News From the Middle East

Much has been happening in the Middle East; and much of it you will not likely find in the mainstream media. So, the following is for your consideration.

* On 1/19/12 the Azerbaijan National Security Ministry was able to capture a Hezbollah cell in Baku. The terrorists had planned attacks on the Israeli emabassy there, as well as attacks on the Chief Rabbi, the former Chief of Staff of the IDF and local officials in Baku. Azerbaijan has good relations with Israel and the US; and apparently Iran fears use of that country's bases in a possible attack against Iranian nukes. Remember, Hezbollah acts at the behest of Iran. (As reported on 1/24/12 in Debkafile, which claims to have sources in the Israeli military and government.) Debka reports that a week prior a joint Thai-Israeli counter-terrorism team broke up a Hezbollah cell planning an attack on the Chabad House in Bangkok. As I have said before, Israel sees itself as the protector of Jews around the world. it is amazing how such a tiny country is able to accomplish so much.

* Goodbye Egypt! This from the Muslim Brotherhood, beneficiary of that wonderful Arab Spring turned nightmare: "..we do not recognize Israel at all. It's an occupying criminal enemy." And this: "The Brotherhood rejects international conventions, but we will take legal action against the peace treaty with the Zionist entity." (As reported in the 1/26/12 Jerusalem Post online.)

* The US is not faring any better with the new Egyptian/Brotherhood government. It appears that 19 Americans are going to be tried on charges of receiving foregn funds illegally and engaging in banned activity. One of the Americans is the son of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. (As reported by Fox News online, 1/5/12.) The real crime of these Americans is their effort to promote democracy through their involvement with certain NGO's operating in Egypt. So, can someone tell me why the US gives billions of dollars in aid to Egypt? Thankfully, some Congressmen are threatening to cut off the aid.

* So much for the previous commitment of the US to help maintain Israel's military superiority in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is purchasing 84 advanced F-15SA fighter bombers from the US, as well as 72 advanced Eurofighter Typhoon fighter bombers. Saudi Arabia, which refuses to make a peace treaty with Israel, is also probably the second largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world, after Iran (which the US lists as the main state sponsor of terrorism). Oil anyone?

* "The PA leadership last week held Israel fully responsible for the failure of the Amman talks because of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's refusal to freeze settlement construction and recognize the pre-1967 lines as the basis for a two-state solution." (As reported by JPost online.) As Caroline Glick noted on Jpost on 1/30/12: "Since its inception in 1993, the peace process has been predicated on Israeli concessions to the Palestinians." What has Obama asked of the Palestinians? Nothing. But neither has the UN. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Netanyahu to make some "goodwill gestures" to the Palestinians so the talks can continue. And what does the Secretary General expect from the Palestinians? "Of course, it will also be required that the Palestinian Authority come to (the) dialogue table." As Glick said, the Palestinians are required to do nothing except get one Israeli concession after the next. Not recognize Israel as the Jewish State, not promise an end to the fighting and deligitimization efforts, and not promise to normalize relations. Although, really, what good would such promises do once the Islamist group Hamas takes over completely. Look at Egypt announcing the end of their peace treaty with Israel under their Islamist regime.

* Is Iran about to be attacked? According to the Jewish Press online (2/1/12) our Defense Secreatry Leon Panetta told "60 Minutes" that the US would take "whatever steps are necessary" to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear bomb. And Debka (2/4/12) reports "...a steady flow of many thousands of US troops for some weeks to 2 strategic islands within reach of Iran: Oman's Masirah just south of the Strait of Hormuz, and Socotra, between Yemen and the Horn of Africa." According to Washington Post columnist David Ignatius: "Panetta believes there is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June." (As reported on FoxNews.com on 2/2/12.)

So what is going on here? If the Israelis are going to attack, why would Panetta announce it publicly? Is it an effort by Obama to discourage the Israelis? After all, both Bush and Obama have tried to prevent such an attack. But why would the US want the country it describes as the leading state sponsor of terrorism to have nuclear weapons? And if Debka is correct, why are we massing thousands of troops in the area? It is already known that we have enhanced our naval presence in the Gulf. And Iran is not taking any of this lightly. They have already threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to block the flow of oil to the West. Now, their Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Iran's allies "would be involved in any confrontation with Israel as a prime target." Between Hezbollah and Hamas and Syria it is estimated that tiny Israel has well over 100,000 missiles and rockets aimed at the country. And that is not counting whatever capabilities the Iranian missiles and air force may have. The Ayatollah went on: "The war itself will be ten times as detrimental to the U.S." (Ayatollah quotes from Debka, 2/4/12.)

I have a theory, which may surprise some of you. Obama made overtures to the Iranians early on, and was rebuffed. I do not believe he takes such snubs lightly. Additionally, we are in an election year. His poll numbers are low. His record (Obamacare, the stimulus, bailouts, etc.) is something he virtually ignored in his recent State of the Union speech. And that is understandable; while he remains a likeable figure to many Americans, his policies have not been well received. So just what would an attack on Iran do for him? It would prove to many that he is not weak on defense. His poll numbers could be expected to rise astronomically. And if the attack comes just before the two partys' summer conventions? Better yet; he would be a hero on the national stage. Notwithstanding earlier comments, Obama wants to be re-elected in order to complete his socialist agenda. Would an attack on Iran put him over the top in November?