Report confirmation -LINK HERE.

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Iran Prez Gaining More Power

Iranian Clerical Power Diminishing

Iranian President Ahmadinejad's ability to control policy and decision making continues to expand at the expense of the religious clerics in Iran, according to a Jerusalem Post article. Read the article - LINK HERE.

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Palestinians Renew Campaign

For UN Nationhood Sponsorship

Concerned that there may never be a Palestinian nation, Palestinian Authority leaders are lobbying hard at the UN for the UN tos mandate nationhood for the Palestinians in the wake of yet another wave of failed peace initiatives. Palestinian leaders are hoping that UN diplomats will be able to assist in convincing the International Court and the Geneva Convention to join with the UN to carve out a land that be recognized as the nation of Palestine. For more details on this effort, LINK HERE.

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Syria To Host New
Reconciliation Talks Between
Hamas and Palestinian Authority's Fatah

LINK

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Iran Lawmakers Reject
Nuke Compromise Proposal

LINK

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Saudi Royals Blast Obama

LINK

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Iran Doubles Nuke Stockpile

LINK

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Is a New Intifada Brewing?

Jerusalem To Be Targeted

LINK

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China Sidesteps Iran Sanctions

US Concerned

LINK

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The Alpha-Omega Report's

Weekly News Round Up

For October 24, 2010

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Iran News Agency Says:

White House Seeks to Remove

President Obama from Office!

An amazing Iranian TV news agency is reporting that some members of President Obama's White House staff and Administration officials are discussing the possibility of removing President Obama from office, using the 25th Ammendment.

Iran's "Press-TV" agency cites a statement from a U.S. based analyst from The Executive Review - Edward Spannaus who stated:

"Right now, there is discussion in Washington and within the government of using the 25th amendment to the US Constitution to remove Obama from office...There is no way that his presidency could be salvaged at this point and it does not really make any difference who wins the congressional elections...He was not qualified to be the president in the first place. He was put in there precisely because he would act as a puppet and they knew he would be a puppet for Wall Street, for the London financiers and for the British."

It should be noted that the "Executive Intelligence Review" is a publication of the Lyndon LaRouche movement which supports Lyndon LaRouche as a perennial candidate for the Presidency. The movement is defined in Wikipedia as:

The LaRouche movement has attracted devoted followers and developed some specific and elaborate policy initiatives, but has also been referred to variously as Marxist, fascist, anti-Semitic, a political cult, a personality cult, and a criminal enterprise.

Our only reason for noting this is due to the fact that Iran's video news agency picked up the report - suggesting - "perhaps" that "where there's smoke there's probably a fire."  We note that there is definitely a growing segment within the Democratic Party leadership that is very displeased with Obama. There are also rumors, speculation and some hints from Bill Clinton, that Hillary Clinton may run for the White House in 2012. Could the Clinton's have enough power, behind the scenes to pull-off a legal coup de etat using the 25th Ammendant? Perhaps, but we would highly doubt it unless the puppetmasters who handle Obama are also ready to throw in the towel. If indeed TPTB are willing to use the 25th Ammendment to remove Obama, it will only be because Obama has become unwilling to take orders and or is indeed in the state of a mental crack-up.

While we suspect there may be some wisp of truth to this report, for the most part we consider this report to be outrageously, wishful thinking by the Lyndon LaRouche movement. For the Iran Press-TV coverage, including video - LINK HERE.

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Towards 1-World Gov't



Turkey, China, India, Brazil

Get More Power with IMF

In a bid to speed up the development of a one-world government, the G-20 Group's finance ministers have agreed to new reforms for the International Monetary Fund which will open the door for emerging nations to have more economic clout in global economic policy decisions. China, Turkey, India and Brazil are significant beneficiaries of the new reforms but all emerging nations will have a greater role in forming global economic policies.

The breakthrough this past weekend at the G-20 summit of finance ministers means that the march for a 1-world government and global dictator (read as "Antichrist") will now begin to accelerate as the year 2012 target date for a 1-world government grows steadily closer. For the more specific details on the G-20 meeting from Reuter's - LINK HERE.

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Riots & Strikes Cripple France

French In Near-Revolt

Strikes Cripple Power Industry

After a week of strikes, public protests and riots, France now finds itself facing an electricity crisis as the labor unrest continues to spiral out of control. French President Sarkozy issued a warning on Friday, October 22 that the crisis must end quickly or the national economy and unemployment  problems will only increase. More details on the situation - from the BBC - LINK HERE.

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More Strikes Ahead for France?


LINK

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Opposition To Russia's President Putin Grows


Rare Anti-Putin Rally in Moscow


LINK

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China Complaints Halt

US-Korea Military Drill


LINK

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Obama To Visit India

After Mid-term Elections

Lavish Trip Plans Exposed

LINK

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Mega Typhoon Hits China

Hundreds of Thousands Flee


CNN LINK

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RCC Synod Claims:

God Cancelled Promises To Jews

Because of Christ's Crucifixion

Despite the New Testament's teaching to the contrary, the Roman Catholic Church has defied the writings of the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter to claim that because the Jews crucified Christ, the Divine Promises to the Jews were cancelled. Such teachings are blasphemous and a denial of the Holy Spirit's writings through the Apostles. Through Paul and Peter, the Holy Spirit affirms that God's promises to the Jews were not - repeat NOT - nullified by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Such teaching by the RCC is nothing short of a Satanic effort to further lead humanity to a future Holocaust against the Jews and true Christians. Such efforts will be led by the Antichrist as part of Satan's program to overthrow the Creator-God of the universe. For more on the RCC Synod's report - LINK HERE.

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La Nina To Trigger

Extreme Winter for N. America

LINK

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New, Horrific Disease in Africa

LINK

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Obama Approval Ratings

At All-Time Lows

LINK

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Behind-the-Scenes Preps

For 6-6-6 Style ID Program

LINK

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No More "Normal" Weather?

LINK

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Retired US Gen'l Warns:

Muslim Mafia in USA?

LINK

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NASA Calls For

Planetary Defenses

Against Incoming Rocks


LINK

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Surge in UFO Talk

News Reports & New Movies

LINK

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The A-O Intelligence Digest

For October 24. 2010

Editor’s Note: We are making public the current edition of The A-O Intelligence Digest, which is normally reserved solely for donors of The Alpha-Omega Report website. We have decided to make this public due in part to extraordinary circumstances and events described as well as the fact that technically, we’re not quite finished with software upgrades to our donor’s section of the website reserved for The A-O Intelligence Digest. We did not wish to delay any longer the dissemination of this information.

A Game Changer Event?

Iranian Plans Go Awry

A little-noticed event took place in the Middle East on October 12, which has apparently thrown a monkey wrench into Iranian plans for war with Israel, at least for the near future.

Until Tuesday, October 12, our own A-O intelligence sources anticipated an Iranian-sponsored move by Hezbollah to take control of the Lebanese government as either a preliminary necessity before launching war against Israel or as a catalyst for Israeli interference that would lead to war with Israel.

The Hezbollah takeover of the Lebanese government was scripted by Iranian planners to transpire shortly after Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s two-day visit to Lebanon on Wednesday, October 13 and Thursday, October 14. The idea of a Hezbollah coup was no secret. Newspapers throughout the region had published speculative intelligence reports and rumors. Diplomats from various nations were scurrying around the Middle East for consultations. The White House sent a special envoy to Damascus with an explicit warning to Syrian President Assad. Lebanon’s Prime Minister had made quick visits to Egypt and Saudi Arabia for consultations in advance of the Iranian President’s arrival.

By the time Iranian President Ahmadinejad arrived in Beirut, the entire region was on pins and needles. The A-O Report was operating at a “Red Alert” publishing level, prepared to post updates around the clock as developments warranted. Israel’s military was placed on the highest pre-war alert level, as was the Syrian and Lebanese military. Everyone, it seems, was waiting for the other shoe (a coup or the start of a civil war) to drop, either during Ahmadinejad’s visit or by Monday, October 18. Instead, nothing happened.

The question to ask is “Why did nothing happen, or did something happen to alter the anticipated course of events?” We now understand that something did happen, which went unnoticed, by and large in the mainstream English news media outlets. This Digest edition will focus on what did happen to alter events and the implications.

On Background

On Tuesday, October 12, as the Iranian president and his entourage were in the final stages of departure for Lebanon, a series of fiery explosions ripped through a strategic military base known as the “Imam Ali” base located in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran, 35 kilometers from the city of Khorramabad. This site was selected many years ago as a missile base by the Iranians because of its altitude, which enables more precise targeting for ballistic missile launches. The terrain in which it is located makes it difficult for an enemy air or ground attack.

Burrowed under the Imam Ali Base is a whole network of wide tunnels dug deep underground for the purposes of the storage and launch of ballistic missiles, most particularly, Iran’s medium range Shehab-3 ballistic missile, which is the mainstay of its strategic missile force.

The Imam Ali base lies 400 kilometers from Baghdad as well as critically important American bases in central Iraq. The base is only 1,250 kilometers from Tel Aviv and central Israel. So, potential U.S. and Israeli targets are well within the Shehab-3 missile's 1,800-2,500-kilometer operational range.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps maintains this very strategic military base known as the “Imam Ali Base.” The IRGC’s Al-Hadid Brigade which is assigned to handle Iran’s ballistic missile program and particularly the medium range ballistic missile known as the Shehab-3.

The website – Global Security.org – a military intelligence website maintains a huge archive of intelligence reports and statistics on the most important military nations of the world. In its section on Iran, there is a special page devoted to the Imam Ali Base. Below is a small portion of their background on the base:

“Imam Ali Base is situated 35 km away from Khorramabad on the road to Koohdasht. The base’s location is in the south of Mount Seffid Kooh in a mountain pass called Heroor Pass. Imam Ali base belongs to Al-Hadid Brigade, a subordinate unit of the IRGC Missile Force. The missile launching sites are mobile and hidden in the heights. Imam Ali Base’s air distance from Khorram abad is 20 km.”

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/khorramabad.htm

While the archived information is several years old, it confirms the existence of the base and its association with the IRGC as a missile base. The webpage contains information about the base prior to the development of the Shehab-3 ballistic missiles. The page also shows satellite images of the base denoting its location in very mountainous terrain.

Damage Assessment

From our diligent research of intelligence reports, including Russian intelligence, we know that the Imam Ali base served as an assembly facility for missiles, as well as a warehouse for both missiles and mobile missile launchers for the Shehab-3 missiles.

What we do NOT know is just how many missiles and launchers were being stored at this base on Tuesday, October 12, 2010. Various, different intelligence sources, reports and speculation put the quantity of missiles at anywhere from 15 to the entire Shehab-3 inventory of operational missiles. Equally unknown is the quantity of mobile missile launchers which carry the Shehab-3 to clandestine launching locations.

There are reports that the entire inventory of mobile launch trucks and platforms were being housed at the Imam Ali base. Other reports indicate that only a “majority” or a “substantial” number of launchers were either damaged or destroyed.

We strongly suspect that Iran did not and does not keep all of its “eggs” or missiles in one basket – but there is the possibility that all or most Shehab-3s, which might have been previously dispersed, were temporarily returned to Imam Ali for inspection and maintenance. Why?

Perhaps the IRGC leadership ordered the missiles returned to Imam Ali because it is the designated maintenance and production facility for the Shehab-3. IRGC leaders may have ordered all missiles to be inspected, tested and repaired due to the now infamous Stuxnet computer worm-virus. According to some intelligence sources, Stuxnet was thought to have infected the computer guidance systems of Iran’s entire fleet of missiles along with other numerous military computer applications.

If Stuxnet had indeed forced such a mass inspection of Shehab-3 missiles at Imam Ali, then it is possible that much of Iran’s Shehab-3 fleet was located at the Imam Ali base at the time of the explosions. Keep in mind however, that this is simply speculation. The Iranians are keeping details of this incident a secret.

Proof: Something Catastrophic Happened

We do know however that a fiery disaster took place at the Imam Ali base because the Iranian government has admitted that a fire and explosion which the Iranian official news agency, FARS, plus the Tehran Times (and other Iranian outlets) reported, noting that 18 people were killed with another 14 people injured. See various links below for confirmation.

Tehran Times:

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=228458

Iran’s Press TV:

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/146490.html

Associated Press (AP) Newswire from Google:

The Jerusalem Post: - Suspects Kurd Terrorists Responsible

http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=191626

Such mainstream news media coverage confirms that something happened at the Imam Ali base in Iran. The Iranians claim it was merely a fire which spread to an ammunitions bunker triggering a single explosion. Other intelligence reports argue to the contrary.

The most notable of the published intelligence reports is Debka.com but Debka is not the only outfit claiming more than a mere ammunition bunker exploded. They’re simply the only intelligence publisher to make the event details public.

Debka published an alternate account which described 3 explosions in the underground tunnels at the base. Debka reports the damage:

“Debkafile's military and intelligence sources report the site held most of the Shehab-3 medium-range missile launchers Iran had stocked for striking US forces in Iraq and Israel in the event of war - some set to deliver triple warheads (tri-conic nosecones). …

“Somehow, a mysterious hand rigged three blasts in quick succession deep inside those tunnels, destroying a large number of launchers and causing enough damage to render the facility unfit for use.”

http://www.debka.com/article/9087/

Debka also reported in its “Weekly” paid subscriber report that the public Iranian story of the incident is backwards from what really happened. Debka claims that three explosions occurred first, deep underground in the tunnels and those explosions then set off fires that spread to the munitions storage area causing the munitions storage area to explode. Debka also claims that the blast took out “most” of Iran’s inventory of medium range ballistic missiles.

Other intelligence sources report a range of different outcome assessments ranging anywhere from 15 mobile launchers being damaged or destroyed to no missiles destroyed as well as some reports that the entire inventory of mobile launchers and perhaps a dozen or 15 Shehab-3 missiles destroyed or damaged.

Other reports note that perhaps many of Iran’s most important missile scientists and technicians were killed or injured in the blasts, leaving Iran with a devastating loss of key personnel needed to develop, maintain and launch missiles. The incident may have struck a severe blow not only in the short term, but also in the long term for Iran’s ability to build current missile systems and develop new, solid-fuel missiles.

Was it a Cyber Attack?

If as we suspect, the Stuxnet computer virus was thought to have been involved, key Iranian computer experts may have been on the scene and perhaps also killed in the explosions. If so, that may further hamper Iran’s ability to rid itself of the Stuxnet worm virus within Iran’s computerized military systems.

One aspect of note in this story is that all intelligence experts in the West believe the number of killed and injured is likely to be far greater than Iranian public admissions.

Sources leaking from inside Iran to the West also indicate the casualties were far greater than the official government story given to the public. There is speculation that hundreds of personnel may have been killed and or injured.

Such speculation leads us to wonder just how much damage was inflicted to Iran’s ability to conduct strategic missile strikes against Israel?  While we do not know of the quantities of missiles and or missile launchers that were destroyed, we can make some educated guesses.

The Global Security website has a special webpage published which contains a massive amount of technical information and descriptions about Iran’s Shehab-3 ballistic missile. At the end of the second paragraph on the page, Global Security states:

“Through Spring 2010 there was an estimated 300 Shahab-3's of various types deployed in Iran.”

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/shahab-3.htm

Keep in mind that the missile has slightly different production variants and or upgrades since production first began on a limited basis 9 years ago. At the link above, scroll down to see pictures of the missile itself as well as its mobile launcher truck transport. Keep in mind that the Global Security article on the Shehab-3 was published just 5 months ago on May 21, 2010, so we assume the estimate of 300 missiles is a reasonably close estimate.

The link shown below from Global Security shows all of Iran’s missile types, status and production inventories if any. http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/missile.htm

The GS chart shows additional missiles believed to be in Iran’s inventory which we should note:

Shehab-1 = 50 to 300 missiles = aka Scud B

Shehab-2 = 50 to 150 missiles = aka Scud C

Shehab-3 = 300          missiles = aka Zetzal 3

Shehab-4 = 16 to 35   missiles = aka No Dong B

The above missiles are all liquid-fueled missiles and are not nearly as accurate and reliable as a solid-fuel rocket. They are also easier to shoot down than a solid fuel rocket.

Iran’s Most Advanced Missiles

Iran just developed a solid fuel rocket known as the Sejjil and began production last year. In the above linked chart showing all Iranian missiles, GS estimates that Iran has already built and begun deploying at least 50 but less than 90 such rockets or missiles. It is their most advanced ballistic missile to date. It has a much longer range of 2,000 to 2,500 kilometers. Because it is a solid fuel rocket it can be readied for launch quickly and does not need as much as 24 to 48 hours to be prepared for launch like a liquid fueled rocket.

Solid fuel rockets are also inherently safer to prepare for launch with far less chance for an accidental explosion.

It should also be noted on the GS missile chart that Iran also has 12 Soviet-era cruise missiles known as the X-55 or KH-55 cruise missile. These were reportedly purchased by Iran via the Ukraine on the black market about ten years ago. There are unconfirmed intelligence reports that these cruise missiles also contained nuclear warheads, albeit dismantled and supposedly rendered permanently as non-functional. They were designed to be launched from Soviet aircraft while in flight with a range of 3,000 kilometers. It is not known if Iran has made these missiles operational and of use for Iranian aircraft or if they are merely to be prototype models for future Iranian-built versions.

Another point of note regarding Iran’s inventory of missiles concerns the Shehab-4 missile. The Shehab-4 only went into limited production, as we understand it, but it has an estimated range of between 3,200 and 4,000 kilometers. The Shehab-4 could reach much of Europe, however Iran may have only as few as 15 to as many as 35 such missiles. They are, in reality variants of the Shehab-3. Is it possible that these were being kept at the Imam Ali base? We do wonder.

The Shehab-4 has been used as a test vehicle for space launches including at least one satellite launch. The Iranians however, seem to have shelved the Shehab-4 in favor of the new Sejjil solid fuel rocket for both space and satellite efforts as well as for military warhead capabilities.

The Sejjil missile is believed to be based out of newly excavated site on the outskirts of the city of Marivan in the western province of Kurdistan which borders Iraq. We do not suspect that any of the Sejjil missiles were at the Imam Ali base on October 12, when the explosions took place.

A New Iranian Threat Assessment

If Iran has had 300 Shehab-3 missiles in deployment, as of October 1, 2010; we strongly suspect that they have been scattered in various strategic locations throughout Iran and not all located at the Imam Ali base.

Even if the Imam Ali base was warehousing most or all of the non-deployed missiles, which we doubt, there would still likely be 100 or more Shehab-3 missiles operationally deployed elsewhere inside Iran. And probably more than 150 to perhaps 200 such missiles deployed elsewhere. This would particularly be the case – IF – Iran was in the process of preparing the missiles for a surprise attack against Israel by mid-October. If that were the case, then logical, strategic planning would dictate that most mobile launchers as well as the entire missile arsenal would have been previously dispersed so that Iran’s loss of Shehab-3 missiles and mobile launchers would not have been a complete and total loss.

We suspect that the Imam Ali incident destroyed no more than 15 to 20 Shehab-3 missiles. As for the mobile launchers, we again suspect that perhaps 15 to perhaps 30 mobile launchers were damaged or destroyed in the explosions.

We do suspect the possibility that enough critically important personnel were killed or injured in the incident to seriously harm Iran’s ability to wage missile attacks in the following days and weeks afterwards.

Our own A-O Intel sources report that standard military doctrines for mobile missile launchers versus inventory should be roughly at a 3 -1 or 4 – 1 ratio. The Global Security article dated May of 2010 estimated a Shehab-3 inventory at around 300 missiles. If that number is accurate – and IF Iranian military leaders have kept to the standard military doctrine ratio of 3 to 1 or even a 4 to 1 ratio, then Iran’s mobile missile launcher inventory should range between 75 to 100 mobile launchers.

Even so, there is also the belief by some intelligence experts that perhaps half of the Iranian Shehab-3 inventory is assigned to fixed, stationary launchers located either underground or in mountain redoubts such as the Imam Ali base. If this is the case, then the amount of mobile launchers might be somewhere between 35 to 65 mobile launchers.

We do understand that some Israeli intelligence reports had placed the missile inventory at somewhere between 100 to 200 Shehab-3 missiles with half of those being assigned to fixed, stationary launchers. The Israelis then place the mobile launcher inventory from about 15 to as many as 35.

We understand that some intelligence analyst speculations suggest that 15 or more mobile launchers were stationed at Imam Ali while other analysts believe the entire mobile launcher inventory of perhaps three dozen were located at Imam Ali base. We suspect, however that Iran’s inventory of mobile missile launchers for the Shehab-3 is higher than what the Israeli intelligence reports have indicated. We therefore suspect that not all of the Iran’s mobile missile launchers for the Shehab-3 were stationed at the Imam Ali base.

Stuxnet Virus Strikes Again?

The only reason that all of the Shehab-3 mobile launchers might have been located at the Imam Ali base was for an inspection recall to test for the Stuxnet virus. While this seems like a distinct possibility if not a probability, we tend to approach the issue from a perspective that assumes some of the mobile launchers were not at the base at the time of the explosion incidents and thus Iran still retains a very potent ability to launch a significant amount of Shehab-3 missiles towards Israel and U.S. targets in Iraq.

Iranian War Plans Delayed By Weeks or Months?

If our suspicions are correct, the Imam Ali incident was more of a short term set back for Iran. Most likely, Iranian military leaders are conducting an extensive investigation into the cause of the incident. If the event was due to sabotage, military officials will likely need at least a few weeks to sort out the situation and ramp up security to a much higher level  One intelligence source believes that, barring any Stuxnet issues, Iran could be back in a position to wage a missile war with Israel by perhaps mid-November.

We tend to accept this premise of a mid-November date, in part because of recent information we’ve received concerning certain U.S. military assets being readied for overseas assignments to the Middle East (but not Afghanistan) by mid-November. The latest report we received last week was vague but left us with the impression that the Pentagon expects the need to react to a new crisis of some sort in the Middle East besides Afghanistan or Iraq.

Perhaps the Pentagon may be anticipating some sort of Iranian military response in the next 30 days. Keep in mind that this is just a suspicion on our part.

Stuxnet Still a Likely Threat To Iran

We also understand that the Stuxnet virus is believed by some computer analysts to still be untamed within the Iranian military as recently as early October based upon efforts by the Iranians efforts to consult with Western computer experts. On that basis, we suspect that the Iranian military leaders are cautiously unwilling to commit their forces to any sort of military engagement until the Stuxnet problems are resolved and until they can adjust for the loss of whatever equipment was destroyed at the Imam Ali base.

In Conclusion:

It seems more likely that Iran will maintain a low-key profile for the next weeks until the Iranians have resolved both the Stuxnet virus problem and taken measures to work around the Imam Ali “accident” of October 12. We anticipate no significant Iranian provocations via their proxy forces on Israel’s borders, before mid-November and perhaps not until next spring. With such change in our outlook, we’ve now dropped our A-O Report Red Alert status and have returned to normal news coverage for now, unless or until circumstances warrant a change back to either a Yellow or Red Alert status.

In the meantime, we expect to hear Iranian news announcements of arrests of individuals charged with involvement in the Imam Ali explosions, but only if Iran indeed believes there was in fact sabotage. Debka.com is now reporting that U.S. and Israeli unmanned aerial drones were responsible for the attack, using special bunker-buster missiles. We have our own, serious doubts about such claims, but we wouldn’t totally rule out such reports either. However, it seems unlikely because Iran would likely have publicly made such claims and called for a UN Security Council meeting to file charges against the U.S. and Israel.

It remains to be seen whether or not Iran would point the finger of responsibility at Iraqi Kurds or Israeli and or U.S. forces, but after two weeks, it seems unlikely that the Iranians will make any accusations against foreign governments. This leads us to suspect that the Stuxnet virus or Iranian personnel ineptitude may have been responsible for the blasts.

It is the opinion of The A-O Report that ultimately, the incident involved Divine Intervention due to the fact that the time was not right for the outbreak of war in the middle of October, 2010. It remains to be seen as to when that time will come about.

Even so, the next 30 days should prove to be a very fascinating if not a pivotal time for what will follow in the coming weeks and months ahead.

A Few of the Other Source Reports/Commentaries

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=41910

http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2010/10/big-bang.html

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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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