Essential Reading to Understand The Headlines

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Showing posts with label middle east. Show all posts
Showing posts with label middle east. Show all posts

Friday, December 9, 2011

Republican Candidates Talk About the Israeli - Arab Conflict While Sarkozy Makes Some Excuses

ROMNEY, GINGRICH, SANTORUM STAND OUT IN REPUBLICAN JEWISH COALITION EVENT http://bit.ly/rwMh0b

Gingrich: ‘We need a dramatically rethought strategy for the Middle East’ | JTA - Jewish & Israel News http://bit.ly/vTAaDR

THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TREATS ISRAEL AS THE PROBLEM — NOT OUR BEST ALLY : How to pray at this critical time. « http://bit.ly/vchuqV

Sarkozy says anger with Netanyahu caused by France's exclusion from Shalit release - Haaretz http://bit.ly/tr1XMu

Ayalon slams Palestinian refugee double standard http://bit.ly/v8DxZ7

IFCJ: Ethiopian Jews' Incredible Journey http://bit.ly/sYDv7W

Iran Boasts of Drone Capture and Seen As Responsible for 1998 US Embassy Terror Attack

Iran responsible for 1998 U.S. embassy bombings - The Washington Post http://wapo.st/sMZ6Gv

Iran may downgrade ties with EU states over decision to recall ambassadors - Haaretz http://bit.ly/s38lGy

China, Russia want to inspect downed U.S. drone - Tehran Times http://bit.ly/w2yVrb

Ethiopian Police And Muslim Students Demolish Church « Persecution News http://bit.ly/syR1vJ

Pakistan president in Dubai with heart condition - Channel NewsAsia http://bit.ly/ta1vi1

Turkey announces new Syria sanctions http://bit.ly/ucFXpt

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Iran Captures US Drone + Putin Gets Rattled = Dangerous Formula


Iran has shown that it can take down a US drone. How it did it remains a chilling mystery. But Israel sees something more eery in these events as described by Debka.

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"The Obama administration's decision after internal debate not to send US commando or air units into Iran to retrieve or destroy the secret RQ-170 stealth drone which fell into Iranian hands has strengthened the hands of the Israeli faction which argues the case for striking Iran's nuclear installations without waiting for the Americans to make their move."

"Senior Israeli diplomatic and security officials who followed the discussion in Washington concluded that, by failing to act, the administration has left Iran not only with the secrets of the Sentinel's stealth coating, its sensors and cameras, but also with the data stored in its computer cells on targets marked out by the US and/or Israeli for attack."

Source: Debka.com
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Israel's confidence in the Obama administration's resolve to help them is getting low at this point. If it does not sense the urgency of protecting its own internal secrets what makes Israel think that US soldiers will be made to fight a very dangerous war in Iran in aid of Israel, which has been a favorite whipping boy of the mainstream leftist media.

Another distrubing piece of news today is of Putin accusing the United States of initiating protests in the USSR. Whether true or not, it just shows that this conflict is again in the periphery of either nations. The Kremlin does not like this perceived attention from the US. Since its strength is nowhere near the past USSR, it may want to deflect the focus of the Americans to volatile conflicts. What could be more volatile now than an Israeli-Iran conflict. Russia could go back to the formula of influencing the Arab world to go to war again against Israel just like in 1967. Such a conflict will be easier to star, just flip a switch and its 1967 again but this time just scarier.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Iran Captures A US Drone and Threatens Hamas to Stay in Syria


U.S. Military Sources: Iran Has Missing U.S. Drone | Fox News http://fxn.ws/sA0oqN

Iran threatening to cut Hamas funds, arms supply if it flees Syria - Haaretz http://bit.ly/uZBYi6

Iran Revolutionary Guard raises alert ahead of possible strike, report says - Haaretz http://bit.ly/uSQOXn

Monday, December 5, 2011

Rise of Islamic Power Rejoiced and Protested by Many While Israeli Isolation Growing Worse

Terrorists celebrate 'new mood' in Mideast elections http://bit.ly/tN5Jt3

Egypt: 'Muslim Brotherhood wins 40%, Salafists 20% of vote' http://bit.ly/rxbDi9

Rights body condemns Syria; Shell pulls out | Reuters http://reut.rs/uiHHzG

AFP: Thousands in Tunisian protest against extremists http://bit.ly/vFfpjm

THE DAILY STAR : Hezbollah: Israeli devices targeted party’s telecoms network http://bit.ly/sS4zmj

Israel detonates spy device - Hezbollah | News.com.au http://bit.ly/uuNXSX

Jordan apology to Hamas baffles many - The National http://bit.ly/tkdpGv

Iran Increases Level of Hate on the Jews and the US While Being Expelled By the British

Iran moves on from "Destroy Israel!" to "Destroy all the Jews!" http://debka.com/article/21536/

Iran Says It Shot Down Unmanned U.S. Plane - WSJ.com http://on.wsj.com/ryX9Ha

BBC News - Iran diplomats to leave UK after Tehran embassy attack http://bbc.in/vULJ6Z

U.S., Iraq urge Iran not to fill vacuum left by departing U.S. troops - The Washington Post http://wapo.st/s2mbBV

Friday, December 2, 2011

Russia Helps Syria and Cements Ties with Belarus and Kazakhstan

Russia delivers anti-ship missiles to Syria: report | Reuters http://reut.rs/suP2Qn
 
AGI News On - SYRIA SUSPENDS FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH TURKEY http://bit.ly/sGlO6b

Russia forms alliance with Belarus and Kazakhstan - Telegraph http://tgr.ph/tIAu0G

Brotherhood's FJP secures 40% of the vote in 1st round of Egypt's elections - News - Elections 2011 - Ahram Online http://bit.ly/vo8IcH

Pakistan Cleared Fatal Hit, U.S. Says - http://WSJ.com http://on.wsj.com/tliwR0

Iran Developing New Missiles While Israel Contemplates Military Strike

'Iran is developing low-flying cruise missiles' http://bit.ly/rMaXvF

Iran Interferes in Iraqi Kurdistan | The Weekly Standard http://bit.ly/uHfdEc

Israeli defense chief: Iran strike may be needed - CBS News http://bit.ly/rYoJS6

Why the world needs a mediator? http://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-mediator.html

UK hits back for embassy attack, but spares Iran's London power bases http://debka.com/article/21527/

EU may study oil embargo on Iran; China urges calm | Reuters http://bit.ly/sosW6F

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Six to Eight Months - The New Time Table to Strike Iran

Obama needs to come up with something new on the diplomatic table or the world may see another unilateral action from Israel. In am interview with Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, he sees Israel in a race against time to prevent the Iranians from transferring their nuke facilities underground thereby taking out the any ability from Israel or NATO to strike it.
“The difference between us and the Americans is this: We say that because the Iranians are busy moving their nuclear program to underground facilities, they can announce this (that they have a nuclear weapon) after it is no longer possible to attack it." He went on to warn that If Israel is pushed into a corner, “it will have to act.”
Based on Debka's report, Israel will only have a time frame of six to eight months before the option to strike is gone forever. 
"According to DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources, Israel gives Iran no more than six to eight months to complete this transfer, i.e., by June to August, 2012."
Source: Debka


Obama needs something creative on the diplomatic table now before Israel has no more resort but to go at it alone. Maybe something that has not been done before in all of history. In a sense one needs also to consider that after not finding WMDs in Iraq, the Americans are wary in making a strike on Iran. It is maybe waiting that Iran declares that it indeed has nuclear weapons so that it can publicly justify a war. But for Iran such non-declaration is their trump card so as not to be attacked and continue to build the weapon. Israel and the West maybe waiting for something which is not forthcoming at all. 


The clock is ticking and the sanctions are not working fast enough or at a level which is deterring Iran from continuing to develop nuclear weapons. 

Israel Prepares to Fight While Muslim Brotherhood Anticipates Reign in Egypt

Muslim Brotherhood says leads Egypt's vote count | Reuters http://reut.rs/uu3Bh6

Christians turn out in strong numbers, trying to stem Islamist win in Egypt’s vote - The Washington Post http://wapo.st/ugz8KC

BGEA: Jesus' Birth: A Rescue Mission http://bit.ly/u2erNo

'Germany approves subsidized sale of military submarine to Israel' - Haaretz http://bit.ly/u0uNfs

U.S. military chief: Unclear if Israel would alert U.S. ahead of attack on Iran - Haaretz http://bit.ly/vKNXkn

In Historic Move, Iceland Becomes the First Western European Nation to Recognize Palestinian Statehood « SpeakEasy http://bit.ly/tYcwES

Israel approves release of tax funds to Palestinian Authority - latimes.com http://lat.ms/vdUkr2

Anti-Semitism in Australia increases by 31%, study shows - Haaretz http://bit.ly/vzHOp3

Iran Feels Like 1979 Again As It Attacks UK Embassy Scaring Off the Norway As Well

Iranian protesters storm British Embassy http://www.freep.com/article/20111130/NEWS07/111300332/Iranian-protesters-storm-British-Embassy

Iran: Britain evacuates all diplomatic staff after Tehran attacks - Telegraph http://tgr.ph/rMZ5nS

William Hague seeks joint EU action against Iran over embassy attack | The Guardian http://bit.ly/rX0sVu

Norway closes embassy in Iran | Irish Examiner http://bit.ly/st7zuq

Albanian PM: Ahmadinejad is the new Nazi - Ynetnews http://bit.ly/t0F3gM

WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL SLAMS OBAMA FOR WEAK IRAN POLICY OF “HALF MEASURES”: « Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog http://bit.ly/svNS5t

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Lebanese Rockets to Israel - More Than Meets The Eye

It seems that there is consensus even with the IDF that the recent missiles to hit Israel coming from Lebanon are not from Hezbollah but from another group now being supported by Syria. Here is the analysis from Stratfor.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Rise of Islamist Politicians Bothers US Policy While Iran Suffers Another Nuke Setback

TroubledDays TroubledDays Pakistan permanently closes borders to Nato after air strike - Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8919960/Pakistan-permanently-closes-borders-to-Nato-after-air-strike.html

In Egypt, ultra-Islamists make election debut http://bit.ly/t8E0TR

Somali Militants Ban 16 Aid Agencies « VOA Breaking News http://bit.ly/sZVQmt

AFP: US cautious regarding Morocco Islamist win http://bit.ly/rpQFFL

Iran’s Ahmadinejad Says Inflation Rate at 19.3%, ISNA Says - Bloomberg http://bloom.bg/t208tX

Iran official: Blast near nuclear site caused by military mishap - Haaretz http://bit.ly/tsSgck

Kuwait's government quits after parliament stormed - ABC South West Vic - Australian Broadcasting Corporation http://bit.ly/sOVu2W

King Abdullah of Jordan Plays Host to Shimon Peres - NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/uei1MG

Monday, November 28, 2011

Iran Has New Submarines And Is Now Threatening Turkey

Iran Navy acquires new submarines amidst nuclear tension - Haaretz http://bit.ly/uvADco

Iran would attack Turkey if U.S. or Israel go after their nuclear weapons - NY Daily News http://nydn.us/spHfbv

BosNewsLife –EU Urges Iran To Release Pastor Facing Execution; Hundreds Detained http://bit.ly/rKZLwg

Tehran votes to expel Britain's ambassador - Telegraph http://tgr.ph/tK8LIk

Arab League Scrambles As Syria Gets Russian Support While Egyptians Hit Israeli Gas Pipeline Again

The Chosun Ilbo - Arab League Approves Sanctions Against Syria http://bit.ly/t04K73

Arab sanctions find Syria's 7 neighbors on alert. Russian missiles for Assad http://debka.com/article/21519/

AFP: Mass rally in Lebanon to denounce Syria, Hezbollah http://bit.ly/vkHhCs

Saboteurs blow up Egypt gas pipeline to Jordan, Israel | Reuters http://reut.rs/t8xGny

Palestinian poll: 56% oppose armed struggle against Israel - Ynetnews http://bit.ly/tKcPxe

luchadora41 Kristy Lonestar Turkey's Erdogan, African Muslim leaders claim there is a systematic campaign across the world against Islam http://www.jihadwatch.org/2011/11/turkeys-erdogan-african-muslim-leaders-claim-there-is-a-systematic-campaign-across-the-world-against.html

Pakistan stops NATO supplies after raid kills up to 28 | Reuters http://reut.rs/ux8uoe

Friday, November 25, 2011

Fatah and Hamas Scramble to Unite As Israel Refuses to Give Money to the Palestinian Authority

Israel Halts Payments to Palestinian Authority, Adding to Fiscal Woes - NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/rBm7Br

Abbas, Hamas leader agree on 2012 elections | Oman Observer http://bit.ly/uGIaMP

Mahmoud Abbas hails new era of partnership between Fatah and Hamas - Telegraph http://tgr.ph/v0XGw5

Report: King Abdullah presents Abbas with EU initiative http://bit.ly/t909SM

Sarkozy: Netanyahu 'liar' gaffe was misunderstood | The Jewish Chronicle http://bit.ly/u8vXqu

The medical war on Israel - Ynetnews http://bit.ly/sXF8pW

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Egyptians and Libyans Hate Their new Leaders While Iran Builds New Weapons Systems

Egyptians Battle Police for Fifth Night, Call for Army Exit - Bloomberg http://bloom.bg/t4YDan

Welcome to hell: Egypt medics struggle in Tahrir clinic | Reuters http://reut.rs/rvcRP1

Libyan tribes irked by new line-up - Africa | IOL.co.za http://bit.ly/sgYPkn

Fuel Fix » Iran says needs to spend $50 billion a year to keep oil output http://bit.ly/vn7Hxv

Iran 'builds own missile defense system' - UPI.com http://bit.ly/vsHUsE

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

CNN's National Security Debate - The Search for a Commander-in-Chief

CNN has been bashed in the past GOP debates of asking cute or senseless questions but this time the Republican constituency were in for a surprise. The National Security Debate yesterday was one of the most exciting, thought provoking and revealing discussion among presidential candidates in a long time. I don't think CNN even did this for the Democratic party. In this debate we come to know who has the goods of being commander in chief of the all powerful United States of America. Anybody can talk about the economy but very few have full grasp of national security.

In this debate we see that Bachman and Gingrich know their stuff when it comes to foreign policy. These two candidates gave the most realistic assessment of American foreign policy which is now lost in the Obama administration. Bachman scored well on the policy as regards to Pakistan while Gingrich defended the Patriot Act very well. Santorum gave a good account of the handle of the global view as well but I thought he was not very specific on certain strategies. Huntsman is in his element as but when it comes down to realism he pales in comparison to the Gingrich and Bachman.

The most dangerous person in the group is Ron Paul. We have seen this before in pre-World War II American isolationist policy. A policy which encouraged the likes of Hitler and Stalin on a rampage of terror . Paul's assessments are unrealistic and detrimental to the world which is facing the prospect of a nuclear Iran and isolated Israel.

In the end the most important question was put out there on what issue that has been less discussed which the American people should look out for. The answers were varied but one thing that was not said or ignored was the re-emergence of Russia. Russia is now consolidating the former territories of the Soviet Union and will be of paramount concern whether Obama stays in office or one of the Republican candidates gets the key to the White House.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

US and Russia Brings Chess Match Back into the Middle East

Russian warships off Syria, US carriers near Iran http://debka.com/article/21504/
 
Russia to Lend Vietnam $9B for First Nuke Plant - Bloomberg http://bloom.bg/spd6lK

US, Russia, Britain back Israeli stance at Mideast meet on nuclear-free zone - The Washington Post http://wapo.st/rqEOfx

U.S. To Stop Sharing Data With Russia On U.S. Forces In Europe | Fox News http://fxn.ws/vQbXVn

Eurasian Union One Step Closer to Reality http://bit.ly/uAn1cJ

Hezbollah Prepares for Assad's Downfall in Syria While Egyptian Prospects Becomes Grim

'If Assad falls, Hezbollah will take Beirut' http://bit.ly/ub5K5B

Hezbollah, Iran uncover CIA informants | Reuters http://reut.rs/vNKw2q

In latest Egyptian revolution, Tahrir Square has a grittier, more violent nature - The Washington Post http://wapo.st/sJoCxL

Tantawi: Presidential elections next June, Muslim Brothers in government http://debka.com/article/21506/

Turkish prime minister tells Syria's president to step down or risk tragic end - CNN.com http://bit.ly/tPP995

Reza_Kahlili White House Review Threatens Counter-Terrorism Operations http://bit.ly/vR27CW @AP @WSJ @NewsHour @WhiteHouseBlog @congressorg #iranelection

Pakistan's U.S. envoy resigns on memo scandal – USATODAY.com usat.ly/uyw55c