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Update: Obama Rebukes Biden on Israel

The Obama Administration "rebuked" Vice President Joe Biden and his comments (spoken on Sunday, July 5, 2009) concerning Israel. Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview broadcast Sunday that the United States would not stand in the way of Israel in its dealings with Iran's nuclear ambitions. But US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said that suggestions (coming from reporters) that Biden could be seen as giving the Jewish state a "green light" to attack Iran were completely wrong.

 

"I certainly would not want to give a green light to any kind of military action," Kelly said. But he added, "We're not going to dictate [Israel's] actions."

 

"We're also committed to Israel's security. And we share Israel's deep concerns about Iran's nuclear program," Mr. Kelly explained.  

 

"I wouldn't read into it any more than what you see, then, as I said, that we respect Israel's sovereignty," Kelly replied when asked if Biden's comments indicated the administration is reconsidering its policy toward Iran.

 

Kelly also refuted any idea that President Barack Obama's administration would drop its policy to engage diplomatically with Iran. Analysts say Iran's crackdown on demonstrators disputing the June 12 presidential election has made it harder for the Obama administration to pursue diplomatic engagement with Iran.
 
Well, this is great. Now the rest of the world, including the Middle East, believe one or all of the following:
 
1. Obama is "wishy-washy" and gutless.
 
2. Biden is a nutty as a fruitcake.
 
3. The US and the Obama Administration don't have a clue of what is going on.
 
Personally, I believe it is all three.
 
 
Tags: war   Israel   Iran  
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Saudi Arabia Secretly Agrees to Allow Israel to Use Saudi Airspace for an Attack On Iran!

London's Sunday Times reported that Saudi Arabia would allow Israel to use its airspace to attack Iran. According to the report, Mossad chief Meir Dagan (chief of the Mossad since 2002) told Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that Syria and Saudi sources have hinted to this diplomatic move. The results of this annoucement on the "world stage" were also interesting.
 
"The Saudis have tacitly agreed to the Israeli air force flying through their airspace on a mission which is supposed to be in the common interests of both Israel and Saudi Arabia," an unnamed Middle Eastern diplomatic source stated.
 
"The Saudis are very concerned about an Iranian nuclear bomb, even more than the Israelis," a former Israeli intelligence head stated.
 
John Bolton, the former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., said (speaking to several Arab leaders), "It was logical that Saudi Arabia would privately agree. None of them would say anything about it publicly, but they would certainly acquiesce in an overflight if the Israelis didn’t trumpet it as a big success."
 
Bolton added (refering to Israel's attack on a Syrian nuclear site in 2007), "To this day, the Israelis haven’t admitted the specifics, but there’s one less nuclear facility in Syria." Bolton also said that the Arab countries would publicly condemn Israel at the U.N. but would breathe easier if the Iranian nuclear threat would be eliminated.
 
And even the White House is starting to sound "tough". Vice-President Joe Biden said (in an interview on ABC television), "The United States would not stand in the way if Israel chooses to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. The US could not interfere with any sovereign decision that Israel might take to defend itself against an Iranian nuclear threat. ... Look, Israel can determine for itself — it’s a sovereign nation — what’s in their interest and what they decide to do relative to Iran and anyone else. We cannot dictate to another sovereign nation what they can and cannot do.”
 
Several media sources reported Friday, July 3, 2009, that an Israeli Dolphin Class submarine passed through the Suez Canal on its way to the Red Sea last month as part of a naval exercise. Israeli security officials told the Reuters news agency that the exercise was done as part of testing Israel’s strategy in light of the Iranian nuclear threat. Egypt denied the reports.
 
Wow! An Israeli Dolphin Class submarine in the Red Sea!
 
On May 4, 2009, I stated the following: "Unless something happens in Iran, I would expect the Middle East to "explode" in no more than a year."
 
I stand by this statement.

Please check out the following articles:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1209627002111&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6638568.ece

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6651910.ece

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132195

Tags: war   Israel   Iran  
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Israel Prepares for War with Iran

Air Force reservists (who operate the Arrow and Patriot missile defense systems) have recently begun spending one day a week on duty to sharpen their skills, amid fears that in a conflict with Iran, dozens of long-range missiles would be fired at Israel. The decision to call up the operators of the Arrow and Patriot systems was made last year by head of the IAF's Air Defense Division Brig.-Gen. Daniel Milo.
An unidentified Israeli Air Force (IAF) officer reported, "We are working hard to be ready for the Iranian threat. We are preparing for barrages, split warheads and other surprises and therefore we need to retain a high operational level by everyone, including reservists." The scenarios that are conducted include the firing of large barrages at Israel from different countries at once, and the need for the operator to decide which missile to intercept first and at what stage of its flight. "There are difficult dilemmas that the operators face when it comes to missile defense," the officer said.
 
Last month, the IAF held its 17th test of the Arrow 2 interceptor, shooting down a missile mimicking an Iranian Shihab ballistic missile. The high-powered American X-Band radar (deployed in the Negev Desert in late 2008 as a farewell gift from former President George W. Bush) participated in the recent Arrow test and tracked the incoming target. Military sources said that the American X-Band radar was capable of providing "several minutes" of warning from when a missile is launched from Iran and until it is supposed to land in Israel.  
 
Later this year, the IAF will hold an exercise with the US military to jointly test three different ballistic missile defense systems, including the Israeli-made Arrow and the American-made THAAD and Aegis.
 
The French newspaper L'Express reported Sunday, May 3, 2009, that IAF fighter jets recently conducted a drill above the Strait of Gibraltar in preparation for a possible attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. According to the newspaper, the exercise included a mid-air refueling drill.
 
This is getting serious. The report from the French newspaper is especially troubling. Unless something happens in Iran, I would expect the Middle East to "explode" in no more than a year.
 
 
   
Tags: war   Israel   Iran  
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Nuclear Iran: We Have One Year Left

In an interview with the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-general Mohamed ElBaradei that aired on Al-Arabiya TV on June 20, 2008, the world got updated on the progress of the Iranian nuclear program. He had the following comments:
"If Iran wants to turn to the production of nuclear weapons, it must leave the NPT [Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty] , expel the IAEA inspectors, and then it would need at least... Considering the number of centrifuges and the quantity of uranium Iran has...It would need at least six months to one year. It would need this period to produce a weapon, and to obtain highly-enriched uranium in sufficient quantities for a single nuclear weapon."
 
So there you have it. Even the Islamic World considers Iran to be only a year away from making a nuclear bomb. I say the Islamic World because I consider the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-general Mohamed ElBaradei to be nothing more than a "mouth-piece" for the Islamic World.
 
I imagine that the Israeli's are getting their strike forces ready as I write this. I hope that the US is also getting ready.
 
For more on this interview, please go to the following address at the Middle East Media Research Institute:
 

 
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"Chicken Run" Is Anti-Islamic

Most of you who have read anything I have written can tell or assume that I am not a big fan of today's Hollywood. But I have enjoyed many recent movies that Disney/Pixar (and other studios) have made. I enjoyed "Cars" and "Ratatouille", taking my grandchildren to both. However an Iranian documentary series on Hollywood cinema was aired on the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN), on May 29, 2008. This documentary had some rather harsh words to say about the animated movie "Chicken Run" (released in 2000) in particular.
 
The Iranian film critic, Dr. Majid Shah-Hosseini, had the following to say:
 
"In 'Chicken Run,' for example, you find allusions to the Holocaust, to concentration camps, and to the concept of awaiting a hero or a savior. It portrays efforts to escape a predetermined fate – the death of all those who lived in that camp, who are depicted as chickens. Eventually, a kind of Noah's Ark is built – in this case, a flying ship – which is used for their escape."
 
The narrator of the documentary agrees with Dr. Hosseini and says:
 
"Unfortunately, Zionist notions can be detected in children's movies, from the days of Walt Disney and TV animation films. The Zionists' exclusive investment in groups specializing in children's films – such as DreamWorks in the 1990s – and the appearance of various works like 'Chicken Run,' which employed magnificent techniques, were part of their premeditated plan to cover the bloodstains soiling the clothes of the occupiers of the lands of Lebanon and the Gaza Strip."
 
           
 
It seems that the Iranians see "Zionist" themes everywhere. Quite frankly, I am amazed. I thought the US was the one of the few countries with "conspiracy theorists".
 
My oldest grandson and I really liked "Chicken Run". And once he saw the movie "The Great Escape", my oldest grandson enjoyed "Chicken Run" even more. The two are very similar; and both are great movies.
 
Personally, I think Dr. Majid Shah-Hosseini is a friggin' lunatic. He and Rosie O'Donnell should get together and compare notes.
 
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Iran Is an Octopus

In an interview with the London daily newspaper Al-Hayat on May 16, 2008, former Bahraini army chief of staff Sheikh Maj.-General Khalifa ibn Ahmad Aal-Khalifa accused Iran of playing a part in the recent disturbances in Bahrain. He also criticized Iran's policy of interfering in the affairs of other countries. His interview with this London newspaper (written in Arabic) is very interesting on many levels. Take a look at some of the general's quotes:
"Some [who participated in recent disturbances in Bahrain] do indeed have ties with Iran. This is part of Iran's policy; [Iran] is like an octopus - it is rummaging around in Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Gaza, and Bahrain. We are not in the least worried about the groups that are located in Bahrain. Actually, it is a very small group... We can handle elements that are much larger..." 
 
"Bahrain has been cooperating with the forces of friendly [foreign countries like the USA] for over 60 years, helping them to [do their job], in return for [their] safeguarding [Bahrain's] security. It is both understandable and legitimate that a country should be willing to cooperate with friendly forces in order to safeguard its security and to deal with threats directed against it. Countries do not act this way because they enjoy foreign presence but because they feel that there are threats against them that exceed their capability to safeguard their security [independently]. [Here] in Bahrain, we understand, respect, and support this tendency."
 
"Yes, without a doubt. No one wants war. Peace between Israel and the Palestinians may take some time, but as concerns Syria, the situation is different. Syria may achieve peace just like Jordan and Egypt, and we hope that Lebanon will achieve such peace as well. In my opinion, peace between Syria and Israel will make it easier to [achieve] the longed-for peace between Israel and the Palestinians."
 
It is very interesting that a former high level government official of Bahrain would make some of these comments. He could be making these comments strictly for consumption in the "West". But I don't get that "take" after reading his interview.
 
Tags: Bahrain   Iran  
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Iranian President Ahmadinejad Says USA Is Declining

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave the following remarks on the Iranian News Channel IRINN TV on June 2, 2008:
 
"Our beloved Imam [Khomeini], you commanded that the arrogant [powers] of the world must be destroyed. You commanded that the global rule of hegemony must be removed. I'd like to say that thanks to your illuminating presence, thanks to your guidance, thanks to your ardent and divine words, thanks to the continuance of your illuminating rule, and thanks to the steadfastness of the Iranian people, today, the cruel and arrogant [powers] have reached a total dead end, and thanks to God, the countdown for the decline of America's demonic power has begun."
 
"The Zionist regime has lost its raison d'être. Today, the Palestinians identify with your name [Khomeini], your memory, and in your path. They are walking in your illuminated path, and the Zionist regime has reached a total dead end. Thanks to God, your wish will soon be realized, and this germ of corruption will be wiped off the face of the world."
 
                                                            
 
During President Ahmadinejad's remarks, the audience chanted "Death to America" eight times.
 
I am forced to believe that Ahmaddinejad truly wants the USA destroyed. And the only reason Iran hasn't done it yet is that they are unable to accomplish it. I am also sure the countdown he mentioned is the end of President Bush's term of office.
 
Tags: Iran  
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