Middle East on fire

Two die in Beirut clashes sparked by 'personal dispute'

From the Link:

Two die in Beirut clashes sparked by 'personal dispute'

Two men have been killed in clashes in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, between supporters of the Shia Islamist group, Hezbollah, and a rival Sunni faction.

The violence erupted in Burj Abu Haidar following a fight outside a mosque.

The Lebanese army was later forced to intervene after the fighting spread to neighbouring parts of the city.

Leaders of Hezbollah and the pro-Syrian conservative al-Ahbash faction later met and issued a joint statement expressing regret for the violence.

Sectarian tensions have risen recently in Lebanon, amid reports that a UN tribunal could soon implicate members of Hezbollah in the assassination in 2005 of the then Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri.

Hezbollah's leader has dismissed the tribunal as an "Israeli project".

'Personal dispute'

The BBC's Maha Barada in Beirut says calm has returned to the city after the armed clashes on Tuesday, during which machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades were fired through the streets of Burj Abu Haidar.

Security officials said one of those killed was Mohammed Fawaz, a local Hezbollah leader. It is not yet clear who the other casualty was, although an al-Ahbash official said one of its supporters had been killed.

A witness, Salah, said he had been inside the mosque in Burj Abu Haidar when he heard a commotion outside and people screaming "calm down". Twenty minutes later, gunshots rang out.

"They were shooting at the mosque. I think these people are crazy. They must have gone home to get their friends," he told the Associated Press.

The army later cordoned off the area and held a meeting with both parties, who agreed to a ceasefire and for an investigation to be opened.

A joint statement said the incident had been the result of a "personal dispute", and that both sides would end their armed presence.

"[We] stress that this was an individual unfortunate incident," it added.

A spokesman for al-Ahbash, Abdul Qadir al-Fakhani, told the BBC that the incident did not have any political or sectarian background.

The fighting was the worst since May 2008, when a political crisis led to street fighting between supporters of Hezbollah and those of the current pro-Western Sunni Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, the son of Rafik.

The sectarian strife took country to the brink of civil war in May 2008.

Link


From the descriptions of the clashes and the joint statement by Hezbollah and Al-Ahbash denying any sectarian cause, but just an individual incicent make it sounds like a personal disagreement that got out of hand.

The sad thing is, when you have people armed with assault rifles, the danger is they will not use their fists in a fight, but bullets.

I do find it interesting the clashes were between Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian group, and al-Ahbash, a pro-Syrian group, especially after the reports that Iran were upset that Syria may be moving closer to Saudi Arabia after that high-level meeting between Assad and the Saudi King.

I considered the reports at the time to be pro-Israeli mischief, but these clashes may have led on from that, and if so, Israel must be pleased with a Psy-Ops media story working to their advantage.

But again, it sounds to me the clashes resulted from a personal disagreement. We'll soon find out if the clashes are just a one-off or not. The fact the clashes spread after the initial incident is worrying.

Remember what General Jaber, the retired Lebanese General said shortly after the border clashes with Israel, about how Israel wanted the UN tribunal to indict Hezbollah because Israel wanted a civil war in Lebanon because Israel wanted to take advantage?

These clashes make you think, don't they?


Deaths in Beirut shootout

From the Link

Deaths in Beirut shootout

Three people, including a Hezbollah official, have been killed in clashes between supporters of different political factions in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, security sources have said.

Machine guns and rocket propelled grenades were used in Tuesday's unrest, which officials described as a "personal fight".

The shootout erupted between a supporter of the Shia Hezbollah group and another from The Association of Islamic Charitable Projects, a Sunni conservative group, also known as al-Ahbash.

"A personal fight between a supporter of Hezbollah and another of al-Ahbash erupted just after 7pm in Beirut's Burj Abi Haidar neighbourhood and escalated into a firefight," an army spokesman said.

In a joint statement issued later, the two groups confirmed that the incident, which took place in a mixed residential area, resulted from an "personal dispute and has no political or sectarian background."

It said the two sides agreed to immediately put an end to their differences and end all armed presence on the street.

Some supporters of the Shia movement Amal were reportedly siding with Shia Hezbollah loyalists in the fight but the party later issued a statement denying that claim.

Conflicting reports

A security source said one of those killed was a local Hezbollah official.

"One of them is Mohammad Fawaz who is in charge of Burj Abi Haidar sector," he said.

Other security sources confirmed that Fawaz was killed. One source said an al-Ahbash supporter had also been killed.

Witnesses said the clash began as an argument between Fawaz and supporters of the Sunni group over a parking space near a mosque frequented by al-Ahbash.

Al Jazeera's Rula Amin, reporting from Beirut, said the clashes had "caught everyone by surprise" because al-Ahbash has been an ally of Hezbollah and Amal in the past few years.

"[Al-Ahbash] is a small, conservative Sunni group. Politically they've been allies of Hezbollah. They're very close to the Syrian government."

A security source told Reuters news agency that two people had been taken to hospital along with the Hezbollah official who later died from his injuries.

"When the news came out that the wounded Hezbollah supporter died in hospital, people went to the streets and now there is a lot of tension," the source said.

Witnesses said armed men could be seen standing on the corners and peering down alleyways in the neighbourhood, while families ran for cover.

Link

That last paragraph suggests this may not be over.


Iran test fires Fateh-110 missile

From the Link:

Iran test fires Fateh-110 missile

Iran has successfully test-fired a new version of the domestically-built Fateh missile, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi says.

Addressing a group of reporters on Wednesday, General Vahidi announced that the new generation of Fateh-110 is a 250-kilometer medium-range ballistic missile with improved precision in targeting, completely engineered by Iranian experts.

As part of the Islamic Republic's general plan to bolster its military might, the top commander stated that the third-generation Fateh has a quicker launch time.

Fateh-110 (Conqueror) missile is nine meters (29 feet) long and weighs 3,500 kilograms (7,700 pounds).

Iran has unveiled a series of domestically-produced weaponry over the past few weeks, which include the short range missile Qiam (Rising) and the Karrar -- Iran's first Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

More

2:46pm UNIFIL delivered to the Lebanese army 39 military vehicles. Maj. Gen. Alberto Asarta said UNIFIL looks forward to working side by side with the army.

Good.

March 14 Urges State Measures to Declare Beirut Weapons-Free City
The army too I suppose? No? Ah well.

Blast targets Iran-Turkey gas pipeline
I'm sure it was just an accident right?

Castro: US in checkmate over Iran


Netanyahu has no time for IAEA chief
I was wrong... it wasn't lies or a cold meeting... no meeting at all.

S Korea, US to talk Iran sanctions
Some pressure from the US? Do that or we let you alone to face NKorea and no more weapon deals?

Beirut wants Iran to equip Lebanon Army
They should ask Russia instead. But Russia isn't reliable as shown with the S-300 and Iran. Maybe the middle-east states should start asking China or Pakistan.

Egypt announces site of first nuclear power plant (AP)

That's gonna be interesting... especially the deafening silent in the western MSM.

U.S. diplomat: Obama administration still open to dialogue with Iran (Ch.10)

Yeah sure. You always say that but almost NO DIPLOMACY have occurred since Obama is in office.

IDF ready to destroy Lebanese Army in four hours
More threats.

Damage to Israeli Companies exacts a heavy price
Boohoo. Boycotts working. Don't want boycotts Israel? Stop pulling the crap you pull.

Obama weighs offer of US nuclear umbrella if Israel scraps Iran strike
Yeah except Israel HAVE NUKES, a SECOND STRIKE CAPABILITY, and Israel is ALREADY under the US nuclear umbrella. Debka making news with old news.

Israel limits access to al-Aqsa mosque
So nice. Another reason why Iran wouldn't nuke Israel : the Al-Aqsa mosque, also called the Dome of the rock.

Israeli plane violates Lebanon airspace
Another day...

Israel to reconsider deporting children
Please do the right thing for once.

Turkey vows to continue Iran projects
Good for business.

Iran pres. to talk aid for Lebanon army

Armed Israelis intrude into WB mosque
If true not really a good move there.

Israel working to thwart Russia arms deal with Syria

Netanyahu asks Putin to stop deal involving sale of advanced P-800 Yakhont supersonic cruise missiles; Israel considers this weaponry dangerous to its navy vessels in Mediterranean Sea.

That missile is quite good and could sink a lot of ships.

The great chess game of the Middle East
Interesting article. Shows how everyone is on the edge.

Turkish officials in Washington: We're committed to preserving ties with Israel (News Agencies)

Really? Israel sure don't want those ties if you make business with Iran.

Iran proposes to jointly produce nuclear fuel with Russia for Bushehr plant (AP)

Could be good idea, Russia could know how far Iran really is.

Ex-UN nuclear official: Iran has material for 1 to 2 atom bombs (Reuters)

Yeah and Japan have enough for thousands of nukes.

U.S. envoy to Iraq: Iran-backed groups behind a quarter of U.S. deaths in Iraq (Reuters)

And US invasion of Iraq behind 99% of all deaths there. Your point again?

Parents accuse state of trying to take over mixed Jewish-Arab school (Haaretz)

Wouldn't surprise me with a scumbag government like that.

France denies reports it nixed an arms deal with Lebanon over Israeli pressure (Israel Radio)

Yeah sure. The two biggest Israel shills are France and the US.

Venezuelan President Chavez: Greatest nuclear threat in the world is Israel (Ch. 10)

Well they are the most likely to use them... even Pakistan/India/North Korea are less likely.


Hopefully this is not true :
ISRAEL ORDERS MASSIVE MILITARY FUEL STOCKS FAR IN EXCESS OF THAT REQUIRED FOR NORMAL OPERATIONS



[edit on 27-8-2010 by Vitchilo]

Originally posted by Vitchilo


Hopefully this is not true :
ISRAEL ORDERS MASSIVE MILITARY FUEL STOCKS FAR IN EXCESS OF THAT REQUIRED FOR NORMAL OPERATIONS

[edit on 27-8-2010 by Vitchilo]

It has been raised here on ATS that this report may be a rehash of this story:

Israel Requests $642M in Missiles, Fuel

Israel Requests $642M in Missiles, Fuel

As part of the 1979 Camp David peace accords, the USA offered substantial long-term military aid packages to Israel and Egypt. Aside from the geopolitical considerations involved, these packages have been good for American industry because the dollars must be spent on American goods.

While Egypt did not and does not have a significant independent defense industry, Camp David’s aftermath saw a major shift away from Soviet weaponry and toward American alternatives on land, sea, and air. The recent $850 million request for Abrams tanks is a good example. In contrast, Israel has a globally competitive defense industry; because it can allocate American foreign assistance dollars to pay American firms, however, the country always finds itself balancing investment in domestic capabilities and spending against its pool of “free” American industry purchases. Or even investing in American plants and jobs to produce Israeli designs.

Amidst rumors of a planned attack by Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah in late 2007, Israel has made $1.1 billion worth of military purchase requests so far in August 2007. Almost all concern her air force, the Cheyl Ha’avir...

The procedure with DSCA announcements is that requested sales will be eligible for a contract 30 days after notice, unless a successful vote is taken in Congress to block a sale.

Aug 24/07: The US DSCA announces [PDF] Israel’s request for 30 RGM-84L BLOCK II HARPOON Anti-Ship missiles with containers, 500 AIM-9M SIDEWINDER Short Range Air-to-Air Infrared Guided missiles, spares and repair parts for support equipment, training, publications and technical documents, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The principal contractors will be the Boeing Company in St. Louis, MO (Harpoon) and Raytheon systems Corporation in Tucson, AZ (Sidewinder), and the estimated total for both purchases is $163 million.

The Harpoon Block II adds GPS guidance, improved processing that helps it distinguish targets amidst near-shore “clutter,” and land attack features. Harpoon competes with Israel’s own ship-borne Gabriel 3 anti-ship missile; Israel’s Navy operates both types, and both types can also be air-launched (AGM-84, Gabriel III A/S).

The AIM-9M Sidewinder SRAAM (Short Range Air-Air Missile) is currently the most common version in US stocks, but it is not the latest. That distinction goes to the new AIM-9X, which adds a number of significant improvements and has been sold to the US military and a number of foreign customers (including Israel’s neighbor Saudi Arabia). RAFAEL’s Python 4 and Python 5 SRAAMs are both superior to the AIM-9M, and compare favorably with the AIM-9X. The Cheyl Ha’avir deploys both weapons, in addition to American AIM-9M missiles.

Aug 24/07: The US DSCA announces [PDF] Israel’s request for 90 million gallons of JP-8 aviation jet fuel and 42 million gallons of diesel fuel. The estimated cost is $308 million. The Defense Energy Supply Center is unable to identify the vendors at this time due to the competitive bid process for the supply sources(s).

“The proposed sale of the JP-8 aviation fuel will enable Israel to maintain the operational capability of its aircraft inventory. The diesel fuel will be used for ground forces vehicles and other equipment used in keeping peace and security in the region.”

More


This is a story that may come out every year, so that when Israel does make a big request for fuel, arms and logistical stuff for a war, we would be lured into a false sense of security by thinking "well, that story we've heard before."

So....this rehash, although a rehash, might actually be for real...and many people may not believe and be ready for it because they've heard it before. A war, let's say, could be imminent, but people would not believe it as the signs for war because it's an old report.

Clever Israel. Very clever.... there's no doubt in my mind they are indeed arming up.

They have done that for the past sixty years, we've seen it in action to this day.




[edit on 28-8-2010 by Regensturm]

Report: Israel planning to attack Hezbollah arms depots in Syria

The report is based on Western sources who asserted that Israel has increased its military force level along the northern border in the Golan Heights and Mount Dov areas.

According to the report, Syria's military is on high alert and is strengthening its anti-aircraft defenses along the border with Israel and at strategic sites within Syria.

Would be real bad. And it seems the deployment on the northern border is not over... and it was supposed to be over TWO WEEKS AGO.

Israel might be thinking Syria won't do a thing since they did nothing when Israel bombed their nuclear site... but this is not the same thing. It's a military thing...and if they are really on high alert it means they gonna retaliate. Iran and Hezbollah might join in.

And Ahmadinejad is supposed to go to Beirut and start arming Lebanon with arms in mid-September... hitting Syria while Ahmadinejad is in Lebanon would be a big hit to Iran... or even strike before then so Ahmadinejad never goes to Beirut and so don't have to chance ``to build up another Iranian proxy on Israel border`` as seen by Israel....

IMO there's really something behind that threat of Israel bombing Syria... IMO in the next two weeks. Ahmadinejad visit is September 11-12... bombing Syria before that is very likely.

Ahmadinejad declaring war on Israel while he is in Lebanon is not likely, he talks hard but when it comes to putting up...

France to sell HOT missiles to LAF

According to the report, French Defense Minister Herve Moran sent a letter to his Lebanese counterpart Elias Murr offering to sell Lebanon 100 HOT anti-tank missiles to be armed on the Gazelle helicopters already in use by Lebanese Armed Forces.

Thing is... would the helicopters make it into the air? Are the HOT missiles really that dangerous?

Report: Egypt seizes 190 anti-aircraft missiles in Sinai, meant for Gaza (Haaretz)

And why did they seize them again? Anti-Aircraft missiles are for defense, not offense.

Report: Erekat rejects Netanyahu's proposal to meet with Abbas every two weeks (Israel Radio)

Would be a waste of time.

Daily Telegraph: Obama to visit Israel, PA in coming months to advance peace talks (Haaretz)

Probably not gonna happen... or it's an mid-term election ploy.

A specially upgraded Russian Akula class submarine has been caught trying to record the acoustic signature made by the Vanguard submarines that carry Trident nuclear missiles, according to senior Navy officers.
The larger game is going on...

S Korea to build nuclear plant in Turkey
If Israel-Turkey ties go even more the tubes, Israel/US won't like that at all... Turkey with possible nukes in the future...

Israeli spy balloon flies over Lebanon
One more day...

[edit on 28-8-2010 by Vitchilo]

Originally posted by Vitchilo
Report: Israel planning to attack Hezbollah arms depots in Syria

The report is based on Western sources who asserted that Israel has increased its military force level along the northern border in the Golan Heights and Mount Dov areas.

According to the report, Syria's military is on high alert and is strengthening its anti-aircraft defenses along the border with Israel and at strategic sites within Syria.

Would be real bad. And it seems the deployment on the northern border is not over... and it was supposed to be over TWO WEEKS AGO.

Israel might be thinking Syria won't do a thing since they did nothing when Israel bombed their nuclear site... but this is not the same thing. It's a military thing...and if they are really on high alert it means they gonna retaliate. Iran and Hezbollah might join in.

And Ahmadinejad is supposed to go to Beirut and start arming Lebanon with arms in mid-September... hitting Syria while Ahmadinejad is in Lebanon would be a big hit to Iran... or even strike before then so Ahmadinejad never goes to Beirut and so don't have to chance ``to build up another Iranian proxy on Israel border`` as seen by Israel....

IMO there's really something behind that threat of Israel bombing Syria... IMO in the next two weeks. Ahmadinejad visit is September 11-12... bombing Syria before that is very likely.

As I have said, Israel, in attacking Iran, Syria, or Lebanon first will use the response from those attacks as a pretext for widening the war on those it did not bomb first, be it Iran, Syria or Lebanon.

If Israel attacks Syria first, it will hope Iran and Lebanon via Hezbollah do something so Israel can scream at being attacked by Iran and Lebanon and Hezbollah to use as an excuse to attack them in turn.

If Israel attacks Lebanon first, it will hope Iran and Syria do something so Israel can scream at being attacked by Iran and Syria to use as a pretext to attack them in turn.

Is Israel attacks Iran first, it will hope Syria and Lebanon via Hezbollah do something so Israel can scream at being attacked by Syria and Lebanon to use as a pretext to attack them in turn.

Israel, in attacking one, will hope to be given an excuse to attack the others.

Israel wants to destroy those who challenge it's US-backed domination in the region.

Originally posted by Vitchilo

Report: Egypt seizes 190 anti-aircraft missiles in Sinai, meant for Gaza (Haaretz)

And why did they seize them again? Anti-Aircraft missiles are for defense, not offense.

Because Egypt's government is the US's bitch, and because Egypt is paid to be so. It is behind Israel in the amount of money the US gives to Egypt, mainly to be a lackey, and not to go to war with Israel.

Another reason is because Egypt sees Hamas as being related to the Muslim Brotherhood, a banned political opposition party.

Mubarak is an opportunist, a dying fat slug who sits in Cairo, and spinelessly aids in the oppression of the Palestinians while oppressing his own people, which is kept quiet of course, because he is a friend of the US Government.

Remember when Bush began talking about Mubarak opening up Egyptian politics, well when we saw the political opposition telling it how it is about US Foreign policy....BAM! Bush shuts up, and Mubarak launched a new clampdown.

Do we hear Obama talk of Egyptian human rights under Mubarak? Nope.

There is talk of Mohammad El Baradei, former chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency standing to be Egyptian President, but he has said he would only do so if the contest was fair.....he knows not to hold his breath.

Originally posted by Vitchilo
A specially upgraded Russian Akula class submarine has been caught trying to record the acoustic signature made by the Vanguard submarines that carry Trident nuclear missiles, according to senior Navy officers.
The larger game is going on...

The Cold War merely thawed for a few years, mainly because a Drunk was in charge who did not know what was going on half the time, and carried out a wholesale sell-off of Russia when he did.

Yeltsin, off his face and dancing, while Clinton laughed, was footage that offended Russian pride deeply, along with bread lines and people starving on the streets.

Yeltsin led to the rise of Putin and Medvedev. Hard men, shrewd men, men you would not want to get on the wrong side of.

The Cold War is back on, for all the diplomatic niceties. The NATO encirclement of Russia throughout Yeltsin's time, and the West gloating and taking advantage while Russia staggered and nearly collapsed in the 90's has ensured Russia views the West with suspicion, and justifiably so.

[edit on 28-8-2010 by Regensturm]

Because Egypt's government is the US's bitch, and because Egypt is paid to be so.

Yeah it was just a rhetorical question.

The Cold War is back on, for all the diplomatic niceties.

Indeed. Putin is, unlike our politicians, a nationalist. And he knows that certain lines must not be crossed... like Ukraine/Belarus joining NATO... Or the establishment of the anti-missile shield near them.

BTW, on that subject...
'Where is the reset?': sceptical Putin asks in interview
He knows NATO still exists for world domination.

And on another subject... this week-end, I read the book The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century written by the CEO of Stratfor... interesting, except his whole thesis is based on three things and one is about to be wrong and the other is wrong. Still an interesting read.
He predicts Turkey, Poland and Japan to be superpowers, the US to stay the major superpower and taking over space. Russia will collapse, China will be invaded by Japan...US-Mexico to have a war.

And now for the Middle-east news.

Israel PM assures right wing ahead of Washington summit
Basically forget real peace talks.

Israel PM says he didn't tell US he'd freeze settlements
See?

A top EU official has rebuked Israel for convicting a Palestinian who has organized regular protests against the West Bank wall.
Arresting people for protesting... real nazi of you, Israeli government.

Saudis amass U.S. weapons to confront Iran
And it's a boatload of weapons... 60bn$ worth! One of the largest EVER sale contract... I guess Obama's way of helping the economy is more war... World War 3 in the making.

It goes from 84 F-15SA + upgrades of 70 F-15S + 72 UH-60 Blackhawks + 60 AH-64D Apache + upgrade for 12 AH-65A + Patrol vessels + upgrade for Patriot 2 anti-missile systems...

Arming the Saudis so they take on Iran...

US media 'giving rise to Islamophobia'
Yep...with that Ground Zero mosque nonsense...

Iran, China negotiate $2bn railroad deal
More Chinese investment in Iran...

Iran, China to expand media relations
So a concerted Iran-China propaganda machine?

China to invest $1bn in Iran
More investment in Iran from China, this time in oil...

Hariri visits Damascus
I wonder how the meeting went.

Israeli planes violate Lebanon airspace
Another day...

Rabbi slammed for promoting 'genocide'
I hope he's getting slammed... beaten up would be good too.

ECO: Anti-Iran sanctions ineffective
Well yeah Turkey, Russia, Oman, Pakistan and China sure are making it hard.

US: Israeli rabbi's remarks offensive
Yeah calling for genocide is more than offensive.

Abbas: Israel to blame if talks fail
They won't freeze settlements or won't give any concessions... so yeah.

The Syrian army and Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah would fully cooperate, should Israel launch a military aggression in the region, a report says.
Well yeah... why shouldn't they?

Israel insists on settlement resumption
Of course.

The Israeli army will pull the "Kfir" Brigade from the West Bank in 2011 only to deploy along the northern border with Lebanon, the Israeli newspaper Maariv said Monday.
More deployment on the Lebanese border...

Shas spiritual leader: Palestinians are evil, bitter enemy of Israel (Army Radio)

You tard.

Education Ministry updating civics textbook deemed 'too critical of state' (Haaretz)

Gee another thing the nazis did... stupid Israeli government.

Barak: Deporting foreign workers' children 'inhuman' (Ch. 10)

For once I agree with Barak... hell has frozen over.

Barak to King of Jordan: Peace is a strategic Israeli objective (Haaretz)

Yeah Israeli objective... but is it yours?

Netanyahu disclaims but does not condemn Yosef's comments against Palestinians (Haaretz)

This just show how crazy that bastard is.

Report: Building okayed in 57 settlements as soon as freeze elapses (Army Radio)

What a surprise... NOT.

Barak to visit Russia next week to discuss security concerns (Reuters)

And by discuss security concerns, they mean bully Russia so they don't sell anti-ships missiles to Syria.

Irish groups to buy ship for new Gaza aid flotilla (Reuters)

Soon the Mossad is gonna go there and kill them.

UN envoy: Lebanon and Israel need to make progress demarcating border (Reuters)

Yep. That would help peace.

Turkey to take over presidency of UN Security Council for a month on Sept. 1 (Haaretz)

That should be interesting... especially if Israel bombs Syria/Lebanon/Iran in September as many seems to think.


We could something develop on Al-Quds Day... on September 3... the Muslim/Arab day of anti-Israel...

So for the last time I'll put a deadline for a strike this year.

November 2 Eastern time. If not done by then, no strike before at least March.

[edit on 30-8-2010 by Vitchilo]

Iranian commander hits back at Bolton

From the link:

Iranian commander hits back at Bolton

A senior Iranian commander has rapped former US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton for his 'nonsensical' war rhetoric against the Islamic Republic.

Brigadier General Seyyed Masoud Jazayeri, the deputy head of Iran's Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Bolton and has still kept his "notoriety for idiotic remarks," Mehr news agency reported on Monday.

Jazayeri's remark comes after Bolton said on Saturday that in case of a US military attack, Iran would be able to hold on to the Strait of Hormuz for two or three days "at the most" before the US forces crushed the Iranian Army, Navy and Air Force.

"Apparently, the former US official in the UN is in the dark about the changes in the global situation and thinks America can do whatever it wants especially militarily," the Iranian commander said.

He further noted that the Islamic Republic is fully capable of defending its sovereignty.

Bolton's latest remarks come two weeks after the former UN envoy controversially formulated an eight-day deadline for an Israeli attack against Iran's nuclear facilities before the August 21 launch of the country's first nuclear power plant in the southern port city of Bushehr.

Iranian officials have dismissed the likelihood of any attacks but have warned that the consequences of such a move would be fierce and not limited to the region.

Earlier in August, A group of ex-CIA officials warned Washington against Tel Aviv's efforts to "mousetrap" the US on Iran, a mistake that would "destroy" Israel.

In a memo to the US President Barack Obama, a group of former CIA intelligence officers at the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ready to go unilateral on Iran.

Israel, which is the only entity in the Middle East that possesses nuclear weapons, has repeatedly voiced its determination to stop Iran's nuclear program, even through military means.

More

The Iranian Commander refers to changes in the global situation that Bolton is not aware of. Among them is the fact after Iraq and Afghanistan, the TPTB in the US have not had things go their own way. The Iranian Commander may be referring to how Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan can serve as springboards for an attack on Iran by the US, (funny that) but that those springboards are hotspots of local resistance to the US occupation and US bases in the region.

By 'global changes' He may also be referring to things behind the scenes we don't know about, or perhaps do.....Russia, China? To a lesser extent Syria and Turkey and their support of Iran?


Secret Abbas-Barak talks in Jordan

From the link:

Secret Abbas-Barak talks in Jordan

Acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas has secretly met with Israeli defense minister amid warnings at home against resuming direct talks with Israelis.


Abbas held talks with Ehud Barak on Sunday during a clandestine meeting in a private home in Amman, AFP quoted Israeli media reports as saying on Tuesday.

Barak had earlier talked with King Abdullah II in the Jordanian capital.

The secret meeting comes in the run up to the US-sponsored direct negotiations scheduled to start on September 2 in Washington.

King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak are also expected to join an inaugural meeting in Washington on Wednesday between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abbas, who will participate in the direct talks the following day.

The talks mark the first direct negotiations between the two sides since Israel's deadly onslaught on the Gaza Strip broke off talks in December 2008.

Abbas is facing mounting criticism from Palestinians who charge the Palestinian Authority with yielding to "US and Israeli pressure." The Palestinians have also raised concerns that further concessions on the part of Abbas could lead to an intensified violation of their rights by Israel.

More

Abbas will get nothing. The Israelis will take, take, take, and the Fatah at most will get the right to make up grand titles for paltry government 'institutions' that hold as much water as a wet paper bag and which will be continously undermined by Israel.

Fatah, with a few exceptions, when it comes the top of the hierachy, are fat and bloated and corrupt and are nothing but collaborators to the oppression and occupation of the Palestinians.

Abbas, like Arafat before him, will become, because of he being consistently undermined and dazzled by the Israelis and their false promises, will be seen as a collaborator, not an equal partner in peace.

Hamas became popular because Fatah had become an undermined, demoralised, bloated and corrupt institution of collaborators and bully-boys.

The Fatah supporter on the ground supports the party they feel will most likely represent Palestinian hopes the best. Unfortunatly they are being betrayed, and this could have fallout later with a varying array of consequences that could result from that.


www.presstv.ir...

From the link:

'Tehran reactor fuel ready in a year'

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali-Akbar Salehi says fuel for the Tehran research reactor will be produced within a year.


He also stressed the country's need for 20 percent-enriched uranium required for civilian purposes and noted that Iran has been forced to produce 20 percent-enriched uranium for medical and therapeutic purposes, IRNA quoted Salehi as saying on Monday.

"Iran will continue its activities to enrich uranium to a level of 20 percent for the production of fuel for Tehran's research reactor," Salehi added.

"We had announced from the beginning that we did not seek to enrich uranium to a level of 20 percent and the entire world knows that," said the AEOI chief.

"[But] when we sent a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency last year in order to provide fuel for Tehran reactor, the countries which could produce such fuel laid down unacceptable conditions before us," explained Salehi.

He also pointed out that Iran has enriched 25 kilograms of its uranium to the required 20 percent level so far, adding that the fuel for the Tehran research reactor will be produced within a year.

Salehi stressed Tehran had no intention of enriching all of its stockpiled uranium to that level, underscoring that the activity will be stopped as soon as enough fuel is produced.

Iran began enriching uranium to 20 percent in February.

Link

I'm sure Israel and/or US have the reactor on their hitlist should a attack happen.

I would not give a deadline for Israel to attack, because quite simply we should not put anything past the Israelis. We must be on our guard here. It could happen today, could happen in the next few months, anytime really.

Keep any eye on around December and January, when the Israelis attacked Gaza. They did so because there was countries celebrating Christmas and who were having national holidays so again, a dangeruous time as diplomats, beuracrats and government ministers are away from their posts, and so too possible peacebrokers.

A ripe opportunity for Israel to attack without too much international pressure for them to halt.

Very much in keeping with why Summers too are dangerous, as we have discussed.


[edit on 31-8-2010 by Regensturm]

Originally posted by Vitchilo
Indeed. Putin is, unlike our politicians, a nationalist. And he knows that certain lines must not be crossed... like Ukraine/Belarus joining NATO... Or the establishment of the anti-missile shield near them.

Putin and Medvedev are the direct results of Yeltin, where Russia was weakened and undermined. Russia are now trying to halt the NATO march and the PNAC.

Originally posted by Vitchilo
BTW, on that subject...
'Where is the reset?': sceptical Putin asks in interview
He knows NATO still exists for world domination.

Absolutely. If I was Russia, I would not lift a finger to help the US-led NATO in Afghanistan. Payback for supporting the Mujahadeen, Al-CIAda and Bin Laden in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation.

Besides, NATO in Afghanistan is among many other things, a NATO strategic move in Central Asia against Russia, as part of the geopolitical and geostrategical game....which among it's aims is the encirclement, containment, and weakening of Russia.

Originally posted by Vitchilo
And on another subject... this week-end, I read the book The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century written by the CEO of Stratfor... interesting, except his whole thesis is based on three things and one is about to be wrong and the other is wrong. Still an interesting read.
He predicts Turkey, Poland and Japan to be superpowers, the US to stay the major superpower and taking over space. Russia will collapse, China will be invaded by Japan...US-Mexico to have a war.

Turkey...could be a regional superpower, but globally? It depends whether it can carry it's broadening regional power to be a bridge from the 'East' to the 'West' and be a powerbroker.

Poland...no. I have heard this Polish superpower theory before. A regional superpower backed by the West at the most, and that's still a stretch. I believe Poland will be a key to being a anti-Russian buffer by the West.

Japan? No. They are now inhibited by China's growth, are being overtaken in this area, and also now have to compete with South Korea.

The US is in decline as a superpower. A sympton of of an Empire's decline is it's recourse to using violence and meeting much toil, rather than using it's influence, to continue to expand it's power in the world.

The US got a shock in Iraq, and it's learning that Afghanistan is not known as 'The Graveyard of Empires' for nothing.

The question will be whether the US declines comparitively quietly and voluntarily like the British Empire, or goes down in flames and ruins, like other Empires in history have done for discovering the march of time brings the march of defeat no matter how much one fights against it.

Russia collapsing....that was predicted in the 90's. I can see a new 'Chechnya' scenario or two, and perhaps Russia's pillars of power going through a split and possible tensions and troubles...but a collapse I heard predicted about Russia, and which has been predicted before. Still, it endures. The future will tell if this remains true.

China invaded by Japan. lol Let them try. I think Japan will build up militarily, but invading China? Not unless China goes through a catalysmic collapse and Japan acts as peacekeepers....but even then....

US-Mexico War. A growing possibility in some form.

[edit on 31-8-2010 by Regensturm]

Robert Fisk: US troops say goodbye to Iraq

From the Link:

Robert Fisk: US troops say goodbye to Iraq

Torture. Corruption. Civil war. America has certainly left its mark

When you invade someone else's country, there has to be a first soldier – just as there has to be a last.


The first man in front of the first unit of the first column of the invading American army to reach Fardous Square in the centre of Baghdad in 2003 was Corporal David Breeze of the 3rd Battalion, Fourth Marine Regiment. For that reason, of course, he pointed out to me that he wasn't a soldier at all. Marines are not soldiers. They are Marines. But he hadn't talked to his mom for two months and so – equally inevitably – I offered him my satellite phone to call his home in Michigan. Every journalist knows you'll get a good story if you lend your phone to a soldier in a war.

"Hi, you guys," Corporal Breeze bellowed. "I'm in Baghdad. I'm ringing to say 'Hi! I love you. I'm doing fine. I love you guys.' The war will be over in a few days. I'll see you soon." Yes, they all said the war would be over soon. They didn't consult the Iraqis about this pleasant notion. The first suicide bombers – a policeman in a car and then two women in a car – had already hit the Americans on the long highway up to Baghdad. There would be hundreds more. There will be hundreds more in Iraq in the future.

So we should not be taken in by the tomfoolery on the Kuwaiti border in the last few hours, the departure of the last "combat" troops from Iraq two weeks ahead of schedule. Nor by the infantile cries of "We won" from teenage soldiers, some of whom must have been 12-years-old when George W Bush sent his army off on this catastrophic Iraqi adventure. They are leaving behind 50,000 men and women – a third of the entire US occupation force – who will be attacked and who will still have to fight against the insurgency.

Yes, officially they are there to train the gunmen and militiamen and the poorest of the poor who have joined the new Iraqi army, whose own commander does not believe they will be ready to defend their country until 2020. But they will still be in occupation – for surely one of the the "American interests" they must defend is their own presence – along with the thousands of armed and indisciplined mercenaries, western and eastern, who are shooting their way around Iraq to safeguard our precious western diplomats and businessmen. So say it out loud: we are not leaving.

Instead, the millions of American soldiers who have passed through Iraq have brought the Iraqis a plague. From Afghanistan – in which they showed as much interest after 2001 as they will show when they start "leaving" that country next year – they brought the infection of al-Qa'ida. They brought the disease of civil war. They injected Iraq with corruption on a grand scale. They stamped the seal of torture on Abu Ghraib – a worthy successor to the same prison under Saddam's vile rule – after stamping the seal of torture on Bagram and the black prisons of Afghanistan. They sectarianised a country that, for all its Saddamite brutality and corruption, had hitherto held its Sunnis and Shias together.

And because the Shias would invariably rule in this new "democracy", the American soldiers gave Iran the victory it had sought so vainly in the terrible 1980-88 war against Saddam. Indeed, men who had attacked the US embassy in Kuwait in the bad old days – men who were allies of the suicide bombers who blew up the Marine base in Beirut in 1983 – now help to run Iraq. The Dawa were "terrorists" in those days. Now they are "democrats". Funny how we've forgotten the 241 US servicemen who died in the Lebanon adventure. Corporal David Breeze was probably two or three-years-old then.

But the sickness continued. America's disaster in Iraq infected Jordan with al-Qa'ida – the hotel bombings in Amman – and then Lebanon again. The arrival of the gunmen from Fatah al-Islam in the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian camp in the north of Lebanon – their 34-day war with the Lebanese army – and the scores of civilian dead were a direct result of the Sunni uprising in Iraq. Al-Qa'ida had arrived in Lebanon. Then Iraq under the Americans re-infected Afghanistan with the suicide bomber, the self-immolator who turned America's soldiers from men who fight to men who hide.

Anyway, they are busy re-writing the narrative now. Up to a million Iraqis are dead. Blair cares nothing about them – they do not feature, please note, in his royalties generosity. And nor do most of the American soldiers. They came. They saw. They lost. And now they say they've won. How the Arabs, surviving on six hours of electricity a day in their bleak country, must be hoping for no more victories like this one.

Then and now

3,000 The estimated number of Iraqi civilians killed last year. That's less than a tenth of the 34,500 killed in 2007 but it's still testament to the dangers faced each day by Iraqis.

200 The number of Iraqis known to be still held in US custody – a fraction of the 26,000 held in military prisons three years ago.

15.5 The average number of hours of electricity a day Baghdad receives, a marked impovement from the six hours it got three years ago but still not up to pre-invasions standards, when Iraqi cities could rely on 24-hour power.

Link

The Iraqi Insurgency, the resistance of a people to the occupation of their country, continues.

If I had to recommend just three books, it would be:

Lebanon - Pity The Nation by Robert Fisk

The Great War for Civillisation: The Conquest of The Middle East by Robert Fisk

The New Masters of The World by John Pilger.

Heavy reading, but required reading. For the first two in regards to The Middle East, and the third for the workings of TPTB and who they are and what they do.

“Iran wants nuclear capability – not a bomb”

From the Link:

“Iran wants nuclear capability – not a bomb”

Political scientist Vyacheslav Nikonov spoke with RT on some of the most pressing issues concerning Russia, from Iran’s first nuclear power plant to alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Talking about the Bushehr nuclear power plant, Vyacheslav Nikonov pointed out that the Iranian nuclear program which worries Americans, Europeans, and Russians is not about Bushehr – it is about some other facilities which Iran has.

“Actually, Russia provided Iran with a nuclear reactor of the same type that Americans were supposed to provide to North Korea to prevent them from having nuclear weapons,” he said. “This is a light water reactor which is not capable of providing any weapons-grade uranium; and all fuel will be provided by Russia, and all waste fuel will be taken away by Russia.”

“If you follow the reactions of the major countries to the Bushehr opening, which by the way, is not there yet, this station will produce electricity only by December, the reaction is quite neutral, or even positive,” he added. “The only country which reacted negatively was Israel, but it reacts negatively to whatever happens in relations of Iran with any other country, since they are isolating Iran.”

Link


Nikonov may be speaking for Russia here, and Russia may be saying to Israel: stop attacking us over Bushehr. You're not going to stop us helping the Iranians with Bushehr. Your protests are absurd.

That same message too, in this article:

Noise over nuclear power plant unjustified – commentator (Includes Videos)

From the Link:

Noise over nuclear power plant unjustified

Published 23 August, 2010, 16:45

Edited 24 August, 2010, 22:31

If the international community is sincere in saying that Iran is entitled to a right to develop peaceful atomic energy, then its nuclear power plant at Bushehr should operate, says political commentator Sergey Strokan.

“Bushehr station is operating in full compliance with the recommendations of the international atomic energy experts,” said Strokan. “It doesn’t contradict the so-called nuclear non-proliferation regime.”


However, after the Russian-built nuclear power plant was loaded with fuel in Iran's city of Bushehr on Saturday, the start-up received mixed reaction from across the globe, with Israel calling the idea of the station “unacceptable.”

Strokan insists the “noise” over the plant is exaggerated, saying the station’s launch does not fall under the recent UN sanctions against Iran.

Ali Ansari, a professor of Iranian history at St. Andrews University in London, says the development of the power plant should in fact be welcomed.

“It actually shows that a system can work, that Russia is supplying the enriched uranium and we’ll be taking it away,” Ansari said. “In some ways, it undermines Iran’s position that it needs to enrich uranium on its own accord.”

Michael Thomas from the Middle East Association in London believes that supplying Iran with the uranium needed for its research reactor could in fact ensure that the country curbs its ambitions to enrich uranium on its own.

“[Iranians] are very clever people. I do believe they want to strike the best possible deal that they can get out of the West,” said Thomas. “They may take this almost to the brink, but eventually a solution will be found.”

Link (And Videos)

I don't believe it does undermine Iran's position that it needs to enrich uranium on it's own, it strengthens it. Iran does not want to be in a position where it's energy supplies are completely in the hands on foreign companies and countries. It has learnt the lesson well of 1953, and will seek self-reliance and managing it's own energy supplies with a degree of sovereign independence.



Russia honors commitments to Syria

From the Link:

Russia honors commitments to Syria

Published 30 August, 2010, 11:50

Edited 31 August, 2010, 04:20

Moscow is fully compliant in its agreements with Syria in the sphere of the military and technological co-operation, Russian presidential aide Sergey Prikhodko said.

“Some Israeli media have recently disseminated information distorting Russia’s position on honoring its commitments to Syria, including in the area of military-technological co-operation,” he told journalists on August 28.

“I would like to emphasize that the Russian Federation is fully honoring its earlier agreements with Syria,” Prikhodko was quoted by Interfax as saying.

Russia’s policy in the military and technological co-operation is determined by the president and is not directed against third countries, the aide said.

The Haaretz daily reported on August 27 that Israel was trying to “thwart a Russian arms deal with Syria” regarding the sale of advanced P-800 Yakhont supersonic cruise missiles.

According to the Israeli paper, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly asked his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to stop the deal with Syria.

Prikhodko stressed that such reports misrepresented Russia’s position on co-operation with Syria.

Tel Aviv may raise the issue on September 5 during the visit of Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak to Moscow. He is expected to meet his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov.

Sergey Borisov, RT

Link

Israel are lobbying Russia hard. There's a Pro-Israeli lobby in Moscow.

Ehud Barak is on his way to Moscow shortly, and follows a long-line of Israel shuttle visits.

If Iran does not have S-300s, my view is that should Iran get them, they could get them from Russia via Syria.

Russia then has deniability, and can say the missiles were for Syria, not Iran.

Syria are quite important in the role it plays.

[edit on 1-9-2010 by Regensturm]

Russia giving high tech anti-ship missiles to Syria is good news... don't want to go to the bottom of the sea...don't start a war.

Syria, Hezbollah Sign Defense Pact

But what is interesting is that a confidential source has revealed that this little news nugget was supplied by none other than Israeli intelligence. It wanted both the Syrians and Hezbollah to know that it knew about their war plans.

Ooo I'm scared.

10:00pm Hizbullah commented on Hamas’ West Bank shooting: It’s a clear message to prove that there is no option other than the resistance.

If you believe in Debka...

US Intel: Tehran pushes Hizballah hard to attack Israel

According to debkafile's military sources, Hizballah appears to be preparing a major attack on Israel straight after the ceremonial start of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Washington Thursday Sept. 2. A second target date is the Jewish New Year festival starting on Sept. 8.

Since Hamas is doing attacks on Israel... MAYBE this has some backup... MAYBE. Two attacks in two days...

2 Israelis wounded, 1 seriously, in shooting in West Bank (Haaretz)

West seeks to divide, conquer Muslims
Well yes. Divide and conquer.

A senior Israeli official says Tel Aviv will not accept East al-Quds (Jerusalem) as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
Jerusalem would be the capital of two countries at the same time... that wouldn't work.

Kuwait no launch pad for attacks
So now we have Iraq, Turkey, UAE, Kuwait and Pakistan say no participation in possible US strikes against Iran...

Report: U.S. threatens to shun military drill with Turkey if it bans Israel
So because Turkey doesn't want to do a drill with those who murderered their nationals and are funding terrorism in Turkey they are bad? Seriously? Well then I guess the US should do military drills with the Taliban.

Police conducting emergency preparedness drills throughout Israel on Tuesday (Ch. 10)

More war preparations?

IDF Gen. Eitan Dangot: There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza (Haaretz)

Yeah sure. Why don't the Israelis move in Gaza and the Palestinians in Tel-Aviv then?

White House: U.S. pullout from Iraq should be permanent (AP)

Keyword : SHOULD... not to mention the pullout from Iraq is a joke.

Turkel panel on IDF appointments: No obstacle to Galant becoming next IDF chief (Haaretz)

You mean apart that he's a war criminal?

Iraq PM: End of U.S. combat restores our sovereignty (AP)

Spoken like a true puppet.

Netanyahu: Terrorists will not determine Israel's borders (AP)

So you will resign now?

Obama: U.S. is unwavering in support of Israel's security (Haaretz)

Gee ya think?

Tony Blair memoirs: we must be prepared for attack on Iran
The world should arrest you and hang your neck with a tie.

[edit on 1-9-2010 by Vitchilo]

Originally posted by Vitchilo

10:00pm Hizbullah commented on Hamas’ West Bank shooting: It’s a clear message to prove that there is no option other than the resistance.

If you believe in Debka...

US Intel: Tehran pushes Hizballah hard to attack Israel

According to debkafile's military sources, Hizballah appears to be preparing a major attack on Israel straight after the ceremonial start of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Washington Thursday Sept. 2. A second target date is the Jewish New Year festival starting on Sept. 8.

Since Hamas is doing attacks on Israel... MAYBE this has some backup... MAYBE. Two attacks in two days...

The attacks are being carried out by Hamas, not Hezbollah, and we have to remember Hamas, along with other Palestinian armed groups, are groups composed of Palestinians that see the 'peace talks' for the sham and sellout that they are, see their land being stolen from them, and who feel resisting is the only course of action, short of rolling over and dying and accepting that they will live like animals in buildings that at any moment could be stolen from them for an Israeli colonist.

We have to be clear here, that the Israeli settlers are not settlers, they are colonists, seeking to seize land and water occupied by Israel, taken from the Palestinians, and most of the time, these colonists often are armed.

The Palestinian armed groups see them as hostile as a result.

I can't see Hezbollah attacking Israel unless Israel provokes Hezbollah into doing so. There's a variety of ways that could happen, some of which has been discussed. I full well believe Israel may do something which causes Hezbollah/Iran/Syria to respond and from there Israel will scream they are being attacked, and try to lay waste to all three.


What amazes me is when Obama refers to the killing of the four West Bank colonists as a 'slaughter'.

The loss of life is terrible indeed, but if that is a slaughter, what definition is given to the killing of 9 activists oboard the Gaza flotilla by Israeli soldiers? A greater loss of life at the hands of guns?

Well, Hillary Clinton called it "this tragedy" and a White House Spokesman said at the time that the US "deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained, and is currently working to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy"

Those key words. 'Tragedy'. 'Deeply Regrets the loss of life.'

Not a slaughter. But a tragedy. As if it was a natural disaster or an air plane crash had been what had happened, not the deaths of 9 people at the hands of armed Israeli soldiers, and where the loss of life was morever something not to be condemned as a 'slaughter', like the killing of those four Israeli colonists, but as something where the deaths are something that causes there to be a statement to the effect that the US "deeply regrets the loss of life."

Can you imagine if the US administration had described the killing of those 4 Israeli colonists as a "tragedy" and that the US "deeply regrets the loss of life"?

The US administration would be condemned by the pro-Israel lobby for insincerity.

And how did the US describe Israel laying waste to Gaza in 2008 in which between 1,385 and 1,440 Palestinians died and which could very much be described as a "slaughter" by Obama?

Well, while Obama stayed as quiet as a mouse, Bush reasserted the United States' support of Israel's right to protect itself, and called for Israel "to avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas in Gaza"

The deaths of between 1, 385 and 1,440 Palestinians is not worthy of a definition as a 'slaughter', it seems. Not by Bush's or Obama's standards. But the killings of four Israeli colonists is a 'slaughter' according to Obama.

And this is why the US, whatever administration as it stands, can not be seen, and is simply not, and has not ever been, an impartial mediator in any peace talks, and Hamas knows that and thus why it takes no heed of them.

The US, in it's diplomatic language and actions alone in making comments about the deaths of Palestinians and Israelis, the deaths of Palestinians and Turkish citizens at the hands of the IDF is variably called a "tragedy" it "deeply regrets" while reasserting the US's support of Israel to defend itself, and meekly calls for Israel "to avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas in Gaza" while the deaths of four Israeli colonists living in the West Bank at the hands of Hamas is a "slaughter."

The bias is there for all to see. The killing of Palestinians, or anybody at the hands of the IDF by contrast is not worthy of being called a "slaughter" it seems.

And let us not forget the US through it's successive administrations, has armed and funded Israel to the teeth.

Impartial mediator? When the US-made Israeli Jets and Helicopters and missiles and bombs and guns are being used to killed Palestinians? No.

Originally posted by Vitchilo
Tony Blair memoirs: we must be prepared for attack on Iran
The world should arrest you and hang your neck with a tie.

[edit on 1-9-2010 by Vitchilo]

And Bush, Campbell, Rumsfeld, the lot of them. Some would say hanging them from their ties would be too kind, if you get what I mean.

Yes. The Middle East peace envoy calls for a preparation for a war on Iran.

The Middle East peace envoy who as Bush's poodle, joined in waging war on the people, and the nation of Iraq.

I love doublethink.

Altogether now...War is Peace....

[edit on 2-9-2010 by Regensturm]

Yep doublethink is quite disgusting.

And yeah all the bunch should be hanged by the balls. If not worse.

4:30pm Iranian ambassador said after visiting Hariri: Ahmedinejad will visit Beirut during October.

Postponing his visit by a month... scared of something?

Settlement expansion to continue
Yeah great idea... NOT.

Iran, China eye joint investment board

The amount of trade between the two countries has been valued at around 8.5 billion dollars in the first four months of 2010.

Sanctions are working.... NOT.

The Islamic movement said on Wednesday that it had completed the construction of a new missile with the range of 80 kilometers, Quds news agency reported.
If true and if they start launching them... it wouldn't surprise me if Israel carries out another invasion of Gaza... thing is Turkey said they wouldn't stand by the next time Israel did something like that.

Obama: Direct talks end '67 occupation
Hahahhaha. Obama really thinks that Netanyahu will give back the Golan Heights... Somehow I really, really, really doubt that.

64% of Israelis' support occupation
Well 64% of Israelis don't know what the hell they are talking about, brainwashed or downright sadistic.

Turkish newspaper: Israel is using wiretapping to listen to Turkish citizens (Haaretz)

Turkey is gonna love that.

EU presses China to uphold Iran sanctions (Reuters)

Hahahahhahaahahahahaha

Abbas: We call on Israeli government to end all settlement activity, end embargo on Gaza (Haaretz)

Won't happen, but thanks for trying.

Netanyahu and Abbas agree to biweekly meetings (Reuters)

Oooo that's gonna solve everything...


Israel called on the Lebanese government on Thursday to take responsible measures on the occasion of Al-Quds Day on Friday, during which Hezbollah will organize activities near the Lebanese-Israeli border in the South

Another unnamed Israeli official reportedly warned Lebanon against provoking Israel.[/URL]

Tomorrow could be interesting.

[edit on 2-9-2010 by Vitchilo]

Lebanon Gives UN List of 141 Suspected Israeli Spies
The UN won't do squat.

Soaid: Syria is Heading towards Launching Direct Negotiations with Israel over the Golan Heights
What would be neat is if actually Israel do real diplomatic talks about the Golan Heights... but I'm not holding my breath.

Source to NOW Lebanon: Hezbollah arms storage explodes in South

Israeli official: LAF, Hezbollah hiding truth about Chehabiyya explosion
And who's covering up about it's nukes? Ah yes.

Source in PM's delegation: Netanyahu considering referendum on peace deal (Haaretz)

The population would probably refuse it... that's why it won't go to a referendum because it would make them look bad.

Hamas military spokesman: These last few attacks are just the beginning (Ch. 10)

Japan approves economic sanctions against Iran (AP)

Gee what a surprise...not.

reply to post by Vitchilo



More on the recent explosion, in Lebanon...



edition.cnn.com...=jOdloh6i79y&wom=false

UN nuclear chief asks Israel to join nonproliferation treaty (AP)

Wasted his breath when he said that.

Lieberman 'unsure if issues of Jerusalem and settlements can be resolved' (AP)

A scumbag like you sure don't want peace.

Arab league chief: This round of negations between Israel, PA will be the last (AP)

What does that even mean? Israel won't exist? People are tired of peace talks not ending up with anything?

Palestinians deny agreeing to West Bank talks with Israel on Monday (Haaretz)

Confusion...

Minister Braverman: Peace talks are a strategic weapon against Iran (Haaretz)

Not peace talks alone. PEACE, PERIOD. Sign a goddamn piece treaty already.

Report: U.S. to continue Lebanon army support despite Israel border clash (Haaretz)

supporting the Lebanese government is the good way to go.

U.S. army chief: Turkey must assist sanctions against Iran's nuclear program (AP)

So far they are not. And with all the projects going on it seems they won't either.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak leaves Sunday for security meetings in Moscow (Ch. 10)

Last attempt to cancel the sales of the P-800 anti-ship missiles to Syria...

U.S. to build missile defense system for Europe on Turkish soil (Ch. 10)

Wonder what Russia is gonna say about that... and doing that is interesting since Turkey continue to make Iran evade the sanctions...double speak from the US there...

Bahrain arrests hundreds of Shiites it claims were trying to overthrow the government (DPA)

So will this be seen as ``Iranian agents`` trying to overthrow the government?

Report: Wiesenthal Center in Buenos Aires warned of possible Hezbollah attack (Ch. 10)

That is BS.

IDF confirms striking Gaza in wake of terror incidents over last week (Haaretz)

And it continues.

Israeli says not guilty of 'largest human trafficking case in U.S. history' (Haaretz)

Yeah sure. And Israelis were not also running the biggest spy rings in US history right?

Top U.S. official: Obama 'very pleased' with outcome of Mideast summit in Washington (Haaretz)

Outcome? What outcome? Nothing concrete was done. More Obama BS.

Israeli drones hover over east Lebanon
Another day, another violation.

Feltman: The U.S. Wants Peace that Would Include Lebanon and Syria
Good luck with that. I mean really good luck.

Iran to stage major anti-aircraft drills
They gonna test their new anti-air missiles... we'll see how developed they are... probably not much. But if they indeed received a couple of S-300s to study a few months ago...we never know.

'Israel nuclear sites within Iran reach'
Well if Israel strikes Iranian nuclear sites, Iran is well within the right to strike Dimona...

Settlements expand as PA, Israel talk
Nice way of derailing talks...

Israeli US envoy: Hizbullah has 15,000 rockets on border
And Israel have nukes on Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan border... And nobody is saying squat about it.

Coming dates : September 8-10 : Rosh Hashanah (no work)
September 8-9-10-11 : New moon
September 10: End of Ramadan
September 17-18 : Yom Kippur (no work)
September 23-25 : Sukkot (no work)
September 29-30 : Shemini Atzeret (no work)
September 30-October 1 : Simchat Torah (no work)

Rob ert Fisk: Blair should take responsibility for Iraq. But he won't. He can't

From the Link:

Robert Fisk: Blair should take responsibility for Iraq. But he won't. He can't

This is not a debate, it's a bloody, blood-soaked disaster for which the former PM should take responsibility

Friday, 3 September 2010

Has this wretched man learned nothing? On and on, it went during his BBC interview: "I would absolutely...","I definitely...", "I believed absolutely clearly...", "It was very, very clear that this changed everything" – "this" being 11 September 2001 – "Let me state clearly and unequivocally", "The Intelligence picture was clear...", "legal justification was quite clear", "We said completely accurately... "Because I believed strongly, then and now...", "My definitive view in the end is..." You would have thought we won the war in Iraq, that we were winning the war in Afghanistan, that we were going to win the next war in Iran. And why not, if Lord Blair of Kut al-Amara says so.

And I hereby abandon all further reference to Lord Blair of Kut al-Amara, with its unhappy reference to Britain's humiliating military defeat in 1915 Mesopotamia. He must be re-created Lord Blair of Isfahan. Having conquered Saddam, he wants to conquer Ahmadinejad. "I am saying that it is wholly unacceptable for Iran to have nuclear weapons capability," he told poor old Andrew Marr. It was necessary for the Iranians," quoth he, "to get that message, loud and clear." Thus did our Middle East peace envoy prepare us for war with Persia. But I rather fear the Iranians got his "message" a long time ago: if you want to avoid threats from the likes of Lord Blair, you'd better buy a bomb pdq. After all, what he didn't announce was: "I am saying it is wholly unacceptable for North Korea to have nuclear capability." And we all know why.

Sometimes, Blair sounded like the Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman. He and his Israeli boss believe Ahmadinejad is worse than Hitler – which takes some doing – and Lord Blair, as we know, is no appeaser. Oddly, however – since he's supposed to be our peacemaker between the two sides – "Israel" and "Palestine" were two words that went totally unmentioned, even though Blair blurted out to the Chilcot inquiry that there had been "phone calls" with Israelis during his decision-making conference with Bush over Iraq. Marr missed out there. What on earth were Blair and Bush talking to the Israelis about as they prepared to take us into this catastrophe?

Mor e

Indeed, what was those "phone calls" with the Israelis that Blair said occured during his and Bush's decision-making conference on Iraq?

It sounds like somebody else was in on the US-UK governments' planning for the attack, invasion and occupation of Iraq.

What a surprise.

Robert Fisk is an angry man, a passionate man, and a cynical veteran reporter. But he is that way because he has reported on The Middle East for the best part of forty years, on the injustices, on the deaths, on the maiming, on the destruction of so many people and countries, and on the double-dealing and bare-faced vileness of public figures, what they do and say publically, and privately.

He has been accused of having Palestinian bias, Israeli bias, Syrian bias, Iraqi bias, British bias, American bias, Lebanese bias and etc etc.

As he takes criticism from all sides, you know he is a good reporter. He is not bias anyway, just realist.

I don't agree with everything he writes, but he is a good reporter and writer.

He lives in Lebanon, he is there, feeling the pulse of the region and it's tensions, and he has a proven record of calling things right from reading between the lines.

So when he says in this article that:

I hope the air-raid sirens in Isfahan are in good working order.

It's his acknowledgement, his belief from what we all see and hear, that war is indeed coming.

His warning must be heeded.

Hariri comes clean on Syria accusations

From the Link:

Hariri comes clean on Syria accusations

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri acknowledges that he made a mistake to accuse Syria of the murder of his father in a 2005 bombing in Beirut.

"At some point, we made a mistake," AFP quoted Hariri as telling the Saudi-owned daily Asharq al-Awsat on Monday.

"At one stage, we accused Syria of assassinating the martyred premier...that was a political accusation, and that political accusation is over," he told the London-based paper.

"There is a (UN) court that is doing its job, and we for our part must reassess what happened," he went on to say.

Former Lebanese Premier Rafiq Hariri was killed, along with more than 20 others, in a massive bombing in the Lebanese capital on February 14, 2005.

Lebanon's Western-backed parties blamed the assassination on Syria, a charge Damascus vehemently rejected.

MRS/HRF

Link

Well it looks like Rafik Hariri no longer believes, (if he ever did) that Syria murdered his Dad.

I suspected this when Hariri met with Assad. Why would you peaceably meet the man you believed had your Dad killed, unless you were convinced they were not to blame?

Very strange that he says that the accusation of Syria's involvement in his father's death was a "political accusation" and "that political accusation is over,"

Is he saying he used his father's death for political means by accusing Syria? Or that he accused Syria because he thought they were the ones who had much to gain politically from his father's death?

Hariri senior's death did not benefit Syria, it led to their withdrawl from Lebanon under pressure and temporary damage to their standing in Lebanon. Syria had nothing to gain from Hariri's death, it would be blamed, Syria knew this, and it was.

So who had everything to gain from Syria being blamed, and just one year later after Syria's withdrawl from Lebanon, waged war on Lebanon in 2006?

Indeed.


The following link contains a video from 'The Isle' a Press TV programme about events in Britain, which looks at the Pro-Israeli lobby in the UK, which has a presence in all three main parties, the recently deposed Labour, and the Tories and the Lib Dems, who are in a coalition.

Also looked at is a video highlighting the UN Resolutions Israel has violated, and the British-Soviet invasion of Iran in 1941. The video does erronously mention WW2 ended in 1943 (!) but perhaps they were referring to the Middle East theatre of WW2, which ended in 1943.

The Isle

And finally:

Israel and the ignored UN Resolutions:




But Israel does not have sanctions placed on it, and have UN resolutions against it 'enforced'.

But Israel does not become subject to 'regime change'.

But Israel is a friend.

But Israel is above international law and can ignore the UN as a result.

[edit on 6-9-2010 by Regensturm]

Just off the wire...

Russia and Israel sign military agreement

From the Link:

Russia and Israel sign military agreement

Published 06 September, 2010, 13:01

Edited 06 September, 2010, 20:58

A new five year plan has been hammered out and signed during a meeting of the Russian and Israeli defense ministers in Moscow.

The agreement boosts military ties between the two nations to help them fight common threats, such as terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The agreement inked today by Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and his Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak sketches out the further military co-operation between the two countries for the next five years.

Specifically one of the highlights of the document is that Russia will buy 12 UAVs from Israel. The Russian minister said that 50 technicians are already being taught to operate them.

There was also a talk to build a joint facility where those drones will be built, because Russia expressed desire to participate in manufacturing of the UAVs.

The document also sketches out details of further military cooperation: an exchange of experience and information in spheres of mutual interests, which includes issues of international security. It also dwells on development of military education, medicine, physical training and other issues.

“Our views on many modern challenges are close or coincide,” acknowledged Russia’s Defense Minister. “First of all, it has to do with terrorism and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”

More

The deal possibily being that Russia gets 12 UAVs, has it's technicians trained by Israel to use the UAV's in return for:

Russia not selling S-300's to Israel.

Russia not selling P-800 Oniks supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles to Syria, as Israel have been lobbying Russia not to do here.

At a stretch, Russia standing aside, and pulling out it's people to clear the way for an Israeli strike on Bushehr, and Iran in general. This would take more than 12 UAV's to achieve I believe.

I have always found it strange that Russia would seek Israeli UAVs for it's own use, when Russia has the know-how and industry to build it's own.

Some might say Russia is acquiring Israeli UAVs as a way of getting their hands on American-style tech for evaluation and a way of countering it as well as replicating it.